Adjustable Trailer for Hauling Tyres

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current trailers for hauling oversized tires face challenges in maintaining weight distribution and load balance, especially when handling different sizes and types of tires, leading to increased transportation costs and labor intensity.

Innovation Solution

A trailer design featuring a frame with parallel elongate chassis rails and transverse rails that are longitudinally and transversely adjustable, equipped with tyre stillages and roller assemblies for secure positioning and load balancing, allowing for the efficient handling of tires in an upstanding position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If fixed stillages or translatable stillages are used to accommodate different tyre sizes, then the trailer can handle various tyre types, but it becomes difficult and labour intensive to configure the trailers while maintaining weight distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to accommodate different tyre sizesVSAvoiddifficulty to configure and maintain weight distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stillage system is made dynamically adjustable through independent longitudinal translation of transverse rails and transverse translation of stillages. This dynamic configuration capability allows the trailer to adapt to different tyre sizes while maintaining optimal weight distribution, resolving the contradiction between versatility and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The trailer structure is segmented into independent movable components: transverse rails that can translate longitudinally on chassis rails, and stillages that can translate transversely on transverse rails. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each component to achieve both adaptability to different tyre sizes and proper weight distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If oversize tyres are hauled with overall diameter greater than vehicle width, then the tyres can be transported, but the haulage vehicle requires an escort and transportation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to haul oversize tyresVSAvoidincreased transportation costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The trailer utilizes the vertical dimension by allowing stillages to tilt between horizontal and vertical positions. This dimensional change enables oversize tyres to be positioned upright on the trailer, optimizing space utilization and allowing transport without requiring escort vehicles, thereby reducing transportation costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If tyres are stacked recumbently on a flat bed truck, then transportation can be achieved, but the overall diameter constraint requires escort vehicles for oversize tyres

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransportation efficiencyVSAvoidability to handle oversize tyres without escort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs dynamic positioning capabilities where transverse rails translate longitudinally and stillages translate transversely and tilt vertically. This dynamic adjustment allows tyres to be positioned in optimal orientations, enabling efficient transport of oversize tyres without escort vehicles while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

The trailer effectively maintains load balance across the trailer, accommodating various tire sizes and types, reducing transportation costs and labor requirements by enabling easy configuration and secure hauling of oversized tires.

Implementation Method 1

one or more pairs of transverse rails longitudinally translatable with respect to said elongate chassis rails... each transverse rail in the one or more pairs of transverse rails may be independently translatable with respect to said elongate chassis rails... the first roller assemblies may be configured to releasably fasten the transverse rails to the elongate chassis rails

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling: Roller

Data Source

PatentUS11584463B2Trailer

Publication Date: 2023.02.21 TOTAL TRAILER MFGRS PTY LTD

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a trailer for hauling tyres. The trailer includes a frame having a front end, a rear end and a pair of parallel elongate chassis rails. The trailer also includes one or more pairs of transverse rails, each pair of transverse rails being adapted to support one or more tyres in an upstanding position thereon. Each pair of transverse rails is longitudinally translatable with respect to the elongate chassis rails between the front and rear ends of the frame. Each transverse rail in the pair is independently longitudinally translatable with respect to the elongate chassis rails so that the spacing of the pair of transverse rails may be varied to suit a tyre diameter. The trailer is also provided with a tyre stillage associated with each pair of transverse rails for supporting one or more upstanding tyres thereagainst.