Adjustable Trolley With Oscillating Steering For Industrial Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial trolleys designed for conveying containers in plants are often specific to particular container types, lacking adaptability to different sizes and configurations, and existing adjustable trolleys are either complex or expensive.
Innovation Solution
A steerable trolley with an adjustable structure in both longitudinal and transverse directions, featuring slidably mounted frames and adjustable locating supports, allowing for easy adaptation to various container dimensions and configurations, while maintaining a simple and inexpensive design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a trolley is designed with a fixed structure for a specific container type, then the structure is simple and inexpensive, but the adaptability to different container sizes and configurations is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The trolley structure is divided into modular components: a base frame and multiple adjustable locating supports that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the same base structure to accommodate different container sizes by reconfiguring the locating supports without requiring a completely different trolley design for each container type.
Solution Approach 2:
The trolley is designed with universal locating supports that can be adjusted to multiple positions along the frame, enabling a single trolley model to serve multiple container types. The locating supports can be repositioned to match different container dimensions, making the trolley multi-functional rather than dedicated to a single container configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a trolley is designed with adjustable structure for different container sizes, then the adaptability improves, but the structure becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the locating supports into adjustable modules that can be independently positioned, the design achieves adaptability without requiring a completely different structure for each container size. The same base frame and locating support components can be reused across multiple container configurations, reducing manufacturing costs compared to producing specialized trolleys for each container type.
Solution Approach 2:
The locating supports are designed to be dynamically adjustable along the frame rather than fixed in specific positions. This dynamic capability allows the trolley to adapt to different container configurations while using the same physical components, avoiding the need to manufacture multiple specialized trolley variants.
3Ease of operation
If multiple specialized trolleys are used for different container types, then each trolley is optimized for its specific container, but the number of trolley types increases and adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The trolley employs universal locating supports that can be repositioned to accommodate different container types, making a single trolley design multi-functional. This eliminates the need to operate and maintain multiple specialized trolley types, as one adaptable trolley can handle various container configurations throughout the industrial plant.
Solution Approach 2:
The locating supports are designed with dynamic adjustment capabilities, allowing operators to quickly reposition them to match different container dimensions. This dynamic adaptability simplifies operations by enabling rapid reconfiguration of the same trolley rather than switching between multiple specialized trolley types.
Data Source
AI summary
A selectively extendable length trolley for supporting and conveying various sized and configured containers for pieces or components in an industrial plant. The trolley includes an adjustable length trolley structure, front and rear adjustable frames and locating supports for the containers that include side supports adjustable in position in a transverse direction, orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (L). A steering control unit (2) of the trolley (1) is articulated to the front frame (32) and operates in such a way that the front wheel unit and the rear wheel unit are made to oscillate in opposite directions to keep the wheels aligned with the curved path to be followed. In a preferred embodiment, the front and rear adjustable frames are T-shaped providing an open or free space at the two sides of the central structure of the trolley.