Abstract:
A robotic overhead support system (10) is provided for providing assistance to a less-able-bodied user, which comprises an overhead gantry (14) and a robotic support device (12) engaged therewith. The robotic support device (12) is arranged so as to have a rigid or substantially rigid frame to limit lateral displacement thereof. This is achieved by providing a vertical drive means having a drive output element (34) which is extendible and retractable along the vertical axis, and an extendible coupling (36) which is at least in part rigid in a plane perpendicular to the vertical axis. A user-interaction support element (20) is then coupled to an end of the drive output element (34) for interacting with a user. A robotic support device actuation assembly (28) is also provided for use with the robotic overhead support system (10).
Abstract:
A material management method comprises receiving, via a processor, data relating to work activities and material flows from one or more sensors; generating, via the processor, safety and productivity information based on the data relating to work activities and material flows; comparing, via the processor, the generated safety and productivity information with existing project plans and schedules of the work activities and material flows; determining, via the processor, a present state and relative progress of the project plans and schedules of work; and generating, via the processor, updated project plans and schedules of work. The material can be a load and the method can comprise controlling a rotation of a suspended load by attaching two or more gyroscopic modules in communication with the processor directly or indirectly to the suspended load and independently controlling the two or more gyroscopic modules via the processor to control the rotation of the suspended load.
Abstract:
A passive heave compensator comprising: a main hydraulic cylinder, including a moveable piston having a piston rod extendible through the main hydraulic cylinder and a piston head, a gas phase above the piston head, and at least one oil phase below the piston head separated by a boundary; an upper connection point associated with the main hydraulic cylinder and a lower connection point associated with the piston rod; and at least one accumulator, the or each accumulator having a moveable separator to divide the accumulator between a gas phase above the separator, and an oil phase below the separator, and the or each oil phase being in communication with an oil phase in the main hydraulic cylinder; characterized in that the main hydraulic cylinder further comprises a cylinder sleeve co-axial with the piston head to provide, in co-ordination with the piston head, the boundary between the gas phase and the at least one oil phase in the main hydraulic cylinder. In this way, the variation in the coordination between the shape, longitudinal position, or both of the piston head, which naturally must be smaller in cross- section than the cross-section of the main hydraulic cylinder, and the transverse extent of the cylinder sleeve, provides variation in the cross-sectional area of oil volume in the main hydraulic cylinder, and thus different damping effects along the length of the main hydraulic cylinder, which are available to the user.
Abstract:
To facilitate the use of a crane, an angle feedback information on a rope angle (θ)of the crane is received, the angle feedback information being measured by means of a sensor at or adjacent to a trolley; and the angle feedback information is corrected by compensating an error caused by a speed change, and processed to provide movement instructions or other control information relating to the crane on the basis of real-time corrected angle information.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a marine load raising and lowering system for use on a vessel, comprising: i. a first winch comprising first driving means for raising or lowering a first cable from the first winch; ii. a second winch comprising second driving means for raising or lowering a second cable from the second winch; iii. operating means connected to the first and second driving means of respectively the first and second winch for synchronising the driving means so as to perform synchronous raising or lowering of the first and second cable; iv. a load connector; wherein the first and second cable are both connected to the load connector with a respective terminal end of the first and second cable, wherein the system further comprises a first tension equalizing mechanism adapted to equalize the tension in the first and second cables, said first tension equalizing mechanism having interconnected first cable-engaging members to engage with the first and second cable, wherein said first cable-engaging members are moveable relative to a first reference structure to be mounted on the vessel, and wherein said first tension equalizing mechanism is configured to move the first cable- engaging members under the effect of a difference in tension in the first and second cable so as to equalize said tensions.
Abstract:
Ein Portalhubwagen (1) zum Einsatz in Containerterminals und für andere Transportaufgaben hat ein Rahmengestell (2), ein Lastaufnahmemittel (6), das zwischen dem Rahmengestell (2) hängt und mit einem Container (8) verriegelbar ist, Fahrträger (5), die am unteren Bereich des Rahmengestells (2) angeordnet sind und jeweils eine Vielzahl in einer Reihe angeordneter Räder (15) aufweisen, und Hubwinden (9), mittels denen Hubseile (10) auf- und abrollbar sind, die mit einem Ende an den Hubwinden (9) angebracht und mittels lastaufnahmemittel- und rahmengestellseitigen Hubseillagerpunkten (11, 12, 13) geführt sind. Um die Belastung der Hubseile (10) des Portalhubwagens (1) durch während des Betriebs desselben auftretende Laststoße zu vermindern, wird vorgeschlagen, dass an zumindest einem Hubseillagerpunkt (11, 12, 13) jedes Hubseils (10) des Portalhubwagens (1) eine Federeinrichtung angeordnet ist, mittels der auf die Hubseile (10) übertragene Laststoße dämpfbar sind.
Abstract:
A device associated with a crane is described for the control of unwanted movements of a load that is connected to a hoisting line (14) via a number of branch hoisting wires (28, 29), and it is characterised in that the crane derrick comprises means that are arranged to push against the branch wires to dampen and eliminate the unwanted movements. According to the invention the device is used to control rotary movements of a container with four hoisting wires connected to a hook (36) at the end of the main hoisting wire (14) and the arm (22) is unfolded into an approximately vertical position, the two branch arms (28, 29) are folded out into a T-shape (figure 5), the arm is rotated further so that the branch arms (30, 32) push against the branch wires (28, 29) with a power sufficient to prevent the container from moving in unwanted ways. According to one variant, a device associated with a crane is proposed for the control of the hoisting line (13) itself for a load. In this solution the arm (22) comprises a hoop part (131,132) arranged to be adjusted from a passive, storage position in the arm part to an active position encircling the hoisting line. An application of the device is also described.