Wire Rope Entanglement Avoidance Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wedge socket assemblies used to terminate wire ropes on mobile cranes often result in a protruding dead end that can become entangled with other components during operation, such as tree branches or crane parts, necessitating a solution to secure the dead end and enhance visibility.

Innovation Solution

A wire rope entanglement avoidance device featuring a guide component with curved top and bottom portions and a sheath, secured by bolts, creates a smooth non-concave surface from the dead end to the live end of the wire rope, preventing entanglement by fitting around the wire rope and covering the dead end.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wedge socket assemblies are used to terminate wire ropes, then the wire rope can be secured to the crane, but the dead end protrudes from the socket and becomes entangled during operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewire rope termination securityVSAvoidentanglement with tree branches or crane components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device nests the protruding dead end of the wire rope inside a hollow cylindrical body, effectively containing the harmful protrusion within a protective enclosure that prevents entanglement with external objects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The hollow cylindrical body acts as an intermediary element between the wire rope dead end and the external environment (tree branches, crane components), providing a protective barrier that eliminates direct contact and prevents entanglement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the dead end protrudes from the socket, then the wire rope termination is secure, but visibility through trees is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewire rope termination securityVSAvoidvisibility through trees

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The hollow cylindrical body is colored with high-visibility colors (such as orange or yellow) to enhance visibility of the wire rope termination through trees and other obstructions, making the previously hidden dead end clearly visible

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS10458065B2System of entanglement avoidance

Publication Date: 2019.10.29 TALLAGNON THOMAS COLLINS

AI summary

A wire rope entanglement avoidance device includes a guide component including a top portion and bottom portion, the top portion and bottom portion shaped along a curvature, the top portion and bottom portion arranged in rotational opposition along a length of material and adapted to fit around the wire rope and a sheath, disposed at an offset from the guide component, adapted to fit over a dead end of the wire rope.