Structural design and analysis of heavy-duty translation and transportation equipment for remote maintenance

Abstract

This paper designs a heavy-duty transfer and transport device for remote maintenance to address the issues of low efficiency in transporting, lifting, and positioning heavy equipment, as well as poor coordination between equipment in remote maintenance operations. In this device, an integrated structural form combining an AGV heavy-duty vehicle and a gantry crane is used to complete the transportation, lifting, and positioning installation of heavy components. Firstly, the overall scheme design of the device was completed according to the requirements of remote maintenance conditions. The main structures such as the bottom bearing platform, gantry columns, main beam, diagonal bracing members, and hoisting mechanism were analyzed, and compared with similar gripping mechanisms. This study selected a hook type gripping scheme with special spreaders. Since the device has a rated load capacity of 10 tons, a rigorous theoretical stress analysis was performed on the main load bearing frame. As a result, the mechanical properties of key structural components, namely the main beam, support columns, and chassis assembly, were obtained. The device was then evaluated under static conditions using the finite element method (FEM) to determine the stress distribution and displacement induced deformation of the entire structure under its rated load. According to the results, the main high-stress areas were primarily localized within the mid-span of the main girder and the critical beam-column junctions, certain stress concentrations also exist at the column bases and chassis support areas and the finite element results generally aligned with the theoretical analysis. This proves the rationality of the overall scheme and calculation method. Finally, according to the theoretical analysis and simulation results, structural improvement suggestions were proposed, including increasing the beam rigidity, improving joint structures, reinforcing the column bases, and enhancing chassis stability. According to the study results, conclusions can be made that the overall scheme of the device proposed in this paper has relatively good feasibility and reference value. Therefore, it can provide certain ideas for the design of similar integrated heavy-duty transfer and lifting equipment.