Heavy Equipment Trailer Adjustable Deck Gooseneck Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heavy equipment trailers have limited adjustability in deck height, restricting their ability to maintain a level running position across varying load heights, which can lead to inefficiencies in loading and unloading heavy equipment.
Innovation Solution
The trailer features an adjustable deck with a rear gooseneck connected to a jeep via an elevator mechanism, allowing for rotation and height adjustment, combined with a front gooseneck lift mechanism, enabling precise distribution of load between the trailer and the pulling vehicle, and a booster system with dual axles for enhanced stability and maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a rigid gooseneck structure is used, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the deck height adjustability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the rigid gooseneck structure into a dynamic, adjustable system by incorporating an elevator mechanism that enables vertical movement of the rear gooseneck. This allows the deck height to be dynamically adjusted according to different loading requirements, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and height adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The elevator mechanism acts as an intermediary device between the deck and the rear jeep, providing controlled vertical adjustment of the gooseneck. This intermediary component enables height adjustability without requiring complete redesign of the gooseneck structure itself, maintaining relative simplicity while adding adaptability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the deck is tilted at a fixed angle, then the rear portion remains at constant height, but the deck cannot maintain level running position across varying load heights
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment capability through the elevator mechanism, which counteracts the fixed tilt angle effect. By actively adjusting the rear gooseneck height, the system maintains a level deck running position regardless of load height variations, while the rear portion's constant height characteristic is preserved through the controlled adjustment mechanism.
3Device complexity
If manual raising and lowering of the gooseneck is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the loading and unloading efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with a powered elevator mechanism that uses hydraulic or electric actuation. This substitution dramatically improves loading and unloading efficiency by enabling rapid, controlled vertical movement of the deck and gooseneck, while the overall device complexity remains manageable through the use of standard actuation systems.
4Device complexity
If a single gooseneck lift mechanism is used, then the device complexity is minimized, but the load distribution control between trailer and pulling vehicle is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lift function into two independent mechanisms: a front gooseneck lift and a rear gooseneck elevator. This segmentation allows independent control of load distribution between the pulling vehicle and trailer, providing versatile load management capability while keeping each individual mechanism relatively simple and manageable.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design allows for flexible deck height adjustment, ensuring a level running position across different load heights, improving loading and unloading efficiency and stability, while also enabling active steering of the rear trailer for better navigation.
Implementation Method 1
the elevator is rotatably connected to the jeep for rotation about a horizontally extending axis, the rear end of the rear gooseneck is pivotally connected to the elevator in a load supporting manner at a point spaced from the axis
Implementation Method 2
an actuator is operatively connected to the elevator for rotating the elevator about the axis to raise and lower the rear end of the gooseneck
Implementation Method 3
the rear end of the rear gooseneck is pivotally connected to the elevator in a load supporting manner at a point spaced from the axis
Data Source
AI summary
Heavy equipment trailer comprising an elongated deck, a front gooseneck extending from the front of the deck for connection to a pulling vehicle, a rear gooseneck extending from the rear of the deck, a jeep with ground engaging wheels positioned to the rear of the deck, and an elevator operatively connected between the rear gooseneck and the jeep for raising and lowering the rear gooseneck to adjust the height of the deck above the ground. The trailer also has a front jeep and a rear booster with dual axles and multiple wheels, with the loads at the front and rear of the deck being distributed respectively between the front jeep and the pulling vehicle and between the rear jeep and the booster. A front jeep includes a lift for raising and lowering the front gooseneck and the front end of the deck.