Winch Arrangement for Autonomous Load Orientation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for controlling the orientation of large loads suspended from a bearing wire require crane modifications, are costly, and have limited flexibility in placement, making them inefficient and unsafe for personnel to handle.
Innovation Solution
A winch arrangement comprising a master winch, a slave winch, and a control system with bi-directional rotational spools and taglines, equipped with tension and spool rotation sensors, allowing for autonomous control of load orientation without user input, and can be placed on the ground, crane, or load, enabling flexible placement and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a winch arrangement is installed on the crane to control load orientation, then the orientation control capability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase due to crane modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the orientation control function from the crane structure by using independent winches that can be placed on the ground, crane, or load. This segmentation allows the crane to remain unmodified while still achieving load orientation control through external winch units.
Solution Approach 2:
Taglines serve as intermediary elements connecting the winches to the load. These taglines transfer the controlling force from the winches to the load, enabling orientation control without direct mechanical connection to the crane structure.
2Device complexity
If manual handling of taglines is used to apply torque to the load, then the system simplicity is maintained, but safety deteriorates due to personnel exposure to large loads
Solution Approach 1:
The winch motors automatically control the tagline tension and load orientation without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by using automated motors to apply torque through the taglines, eliminating the need for personnel to physically handle the taglines near large loads.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical handling of taglines is replaced with automated motor-driven winches. The motorized system substitutes human operators in applying torque to the load, maintaining system simplicity while eliminating safety risks associated with manual tagline handling.
3Ease of operation
If cranes are modified with pulleys and winch arrangements for load control, then orientation control capability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to crane idle time between operations
Solution Approach 1:
The winch arrangement is designed to be dynamic and adaptable in placement, allowing winches to be positioned on the ground, crane, or load as needed. This flexibility enables the system to be deployed only when orientation control is required, allowing cranes to remain unmodified and available for other uses when not needed for controlled lifting operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling the orientation of a load (18) suspended from a bearing wire (16) about said bearing wire (16), comprising the following steps: a. -providing a winch arrangement (10), comprising; a master winch (32), at least one slave winch (34) and a winch control system (31), each of said winches (32, 34) having a winch motor (58) and a bi-directional rotational spool (54) with a tagline (40, 42), wherein each tagline (40, 42) is provided with attachment means (44, 46) for attachment to the load (18)and for applying a controlled torque to the load (18) about the bearing wire (16), and wherein the control system (31) comprises tension sensor means (48) for determining tagline tension and spool rotation sensor means (50) for determining spool rotation,and wherein the control system (31) is controllably connected to each winch motor (58) for controlling spool rotation, b. -connecting the attachment means (44, 46) to the load (18), c. -simultaneous rotating the winch spools (54), until preset tagline tensions are sensed in the two taglines by the tension sensor means (48), d. -during horizontal and/or vertical movement of the load (18), rotating, if necessary, the spools (50) with a rotation speed, for maintaining a desired orientation of the load (18), based on the determined tagline tensions, e. -relieving the tagline tension by rotating the spools (50), and f. -disconnecting the attachment means (44, 46) from the load (18).