Adjustable Work Platform With Extendable Sliders For Irregular Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintenance on large, irregularly shaped objects like aircraft is challenging due to the high cost and inefficiency of customizing standard scaffolding to fit their unique sizes and shapes, and the need for rapid maintenance within tight schedules.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable work platform with a fixed platform and extendable sliders guided by I-beams, featuring a toothed member and back plate for stability, allowing the platform to conform to irregular shapes by extending and retracting to fit the object's surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If standard scaffolding is used for maintenance on large irregularly shaped objects, then the structure is simple and cost is reduced, but the scaffolding cannot conform to the variable shapes and sizes of such objects
Solution Approach 1:
The work platform is divided into a fixed platform and multiple extendable sliders that can be independently adjusted. Each slider can be extended or retracted to conform to different shapes and sizes of objects, allowing the platform to adapt to irregular geometries without requiring a completely custom-designed structure for each object.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform incorporates movable sliders with extendable arms that can dynamically adjust their position and length. This dynamic capability allows the platform to transform its configuration to match various object shapes, providing adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple base structure that doesn't require full customization for each maintenance task.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom scaffolding is designed to fit each object, then the work surface conforms perfectly to the object shape, but the cost becomes prohibitive and setup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The work platform is designed as a universal system that can accommodate multiple different object types and sizes. The fixed platform combined with adjustable sliders creates a multi-functional structure that can be quickly reconfigured for different maintenance tasks, eliminating the need to design and build custom scaffolding for each object while still achieving a precise fit.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic adjustability of the sliders allows rapid reconfiguration of the platform to match different object geometries. This reduces setup time significantly compared to installing custom-built scaffolding, as the same base platform can be quickly adapted to various shapes and sizes through simple extension and retraction of the slider components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the platform is made extendable to fit various sizes, then the adaptability increases, but the stability and load-bearing capacity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is segmented into a rigid fixed base and multiple extendable slider components. This segmentation allows the stable fixed platform to provide the primary load-bearing foundation while the extendable sliders add adaptability without significantly compromising overall stability. Each slider is independently supported by I-beam guides that maintain structural integrity during extension.
Solution Approach 2:
I-beam guides serve as intermediary structures between the fixed platform and the extendable sliders. These guides constrain the sliders to move along predetermined paths and provide lateral support, ensuring that the extendable components maintain stability and proper alignment even when extended to accommodate larger or irregularly shaped objects.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable work platform comprises a fixed platform carrying a multiplicity of adjustable members designed to slide out of the fixed platform to variable lengths as needed. A large irregularly shaped object, such as an aircraft, may be driven into the interior of the platform with the adjustable members retracted. Once in place, the adjustable members are extended to form a heavy duty work platform conforming to the irregular shape of the exterior of the object.