阅读说明：本技术 一种停车设备曳引机构的双重保险装置 (Double-safety device of parking equipment traction mechanism ) 是由 梁崇彦 梁迅 于 2020-12-29 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明包括称为曳引部件一的原有的曳引机构末端的曳引部件以及在曳引部件一的邻近位置增加安装、结构参数与曳引部件一相同、称为曳引部件二的曳引部件；可以采用曳引部件一、曳引部件二共同承担曳引载车板升降的方式或者采用曳引部件一、曳引部件二的其中一个为主曳引部件曳引载车板升降,另一个为备份曳引部件的方式；上述方式均可以分别采用摇臂开关或者拉力传感器或者压力传感器作为链索断裂检测装置,以简单、可靠、低成本的方式保障设备、车辆以及操作者安全,彻底解决当前采用曳引方式实现载车板升降运行的停车设备存在的重大安全隐患,适用于新产品的设计,也能够保持原有结构、对现有使用的停车设备进行改造。(The invention comprises a traction component called a traction component I at the tail end of the original traction mechanism and a traction component called a traction component II which is additionally arranged at the position adjacent to the traction component I and has the same structural parameters with the traction component I; the first traction part and the second traction part share the lifting mode of the traction vehicle carrying board or one of the first traction part and the second traction part is used as a main traction part to lift the traction vehicle carrying board, and the other traction part is used as a backup traction part; the mode can adopt the rocker switch or the tension sensor or the pressure sensor as the chain cable fracture detection device respectively, so that the safety of equipment, vehicles and operators is guaranteed in a simple, reliable and low-cost mode, the major potential safety hazard of the parking equipment which adopts the traction mode to realize the lifting operation of the vehicle carrying plate at present is thoroughly solved, the parking equipment is suitable for the design of new products, the original structure can be kept, and the existing parking equipment can be improved.)

1. The double safety device of the traction mechanism of the parking equipment is characterized in that: the traction device comprises a traction part I and a traction part II; the first traction part is a traction part at the tail end of the original traction mechanism; the second traction part is additionally installed and arranged at a position adjacent to the first traction part, and the structural parameters of the second traction part are the same as those of the first traction part.

2. The double safety device of a parking facility traction mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: the first traction part and the second traction part jointly drag the vehicle carrying board to lift and are respectively provided with a chain cable fracture detection device; the chain cable breakage detection device is a rocker switch; the detection signal of the rocker switch is connected with the equipment control device.

3. The double safety device of a parking facility traction mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: the first traction part and the second traction part jointly drag the vehicle carrying board to lift and are respectively provided with a chain cable fracture detection device; the chain cable breakage detection device is a tension sensor; and the detection signal of the tension sensor is connected with the equipment control device.

4. The double safety device of a parking facility traction mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: the first traction part and the second traction part jointly drag the vehicle carrying board to lift and are respectively provided with a chain cable fracture detection device; the chain cable breakage detection device is a pressure sensor; and the detection signal of the pressure sensor is connected with the equipment control device.

5. The double safety device of a parking facility traction mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: one of the traction part I and the traction part II is set as a main traction part, and the vehicle carrying board is independently dragged to lift in a normal state; the other traction part is set as a backup traction part and only follows when the main traction part is in a normal state; when the main traction part is broken and fails, the backup traction part immediately takes over the main traction part to drag the vehicle carrying board;

the chain cable breakage detection device adopts one of the following two types: in the first mode, the main traction part and the backup traction part are respectively provided with a chain cable breakage detection device; in a second mode, one of the main traction part and the backup traction part is provided with a chain cable breakage detection device;

the chain cable breakage detection device is a rocker switch; the detection signal of the rocker switch is connected with the equipment control device.

6. The double safety device of a parking facility traction mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: one of the traction part I and the traction part II is set as a main traction part, and the vehicle carrying board is independently dragged to lift in a normal state; the other traction part is set as a backup traction part and only follows when the main traction part is in a normal state; when the main traction part is broken and fails, the backup traction part immediately takes over the main traction part to drag the vehicle carrying board;

the chain cable breakage detection device adopts one of the following two types: in the first mode, the main traction part and the backup traction part are respectively provided with a chain cable breakage detection device; in a second mode, one of the main traction part and the backup traction part is provided with a chain cable breakage detection device;

the chain cable breakage detection device is a tension sensor; and the detection signal of the tension sensor is connected with the equipment control device.

