Proposal Specification

Project Outline
The aim of this project is to create a suitable design proposal for a portable crane to be used in disaster relief environments. The crane is to be designed specifically for disaster situations such as earthquakes and tsunamis. These kinds of disaster areas are where there are people trapped under assorted types of rubble such as concrete and steel beams. In these kinds of situations, where construction vehicles are either unavailable or cannot get to the area, the crane would be assembled and used to lift the heavier beams and pieces of rubble.
There are various factors which need to be considered such as quality versus cost and ease of use but the most influential factor, the factor that makes this crane proposal unique, is the extreme environmental conditions the crane will be expected to work in.

Specification Factors
Environmental Conditions

• The heavy rubble and general chaos of the crane site will mean that there is a risk of losing pieces of the crane (if it is transported in various pieces). To reduce this risk, it would be easier to paint the crane an eye-catching colour, preferable a bright colour, which will not only contrast against concrete and steel but will also be seen easier at night.

Costs

• The biggest customer for this crane is going to be countries with high disaster rates. A large number of these countries are third world and ruled by governments with only small budgets available. To deal with this, the crane will need to be cheap enough to be easily purchased by these countries.
• One way to tackle this is to keep the number of manufacturing methods and time used to a minimum. This will reduce man-power needed and the costs to set-up the various manufacturing processes utilised.

Quality

• The quality should be the best available without costing more than we can afford to sell it for.
• This crane will be used to move rubble under which people are trapped; this in itself is a high risk operation, one which doesn’t need the extra hazard of poor quality crane equipment. The crane will likely be pushed to its limits regularly and only with a good quality design and build will it continue to work effectively without more than routine maintenance.

Materials

• The materials used should be strong and hard-wearing whilst also of a reasonable price and quality.
• They will need to be able to function where they will come into contact with high levels of dust and air pollution.
• The materials should be readily available and legal to be used in all countries around the world.
• They should not be hazardous or need special handling requirements. Even any maintenance of the material such painting requirements or special coatings, should be easy to maintain in all countries the crane is sold to and used in.

Ergonomics

• The crane will need to be easy to use, as the rescue workers will be working under extreme pressure and will likely be distracted or not have full concentration whilst operating it.
• No one piece of the crane must exceed the legal weight that any rescue employee can carry safely on their own or with another person. This is for the safety of the rescue workers who will need to be able to carry each piece across rough terrain without damaging themselves in the process. Ideally the weight of each piece should be written on it, in a clear to view place.
• If the crane is to be designed for assembly at the site, the number of various pieces in this assembly should be kept to a minimum. This allows for the user to keep track of the various pieces easier whilst transporting. Another benefit, is the less pieces that need to be assembled, the less assembly instructions the rescue workers need to memorise and carry out every time they use it.
• The crane will need to be easy to maintain. Repair and customer care services will need to be available and all parts should be interchangeable with cheap to purchase spares in case of damage.

Customer Requested Outlines and considerations

• Minimum lifting capability of 1000Kg
• Crane reach of a minimum of 4m from central ‘pick-up’ axis
• To be easily transportable by hand, over rough terrain, for an average distance of 100m. To do this, the crane can either be designed to fold-up into itself or it can be carried onsite in pieces and assembled where it is needed.
• It must be able to either fit into the boot or on the roof rack (2m x 2m) standard Land Rover Rescue vehicle.
• The crane, when assembled on site, must be powered by either hand-crank or power-winch.