Final Conclusions:

Following discussion and observation of the other presentations, the following points were brought forth for future consideration when conducting a similar project.

- Much of the research, analysis and development of our design provided a sound basis for our tender proposal.
- However, following our presentation of the proposal it was evident that certain elements had not been fully developed.

• Our costings did not take labour, production and profit margins into account, and as a  result were incomplete leading to a misleading quote for the price of our crane.
•  In retrospect the crane, although fulfilling the brief, could have been more ingenious in solution, unfortunatly the analysis of some of the more complex designs initially left us confused, and contained many mistakes, so the simplest option was seen as the most logical choice as it could be pursued to its full potential. 

-  On a positive note, the group did work well together, the group members worked to their strengths with romi and andy focussing on the basic design and stress analysis elements of the process, allowing the other group members to complete separate tasks such as further research to assist the analyses and solve problems encountered as we went along.
- The schedule was kept on top of with regular meetings, and individual taskings, ensuring that the project at no point fell behind its originally planned timescale.

A. Compton.
J. Collins.

Group Presentation:

Minutes: 27/04/2010

Tasks achieved:
Stress Analysis completed for final design. (R. Dhillon & A. Daniels)
CAD Modelling of Crane complete, engineering drawings, animations and rendered images were also produced for insertion into the presentation. (J. Collins)
Tender Presentation almost complete, awaiting financial analysis, tasked to A. Dhillon, other constituent parts have all been given to A. Compton for compilation. (A. Compton)


Tasks identified:
Final Presentation Group Rehearsal
Conclusions/Final Analysis of project from group members?

Attendees:

J. Collins
A. Daniels
A. Compton
R. Dhillon

Future Meetings:
Final tender presentation - 10am - Rm 568

Minutes: 22/04/2010

Tasks followed up:
Stress analysis for crane complete.
CAD drawings for crane in progress.

Tasks for next Meeting:
Presentation Finalisation
Presentation Rehearsal


Future Meetings:
Monday 26th Apr.

Attendees:
A. Compton
A. Daniels
R. Dhillon

Minutes: 25/03/2010

Tasks followed up:

Company name: Crane-tacular solutions!

Calculations for grass-hopper design are in progress, getting close to a solution during meeting.
Winch preferances and weights established.
Preferred materials identified.

nb. density of steel 7800 kg/m^3
density of aluminium 2700 kg/m^3

Tasks for next meeting:

CAD analysis and drawings etc.
Finalised calculations
Costings for crane parts
Write proposed presentation for development with group at next meeting

Future meetings:

Monday 19/04/2010 - 10am Guild loft.

Attendees:

A. Compton
J. Collins
A. Daniels

R. Dhillon - Apologies given.

Types of electric winch:

Winch example (1)

Found: http://www.liftingonline.com.au/products/JDN603

1000KG X 3M, JDN 'MINI' AIR HOIST

Specifications: (Extensive specifications given in a table on the link above)

"1000KG X 3M, JDN 'MINI' AIR HOIST *Extremely compact at a minimum of weight *High flexibility for varying working places *Few components for easiest operation and maintenance *Ideal as an inexpensive alternative compared to hoists with other driving media *Suitable for lube free operation, no additional oiler required *Suitable for application in hazardous areas *suitable for horizontal pulling *Newly developed braking system with little wear."
Weight: 26.0 Kg


Winch example (2)

Found: http://www.portablewinch.com/en/02.asp

• Portable

There is no fixed link to a vehicle; therefore you can take the winch anywhere. Tether it to any solid object: a tree, a post, a rock or even to the ball hitch of your vehicle.

• Powerful - Up to 2000 kg (4400 lb) of pulling power

The Portable Winch^TM will pull 1000 kg (2200 lb) single line. If you need to pull extremely heavy loads, we offer a snatch block kit including a swing-side pulley and locking steel carabiner. The pulley is attached to the load with the carabiner, and the rope is attached to the winch anchor. This lightweight system effectively doubles the pulling power of the winch to an amazing 2000 kg (4400 lb) pulling capacity!

