Animal Transport Cage with Adjustable Frame and Variable Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal cages for transportation do not adequately address safety concerns during accidents, space efficiency, and ease of use for both the animal and the user.
Innovation Solution
An animal cage with a frame assembly that includes reciprocally movable front and rear portions, equipped with a resistance altering element that adjusts the longitudinal force required for movement, allowing for size adjustment and enhanced safety during accidents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the animal cage is designed with fixed rigid connections between front and rear portions, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the adaptability to different animal sizes and vehicle spaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The frame assembly employs movable connections between front and rear portions instead of fixed rigid connections, allowing the cage length to be dynamically adjusted. The resistance altering element enables the structure to transition between stable configurations, providing both structural integrity and adaptability to different animal sizes and vehicle spaces.
2Ease of operation
If the animal cage allows easy adjustment of front and rear portions for size adaptation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability under accident forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The resistance altering element changes the force parameter required for movement between front and rear portions. In normal operation, low resistance allows easy adjustment by users. Under accident conditions, high resistance prevents unwanted movement, maintaining reliability while preserving ease of operation during normal use.
3Reliability
If the animal cage is designed to withstand high accident forces with high resistance to movement, then the safety during accidents is improved, but the ease of adjustment for different animals deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts resistance levels based on operational conditions. The resistance altering element allows the cage to be easily adjusted during normal operation when low forces are applied, but automatically provides high resistance when subjected to accident-level forces, ensuring both ease of operation and safety.
4Manufacturing precision
If the frame assembly uses fixed length design, then the manufacturing precision and structural stability are improved, but the adaptability to different vehicle spaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The frame assembly is segmented into front and rear portions that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows the cage to be manufactured with precise, stable components that can be easily adjusted to fit different vehicle spaces by changing the distance between segments, rather than requiring different fixed-length cages for each application.
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 animal cage provides improved safety by allowing the front and rear portions to move relative to each other during accidents, while also being easily adjustable in size to accommodate different animals and vehicle spaces.
Implementation Method 1
The resistance altering element may comprise a clamp mechanism configured to alter a pressure applied to an interface for controlling an induced friction force thus altering the longitudinal force required for relative movement of the front and rear portion.
Data Source
AI summary
An animal crate for transporting an animal in a vehicle. The animal crate includes a bottom and a top connected by a frame assembly. The frame assembly comprises a front portion, a rear portion, and an elongate member connected to the front portion and the rear portion. The front portion and the rear portion are configured to translate relative to each other in a longitudinal direction.