Wireless Emergency Stop for Cargo Handling Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cargo handling systems in the air cargo industry lack a wireless emergency stop solution, posing safety risks for operators due to the absence of independent software-hardware designs in wireless control systems.

Innovation Solution

A wireless cargo emergency stop system integrated with a power relay and a power drive unit, connected in series with a hard-wired emergency stop system, which includes a cargo emergency station and a wireless emergency module for remote operation, ensuring power removal from the power drive unit upon activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of stationary object

If a wireless control system is introduced to replace physical control panels, then system weight is reduced and operator count is decreased, but operator safety during wireless operation cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem weightVSAvoidoperator safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two independent parts: a wireless control system for normal operation and a separate hardwired emergency stop system for safety. The emergency stop system operates independently from the wireless control software, ensuring that software failures cannot compromise safety. This segmentation allows the wireless system to reduce weight while maintaining safety through the dedicated hardwired emergency stop mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a hardwired emergency stop system is used, then operator safety is ensured through independent hardware design, but the system cannot be operated wirelessly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator safetyVSAvoidwireless operation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a wireless control system and a hardwired emergency stop system into a unified cargo handling system. The wireless control system provides ease of operation through remote access, while the hardwired emergency stop system ensures safety through independent hardware design. Both systems work together, with the emergency stop system physically disconnected from the wireless control software, allowing operators to benefit from both wireless convenience and hardwired safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If the emergency stop system is integrated with the control software, then system complexity is reduced, but safety is compromised due to potential software failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem integrationVSAvoidsafety isolation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The emergency stop functionality is extracted from the wireless control software and implemented as a separate hardwired system. This extraction ensures that software bugs, crashes, or failures cannot affect the emergency stop function. The hardwired emergency stop system has its own independent circuitry and wiring, physically separated from the wireless control system, maintaining safety isolation while the system overall remains integrated for coordinated operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4434882A1Wireless emergency stop system for cargo applications

Publication Date: 2024.09.25 GOODRICH CORP

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AI summary

A cargo handling system includes a wireless cargo emergency stop system (500), a power relay (504) communicatively coupled to the wireless cargo emergency stop system (500), and a power drive unit communicatively coupled to the power relay (504) and the wireless cargo emergency stop system (500). Power to the power drive unit is removed in response to an emergency stop activated via the wireless cargo emergency stop system (500).