7. The double safety device of a parking facility traction mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: one of the traction part I and the traction part II is set as a main traction part, and the vehicle carrying board is independently dragged to lift in a normal state; the other traction part is set as a backup traction part and only follows when the main traction part is in a normal state; when the main traction part is broken and fails, the backup traction part immediately takes over the main traction part to drag the vehicle carrying board;

the chain cable breakage detection device adopts one of the following two types: in the first mode, the main traction part and the backup traction part are respectively provided with a chain cable breakage detection device; in a second mode, one of the main traction part and the backup traction part is provided with a chain cable breakage detection device;

the chain cable breakage detection device is a pressure sensor; and the detection signal of the pressure sensor is connected with the equipment control device.

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of parking equipment, in particular to a vehicle carrying plate traction mechanism of the parking equipment, which realizes the purpose of ensuring the safety of equipment, vehicles and operators in a simple, reliable and low-cost mode.

Background

Parking facilities have been introduced from abroad and have been in the past for forty years. The parking equipment mostly relates to the lifting operation of the vehicle carrying board, and the lifting operation of the vehicle carrying board mostly adopts a traction mode, and a traction medium is a steel cable or a chain (called a chain cable for short). The related national and industrial standards specify that a chain cable breakage detection device must be installed on the parking equipment which adopts a traction mode to realize the lifting operation of the car carrying plate, and when the chain cable breakage detection device detects that the chain cable is broken, a signal is sent to trigger the parking equipment to stop the operation emergently. Because the vehicle carrying plate is changed from four-point suspension to three-point suspension (or from two-point suspension to single-point suspension) when the chain cable is broken, when the vehicle carrying plate is not guided by a rigid guide rail or the rigidity of the guide rail is insufficient, the vehicle carrying plate is easy to incline or even overturn due to instability. Therefore, even if the parking facility has been equipped with the chain breakage detection device in accordance with the relevant regulations, if the chain breakage occurs during the actual operation, it is still difficult to avoid the occurrence of a serious safety accident that the vehicle carrying board is inclined or even overturns in most cases (particularly in a loaded state where the vehicle is parked on the vehicle carrying board).

At present, a parking equipment manufacturer adopting a traction mode to realize the lifting of the vehicle carrying plate only meets the requirement that whether the safety coefficient of the chain cable reaches the standard or not, the safety coefficient of the chain cable is reduced due to factors such as corrosion, fatigue and abrasion after the chain cable runs for a period of time, and if maintenance work is lost, major safety accidents such as the breakage of the chain cable, the inclination of the vehicle carrying plate and even the overturn of the vehicle carrying plate during the loading running of the vehicle carrying plate are easily caused. Therefore, how to solve the existing potential safety hazard in a simple, reliable and low-cost manner is still an unsolved problem in the industry.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to overcome the defects of the prior art, provides a technical scheme of a double-safety device of a traction mechanism of parking equipment, and achieves the purpose of simply, reliably and thoroughly solving the potential safety hazard of the parking equipment for realizing the lifting of a car carrying plate in a traction mode at low cost.

The invention discloses a basic technical scheme of a double-safety device of a traction mechanism of parking equipment, which is characterized in that: the traction device comprises a traction part I and a traction part II; the first traction part is a traction part at the tail end of the original traction mechanism; the second traction part is additionally installed and arranged at a position adjacent to the first traction part, and the structural parameters of the second traction part are the same as those of the first traction part.

For the traction mechanism adopting a steel cable direct traction mode, the traction part I comprises a last-stage traction driving winding drum, an intermediate wheel (if any), a traction steel cable and a traction suspension point arranged at a corresponding position of the vehicle carrying plate; at the moment, a set of traction part called a traction part II consisting of a traction driving winding drum, an idle wheel (if any), a traction steel cable and a new traction suspension point arranged on a vehicle carrying board is added at the position adjacent to the traction part I, and the traction part II and the traction part I have the same structural parameters and form a double-safety device.