• Lightweight - Weighs only 16 kg (35 lb)

Both winches have differing merits, the second example is most likely to be the one our group will use during our calculations as it is portable, and could be carried by hand, it will not add significantly to our overall payload, and could be modified to enable it to take a greater weight.


Alternative websites also viewed:

http://www.northerntooluk.com/winches-and-hoists/electric-hoists/?sortby=priceascending&cm_ven=Performics&cm_cat=PPC&cm_pla=Google&cm_ite=electric%20chain%20hoist

http://www.winchsolutions.co.uk/

http://www.nextag.com/Master-Lock-Co-2953AT-506261517/prices-html?nxtg=26900a1c0512-35D7477F7F5880CA

http://www.nextag.com/portable-winch/compare-html

Minutes: 22/03/10

Tasks followed up:

Materials, winches and bearings suitable for the task were suggested (posted to blog and details also brought to meeting) along with their tolerances and specifications.

Calculations for the design chosen last meeting were attempted and it was established by most group members at the weekend that this design, although probably effective, was too complicated for us to successfully analyse.

As a consequence Designs (1), (2), and (3) were proliferated and given a basic analysis. Designs (2) and (3) were chosen by the group in the meeting.

Tasks for next meeting:

Finalise calculations for designs (2) and (3) to enable a choice of options for final proposal - for thursday.

Think of options for linking parts together - Pinning, slot parts?

Begin materials costings. (Aluminium for legs, steel for boom? - more durable? weight reduction?) (nb. Land-rover payload max 1500kg, tow 3000kg.)

Find weight of electric winches and post examples.

Future meetings:

Thur 25/03


Attendees of todays meeting:
A. Compton
J. Collins
A. Daniels
R. Dhillon
A. Dhillon

Original Design (from meeting 18/03/10)

Initial Design


After discussing each of our initial designs as a group, we came to the conclusion that the best type of crane to meet the specification would be a luffing crane with a counterbalance. A basic schematic of the layout was drawn in order to give a sense of the proportions and scale of the design.

With a 2.6 metre boom at 40 degrees to the horizontal, the total reach of the crane would be 2 metres about the centre of its rotational axis. This allows for an object to be lifted and moved a total of 4 metres from its initial point of pick up. Using a large base, and keeping the main body of the crane fairly low to the ground will lower its centre of gravity and increase stability.


Developed Initial Design #1


The initial design was then developed to include a cable spanning from the counterbalance to the tip of the boom, as well as a support up from the main body. The rotational axis of the crane was moved back slightly on the base to increase stability, thus reducing the required weight of the counterbalance.

It was also decided that a the crane could be rotated via a handle situated on the counterbalance, and also that a hand powered crank would be situated here to operate the winch.

21/03 - Design 3

Design 3 ( The British Bulldog )



This design is a mixture of design 1 and 2 . It is interesting as it is something totally different to what is out in the market. It consists of a boom with supersonic legs and has the load sliding down the boom . The reason why we called it the british bulldog is because the front 2 legs are higher than the back two and the overall design looks like the shape of a dog. This also has marketability.

Advantages

As the struts or legs give more balance to the boom there may not be such a need for a counterweight.

The crane has a sliding system which is quite simple as there is no need for bearings.

The legs can be adjusted causing the boom to change in angle which can reach loads which are higher up with greater ease .

It can be de-constructed within seconds. The legs can be detached and the boom can retract into 2 causing very little space to be used up within the 4 x 4 rover .

bending moment and stress calculations would not be too complex .

Disadvantages

As the load is sliding down the boom, it may hit the ground before the intended point. It is important that the load is kept close to the crane or enough clearence is givin at the bottom.

There is no rotation which can lead to a bit of restriction.

