Design Brief:
Emerging Engineering invites
tenders for a small portable crane for use following natural disasters
including flood and earthquake. It is anticipated that the successful bidder
will be awarded a contract for 100 cranes. Follow on opportunities may also
exist in licensing kits to third parties, primarily governmental bodies on a
commercial basis.
Background Information:
A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist, wire
ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to
lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It uses one or more simple
machines to create mechanical
advantage, which
can move
loads beyond the normal capability of a man. Cranes are commonly employed in
the transport industry for the loading and
unloading of freight, in the construction industry for the movement of
materials and in the manufacturing industry for the assembling of heavy
equipment.
Scope for the Specification:
It is intended that the cranes will be bought by non
government organisations (NGOs). It is also anticipated that a successful
design will be purchased by governments in areas prone to disasters of this type
and distributed to local civil defence centres.
Performance:
The crane should be able to lift loads of not less than 1000kg. The crane then needs to
transport the load not less than 4m from the point of lift.
Ergonomics:
The crane operators should be able to be disassemble the
crane, which should be able to be carried manually over 100m of rough ground and be able to be carried by a
standard Land Rover size 4x4.
Materials:
The materials we shall be considering are types of metal.
Some analysis of different metals will determine which material is best suited
for the job by meeting the requirements of being strong but light.
Quantity of Production:
It is anticipated that the successful bidder will be awarded
a contract for 100 cranes. Further contracts may be given for bigger order in
the future.
Maintenance:
Depending on the material, if the metal is a ferrous metal
then it will require painting to protect it for rusting. Moving parts will need
to be greased to prevent them from seizing.
Product Life Cycle:
The crane will not be designed to break after a certain time
in service. However, replacement parts will be available if parts break. When
the crane is no longer useful and has to be totally replaced the materials used
will be able to be recycled.
Testing:
If successful and a prototype constructed then tests in a
real life scenario will need to be conducted.
Product Cost:
Awarding criteria has suggested that the crane design should
be “Value for money”. Therefore, the design cost must be kept low but without
detriment to the performance of the crane.
Product User Specification:
|
|
User (Relief Workers)
|
Manufacturer
|
|
Use
|
Transportation of crane to disaster zone, Aiding of trapped
survivors.
|
Build cranes, and distribute to customer.
|
|
Misuse
|
Lifting items above the weight lifting capacity.
|
Breaking the crane in transit.
|
|
Abuse
|
Leave it exposed to the elements.
|
Leave it exposed to the elements.
|
User (Relief Workers):
Relief workers provide are ready to deploy to disaster zones
at short notice to provide humanitarian aid to the civil population. For
example The British Red
Cross helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. They are part of
a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and
other humanitarian situations. There will be a team of four who
will carry the crane manually over 100m of rough ground, assemble the crane and
operate it.
Manufacturer:
External companies will be contracted to make the parts
specified. Their job will be to construct the crane, which will then be shipped
to the customer. Misuse can occur by the company breaking the crane in transit.
Abuse can occur if the cranes were left exposed to the elements and the
winching system going rusty.
