Bale Spear Device Storage Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bale spear devices face issues during transportation, such as lost spears due to loose steel banding and incorrect spear quantities, which can lead to delays in delivery.

Innovation Solution

A bale spear device with a storage mechanism that securely holds one or more spears using a locking device, allowing for correct spear quantity shipment and easy assembly without advanced tools or training, featuring a design that can be compactly shipped and assembled on-site.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If spears are shipped separately on different pallets with steel banding, then shipping flexibility is improved, but spears may be lost during transportation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshipping flexibilityVSAvoidspear retention during transport

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the spears with the attachment frame by providing receptacles on the frame that receive and retain the spears during shipping. This merging ensures that spears are not lost during transportation while still allowing for flexible shipping arrangements, as the spears can be easily installed or removed from the receptacles at the destination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Quantity of substance

If incorrect number of spears are shipped, then shipping cost is reduced, but customer must wait for additional spears to be shipped

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespear quantity shippedVSAvoiddelivery delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables preliminary action by allowing the correct number of spears to be pre-assembled into the attachment frame before shipping. The receptacles on the frame are designed to hold the specific number of spears needed, ensuring that the complete set is shipped together in one delivery, eliminating the need for follow-up shipments and associated delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If spears are securely locked during transport, then spear retention is improved, but assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespear retention during transportVSAvoidlocking mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the retention function into two distinct mechanisms: a simple receptacle structure that provides passive retention during shipping, and a separate locking mechanism that secures the spear to the frame for operational use. This segmentation allows the shipping retention function to be simple while still providing secure locking when needed, without unnecessarily complicating the overall device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9968035B2Bale spear device

Publication Date: 2018.05.15 WORKSAVER INC

AI summary

A bale spear device has a first upper plate having an aperture, a second upper plate having an aperture, an upper cross tube for connecting the first upper plate and the second upper plate together in a spaced apart arrangement, a first lower plate connected to the upper cross tube, a second lower plate connected to the upper cross tube, a lower cross tube for connecting the first lower plate and the second lower plate together in a spaced apart relationship, a socket extending out of the upper cross tube, a spear having a tip end and a socket end with the tip end for insertion into the aperture of the second upper plate and the socket end for insertion into the aperture of the first upper plate, and a locking device for locking the socket end of the spear in the aperture of the first upper plate.