For the traction mechanism adopting a chain direct traction mode, the traction part I comprises a final-stage traction driving chain wheel, an intermediate wheel (if any), a traction chain and a traction suspension point arranged at a corresponding position of the vehicle carrying plate; at the moment, a set of traction part called a traction part II consisting of a traction driving chain wheel, an idle wheel (if any), a traction chain and a new traction suspension point arranged on a vehicle carrying board is added at the position adjacent to the traction part I, and the traction part II and the traction part I have the same structural parameters and form a double-safety device.

For the chain traction mechanism adopting the chain traction mode of indirect traction of a circulating chain, the traction part I comprises a traction chain, an intermediate wheel (if any) and a traction suspension point, wherein the traction chain is arranged on the circulating chain at the tail end of the traction mechanism, and the traction suspension point is arranged at a corresponding position of a vehicle carrying plate; at the moment, a set of traction part II which is composed of a traction chain, an idle wheel (if any) and a new traction hanging point arranged at the corresponding position of the vehicle carrying board and is called a traction part I is added at the position adjacent to the traction part I, the structural parameters of the traction part I and the traction part II are the same, and a double-safety device is formed by combining the traction part I and the traction part II.

Most of the traction mechanisms of the parking equipment adopt a direct rope traction mode or a direct chain traction mode, and a chain traction mode adopting indirect traction of a circulating chain is common in lifting and transversely moving parking equipment.

Preferably, in the double-safety device of the parking equipment traction mechanism, the traction part I and the traction part II jointly drag the vehicle carrying board to lift, and are respectively provided with a chain cable fracture detection device; the chain cable breakage detection device is a rocker switch; the detection signal of the rocker switch is connected with the equipment control device.

The principle of the rocker switch as a chain cable breakage detection device is that a normal traction chain cable is in a tensioned state when being pulled, and the traction chain cable is in a loose state under the action of the self weight of the traction chain cable when being broken; therefore, when the traction chain of one traction component is broken and changes from a tight state to a loose state, namely is detected by a rocker switch arranged on the traction chain of the traction component, the related signal triggering device control device instructs the parking device to stop running and give an alarm; because the two traction components jointly drag the vehicle carrying board to lift, the traction chain cable of one traction component is broken and fails, the traction chain cable of the other traction component can still keep normal and effective traction on the vehicle carrying board, and the situation that the vehicle carrying board inclines or topples can not occur.

Preferably, in the double-safety device of the parking equipment traction mechanism, the traction part I and the traction part II jointly drag the vehicle carrying board to lift, and are respectively provided with a chain cable fracture detection device; the chain cable breakage detection device is a tension sensor; and the detection signal of the tension sensor is connected with the equipment control device.

The principle that the tension sensor is used as the chain cable breakage detection device is that a normal traction chain cable is in a tensioned state when being tensioned, the detection numerical value of the tension sensor is the numerical value of the tensile force borne by the traction chain cable, and when the traction chain cable is broken, the traction chain cable is in a loose state under the action of the self weight of the traction chain cable and the detection numerical value of the tension sensor is zero or close to zero; therefore, when the traction chain of one traction component is broken and changes from a tight state to a loose state, namely is detected by a tension sensor arranged on the traction chain of the traction component, the related signal triggers the equipment control device to instruct the parking equipment to stop running and give an alarm; because the two traction components jointly drag the vehicle carrying board to lift, the traction chain cable of one traction component is broken and fails, the traction chain cable of the other traction component can still keep normal and effective traction on the vehicle carrying board, and the situation that the vehicle carrying board inclines or topples over can not occur

Preferably, in the double-safety device of the parking equipment traction mechanism, the traction part I and the traction part II jointly drag the vehicle carrying board to lift, and are respectively provided with a chain cable fracture detection device; the chain cable breakage detection device is a pressure sensor; and the detection signal of the pressure sensor is connected with the equipment control device.

The principle of the pressure sensor as the chain cable breakage detection device is similar to that of the tension sensor as the chain cable breakage detection device, but the installation modes of the pressure sensor and the tension sensor are different; when the traction chain cable is broken, the traction chain cable is in a loose state under the action of the self weight of the traction chain cable, and the detection value of the pressure sensor is zero or close to zero; therefore, when the traction chain of one traction component is broken and changes from a tight state to a loose state, namely is detected by a pressure sensor arranged on the traction chain of the traction component, the related signal triggers the equipment control device to instruct the parking equipment to stop running and give an alarm; because the two traction components jointly drag the vehicle carrying board to lift, the traction chain cable of one traction component is broken and fails, the traction chain cable of the other traction component can still keep normal and effective traction on the vehicle carrying board, and the situation that the vehicle carrying board inclines or topples can not occur.

