Winch Arrangement for Load Orientation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for controlling the orientation of large loads suspended from a bearing wire, such as wind turbine blades, require crane modifications and are not flexible in placement, leading to inefficiencies and increased operational costs due to the need for manual torque application.
Innovation Solution
A winch arrangement comprising a master winch, a slave winch, and a control system with bi-directional rotational spools and taglines, allowing for controlled torque application to maintain load orientation autonomously, with tension and spool rotation sensors to adjust tagline tension and spool rotation speed, enabling flexible placement on the ground, crane, or load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a winch arrangement is installed on a crane to control load orientation, then the load orientation control is improved, but the device complexity and crane modification requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the orientation control function from the lifting function by using independent taglines and winches that can be attached to the load without modifying the crane structure. The taglines are connected to specific points on the load, creating independent control elements that work alongside the crane's lifting mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Taglines serve as intermediary elements between the winches and the load, transferring torque without requiring direct connection to the crane. This intermediary approach allows orientation control to be implemented through flexible connections that can be attached and removed without permanent crane modifications.
2Device complexity
If manual torque application is used to control load orientation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation and safety deteriorate due to personnel handling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the load's own weight and the bearing wire tension to generate the forces needed for orientation control. The taglines work with the existing lifting forces rather than requiring separate power sources or complex active control mechanisms, allowing the system to self-regulate orientation through passive mechanical means.
3Ease of operation
If the winch arrangement is placed on the ground, then the ease of operation is improved, but the adaptability to different load positions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The taglines are designed to be universally applicable regardless of load position or crane configuration. They can be attached to various points on the load and work effectively whether the winches are positioned on the ground, on the crane, or on the load itself, making the system adaptable to different operational scenarios.
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; one master winch (32), 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 the winches (32, 34) are placed on the ground, on the crane or on the load, 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), andf.—disconnecting the attachment means (44, 46) from the load (18).