Here is a small animation of the crane to show what it would be able to do:
It shows that the main beam can raise and lower from 0 degrees to 80 degrees, making it possible to lift a load over objects; The crane can swivel making it easier to move the lifted load from one place to another; and the legs can move showing the fact that it would be suitable on most surfaces.
Luke - Chief Designer
Here is the CAD of the fully assembled crane:
To add to Shazad's post below; here are screen shots of the CAD of each component.
Vertical Tubular Support Cap:
Outer Piston:
Inner Piston:
Piston Ring:
Crane Foot:
Crane Leg:
Pulley Wheel:
Crane Beam:
Vertical Tubular Support:
VTS Base and Inner Bearing:
Crane Base and Outer Bearing:
One note about the design below, If we were to use a fairly heavy winch, then it will reduce the overall forces and moments around the joint and at the point where the piston interacts with the boom.
Luke
Here is the final design drawing biased on Usman's design.
(click to enlarge picture)
Luke
Here is my crane concept ready for the group meeting tomorrow.
Luke
As promised by my last post, here are the designs of the base that I think will cope with the rough terrine.
Luke
I've just done a bit of research on the type of terrain that the crane will be working in and looking at the base's of the other ideas, they may not be suitable. I have done a few ideas that I will scan and upload in my next post.
Luke Hildred
(Better quality Gannt Chart emailed to everyone, this one just for illustrational purposes.)
Luke Hildred - Chief Designer