Preferably, in the double-safety device of the parking equipment traction mechanism, one of the traction part I and the traction part II is set as a main traction part, and the vehicle carrying board is independently dragged to lift in a normal state; the other traction part is set as a backup traction part and only follows when the main traction part is in a normal state; when the main traction part is broken and fails, the backup traction part immediately takes over the main traction part to drag the vehicle carrying board; the chain cable breakage detection device adopts one of the following two types: in the first mode, the main traction part and the backup traction part are respectively provided with a chain cable breakage detection device; in a second mode, one of the main traction part and the backup traction part is provided with a chain cable breakage detection device; the chain cable breakage detection device is a rocker switch and is arranged on the main traction part or the backup; the detection signal of the rocker switch is connected with the equipment control device.

As mentioned above, the principle of the rocker switch as a chain breakage detection device is that a normal traction chain is in a tight state when being pulled, and when the traction chain is broken, the traction chain is in a loose state under the action of the self weight of the traction chain; the above description clearly describes the manner in which the two traction members are each fitted with a rocker switch, and reference may be made thereto.

Only one of the two traction members can be selected to be provided with the rocker switch. When the rocker switch is arranged on the main traction part, if the traction chain cable of the main traction part is broken and changes from a tense state to a loose state, namely the rocker switch arranged on the traction chain cable of the main traction part detects the breakage, the related signal trigger equipment control device instructs the parking equipment to stop running and give an alarm; when the rocker switch is arranged on the backup dragging part, if the dragging chain cable of the main dragging part is broken and changes from a tight state to a loose state, the backup dragging part plays a role of dragging the vehicle carrying board and changes from the loose state to the tight state, and is detected by the rocker switch arranged on the dragging chain cable of the backup dragging part, and the related signal trigger device control device instructs the parking device to stop running and give an alarm; because the technical proposal is provided with the backup chain cable which is follow-up and can replace the traction chain cable of the main traction component to work at any time; therefore, when the traction chain cable of the main traction component is broken and fails, the traction chain cable of the backup traction component replaces the traction chain cable of the main traction component to normally and effectively drag the vehicle carrying board, and the vehicle carrying board cannot incline or overturn.

Preferably, in the double-safety device of the parking equipment traction mechanism, one of the traction part I and the traction part II is set as a main traction part, and the vehicle carrying board is independently dragged to lift in a normal state; the other traction part is set as a backup traction part and only follows when the main traction part is in a normal state; when the main traction part is broken and fails, the backup traction part immediately takes over the main traction part to drag the vehicle carrying board; the chain cable breakage detection device adopts one of the following two types: in the first mode, the main traction part and the backup traction part are respectively provided with a chain cable breakage detection device; in a second mode, one of the main traction part and the backup traction part is provided with a chain cable breakage detection device; the chain cable breakage detection device is a tension sensor; and the detection signal of the tension sensor is connected with the equipment control device.

As mentioned above, the principle of the tension sensor as the chain cable breakage detection device is that the normal traction chain cable is in a tight state when being pulled and the detection value of the tension sensor is the value of the tensile force borne by the traction chain cable, and when the traction chain cable is broken, the traction chain cable is in a loose state and the detection value of the tension sensor is zero or close to zero under the action of the self-weight of the traction chain cable; the above description clearly describes the detection mode of the two traction components respectively provided with the tension sensor, and reference can be made to the detection mode.