21/03 - Design 2

Design 2





This design has a different approach all together to design 1 and some may consider it to be more 'simple' . It consists of 4 main legs which will be adjustable with 2 rollers on the upper struts which will roll backwards and forwards in the x direction. There will be 2 winches, one to move the rollers in the x direction and one to move the pulley ( load ) in the y -direction. Andy is working on a sliding system for this design.

Advantages

The bending moments and stress analysis is simple to work out.

The legs are adjustable allowing them to reach places which are not each to get to .

There are no bearings involved which means there is less chance of failure within the crane .

No counterweights are needed for steadyness as the crane will be steady.

Disadvantages

Motion is limited. The load can only be transorted in a linear direction rather than at an angle as there are not bearings for rotation.

The cable can get caught with the winch.

As some legs would be shorter than others in certain situations, there can be a danger of tipping or the load sliding down at a faster speed.

21/03 - Design 1 (simplified from original)

Design 1

This is a simplified version of the original design. The design consists of a hand winch placed above the trunk and has a counterweight to allow steadyness within the crane.

The advantages and disadvantages of this design are stated below.

Advantages

Bearings will allow the crane to rotate , therefore there is greater accessibility for different angles.

The base is steady with four adjustable ( anglular adjustment ) legs.

The base does not take up much space and can access areas which are difficult.

Disadvantages

The bending moments and stress analysis will more complex .

The crane would suffer from the possibility of tipping over.

Bearings make the system more complex.

Pay-load for a Landrover Defender:

The website I found the following information on:

http://www.landrover.com/gb/en/lr/defender/explore/defender-professional/

"Dropsides

The Defender 130 Dropside in either Single or Double cab format provides huge load carrying capacity and a whole lot more. The corrosion resistant body is constructed from aluminium with zinc plated catches and corner pillars. The totally flat, wheelarchless load floor with hinged removable side boards, back boards and corner pillars all make for fast and easy load management. With a payload of 1200kg through, class-leading towing capability of up to 3500kg and optional tipper functionality, this is a truly remarkable load carrier."

This is relevant to the group becasue it gives us a maximum weight for our crane structure when it is dis-assembled for transport.

Minutes: 18/03/10

Tasks followed up:

- Individual designs verbally SWOT analysed by all of group. (Individual design drawings photographed and posted on blog.)
- R.D's design was deemed most appropriate solution and its SWOT analysis was noted.
- Design issues were then discussed and resolved and dimensions for the crane were established. This was in order to facilitate the group members going away and 're-designing' the 'initial design' with stress and bending moment analysis.
- Types of winch - electronic or hand, examples of both brought to meeting, costings and weights of mechanisms requested.

Tasks for next meeting:

- All group members to return with fully analysed free-body diagram of proposed crane design for comparison.
- Group members are also to look into bearing design for rotation of crane as well as faesible materials for the manufacture of the crane components.


Future Meetings:
Mon 22/03
Thurs 25/03


Attendees:
A. Compton
J. Collins
A. Dhillon
R. Dhillon
A. Daniels

Photographs of sketches brought to meeting by members:

Gantt Chart

Minutes 16/03/10

Minutes: 16/03/10

Gantt Chart Distributed

Tasks Allocated (See Gantt Chart post)

Tasks for next meeting:
Produce Designs for crane x2
Inc. Materials Cost research, Basic Calculations etc.
Prepare for SWOT analysis of designs.

Future meetings:

Thur 18/03
Mon 22/03


Attendees of todays meeting:
A. Compton
J. Collins
A. Daniels
R. Dhillon

Minutes: 09/03/10

Project roles allocated:

· Project Manager – Amy Compton

· Finance Officer - Andy Daniels

· Chief Designer – James Collins

· Stress Analyst – Romi Dhillon

· Materials Specialist - Amardeep Dhillon

Future Meetings decided:
- Thursday's 1pm Loft.
- Monday's 1pm Loft.


Attendees of todays meeting:
A. Compton
J. Collins