Only one of the two hoisting members can be selected for mounting the tension sensor. When the tension sensor is arranged on the main traction part, if the traction chain cable of the main traction part is broken and changes from a tight state to a loose state, namely the tension sensor arranged on the traction chain cable of the traction part I detects the breakage, the related signal trigger device control device instructs the parking equipment to stop running and give an alarm; when the tension sensor is arranged on the backup dragging part, if the dragging chain cable of the main dragging part is broken and changes from a tight state to a loose state, the backup dragging part plays a role of dragging the vehicle carrying board and changes from the loose state to the tight state, and is detected by the tension sensor arranged on the dragging chain cable of the backup dragging part, and the related signal trigger device control device instructs the parking device to stop running and give an alarm; because the technical proposal is provided with the backup chain cable which is follow-up and can replace the traction chain cable of the main traction component to work at any time; therefore, when the traction chain cable of the main traction component is broken and fails, the traction chain cable of the backup traction component replaces the traction chain cable of the main traction component to normally and effectively drag the vehicle carrying board, and the vehicle carrying board cannot incline or overturn.

Preferably, in the double-safety device of the parking equipment traction mechanism, one of the traction part I and the traction part II is set as a main traction part, and the vehicle carrying board is independently dragged to lift in a normal state; the other traction part is set as a backup traction part and only follows when the main traction part is in a normal state; when the main traction part is broken and fails, the backup traction part immediately takes over the main traction part to drag the vehicle carrying board; the chain cable breakage detection device adopts one of the following two types: in the first mode, the main traction part and the backup traction part are respectively provided with a chain cable breakage detection device; in a second mode, one of the main traction part and the backup traction part is provided with a chain cable breakage detection device; the chain cable breakage detection device is a pressure sensor; and the detection signal of the pressure sensor is connected with the equipment control device.

As mentioned above, the principle of the pressure sensor as the chain cable breakage detection device is that the normal traction chain cable is in a tight state when being pulled and the detection value of the pressure sensor is the value of the tensile force borne by the traction chain cable, and when the traction chain cable is broken, the traction chain cable is in a loose state and the detection value of the pressure sensor is zero or close to zero under the action of the self-weight of the traction chain cable; the above description clearly describes the detection mode of the two traction members respectively provided with the pressure sensors, and reference can be made to the detection mode.

Only one of the two hoisting members can be selected to be equipped with a pressure sensor. When the pressure sensor is arranged on the main traction part, if the traction chain cable of the main traction part is broken and changes from a tense state to a loose state, namely the pressure sensor arranged on the traction chain cable of the traction part I detects the breakage, the related signal trigger equipment control device instructs the parking equipment to stop running and give an alarm; when the pressure sensor is arranged on the backup dragging part, if the dragging chain cable of the main dragging part is broken and changes from a tight state to a loose state, the backup dragging part plays a role of dragging the vehicle carrying plate and changes from the loose state to the tight state, and is detected by the pressure sensor arranged on the dragging chain cable of the backup dragging part, and the related signal trigger device control device instructs the parking equipment to stop running and give an alarm; because the technical proposal is provided with the backup chain cable which is follow-up and can replace the traction chain cable of the main traction component to work at any time; therefore, when the traction chain cable of the main traction component is broken and fails, the traction chain cable of the backup traction component replaces the traction chain cable of the main traction component to normally and effectively drag the vehicle carrying board, and the vehicle carrying board cannot incline or overturn.

The invention has the advantages that: the method solves the major potential safety hazard of the parking equipment which adopts the traction mode to realize the lifting operation of the car carrying plate at present in a simple, reliable and low-cost mode, and the related technical scheme is not only suitable for the design of new products, but also can conveniently reform the existing parking equipment on the basis of keeping the original structure.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of four-point suspension, traction and lifting of a vehicle carrying board of a parking device in the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the arrangement of one embodiment of the double safety device of the traction mechanism of the parking apparatus of the present invention; this embodiment corresponds to fig. 1;

fig. 3 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of fig. 2.

In the figure: 01, a main chain cable I; 11, a first main hanging point; 02 main chain cable II; 12, a second main hanging point; 03 main chain cable III; 13, a third main hanging point; 04 main chain cable IV; 14, a fourth main hanging point; 01b backup chain cable one; 11b backing up hanging point one; 02b, backing up a chain cable II; 12b backing up hanging point two; 03b, backing up a chain cable III; 13b, backing up a hanging point III; 04b, backing up a chain cable IV; 14b, backing up a hanging point four; 2, carrying a vehicle board; 33, a third main intermediate wheel; 33b, backing up a third intermediate wheel; 34 a fourth main intermediate wheel; 34b backing up an intermediate wheel IV; 4 a cable drum.

Detailed Description

The invention will be further explained with reference to the drawings, without limiting the scope of the invention to the following.

As shown in fig. 1, a schematic diagram of four-point suspension, traction, lifting and lowering of a car carrying board of the existing parking equipment is shown. It can be seen that the four main chain cables carry out four-point suspension on the vehicle carrying board 2 through four main suspension points (respectively, a main chain cable one 01 passes through a main suspension point one 11, a main chain cable two 02 passes through a main suspension point two 12, a main chain cable three 03 passes through a main suspension point three 13, and a main chain cable four 04 passes through a main suspension point four 14). Note that! The four-point suspension traction lifting of the car carrying plate of the existing parking equipment has no backup or redundancy.

Obviously, as shown in fig. 1, if any one of the main chain cable one 01, the main chain cable two 02, the main chain cable three 03 and the main chain cable four 04 is broken, the vehicle carrying board 2 is easy to incline or even overturn.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of one embodiment of the double safety device of the traction mechanism of the parking equipment according to the present invention; this embodiment corresponds to fig. 1, and adopts a technical solution of a main hoisting member and a backup hoisting member. It can be seen in the figure that the hoisting medium is a wire rope (because a wire rope drum 4 is used). Fig. 2 is a diagram showing that four main chain cables are used for four-point suspension of the vehicle carrying board 2 through four main suspension points as shown in fig. 1, and four backup chain cables are respectively added at positions adjacent to the four main chain cables and used for four-point backup suspension of the vehicle carrying board 2 through the four suspension points (respectively, a backup chain cable 01b is used for carrying out four-point backup suspension through a backup suspension point one 11b, a backup chain cable two 02b is used for carrying out four-point backup suspension through a backup suspension point two 12b, a backup chain cable three 03b is used for carrying out backup suspension through a backup suspension point three 13b, and a backup chain cable four 04b is used for. Of course, the backup hanging point is just a way, and the backup chain cable is actually fastened on the vehicle carrying board; the backup suspension is just one way, and the four backup chain cables actually form reliable suspension for the vehicle carrying plate; the spare chain cable is a loose suspension relative to the main chain cable, so that the spare chain cable can really replace the main chain cable only when the main chain cable is broken.

Obviously, the technical scheme shown in fig. 2 can ensure that the safety of the vehicle carrying plate can be ensured when any one or even a plurality of chain cables are broken.

When the chain cable shown in fig. 1 and 2 is actually a chain, the result is obviously the same.

Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of fig. 2. As can be seen from the left side of the figure, the steel cable drum 4 winds a main chain cable III 03 and a backup chain cable III 03b respectively, then is reversed through a main intermediate wheel III 33 and a backup intermediate wheel III 33b respectively, and finally hangs a main hanging point III 13 and a backup hanging point III 13b at the left end of the figure of the vehicle carrying board 2; as can be seen from the right side of the figure, the cable drum 4 winds a main chain cable four 04 and a backup chain cable four 04b respectively, then is reversed by a main intermediate gear four 34 and a backup intermediate gear four 34b respectively, and finally hangs a main hanging point four 14 and a backup hanging point four 14b at the right end of the car carrying board 2. Similarly, the other side of the vehicle carrying board 2 which is not shown in fig. 3 is respectively suspended by two main chain cables and two backup chain cables after being reversed by two idle wheels.

Obviously, if the chain cable fracture detection device is a tension sensor or a pressure sensor, the ideal installation position is the connection position of the chain cable and the vehicle carrying plate; if the chain break detection device is a rocker switch, the ideal mounting position is the position of a section of the steel cable between the steel cable drum and the intermediate wheel or a section of the chain between the chain drive wheel and the intermediate wheel. These are conventional technologies and will not be described herein.

The technical scheme of the two traction components jointly dragging the vehicle carrying board is similar to the embodiment shown in fig. 2 and 3, and reference can be made to the above characters, which are not repeated herein.

The above embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and any other changes, modifications, substitutions, combinations, and simplifications which do not depart from the spirit and principle of the present invention should be construed as equivalents thereof, and all such changes, modifications, substitutions, combinations, and simplifications are intended to be included in the scope of the present invention.