Carrier Basket Trolley Gear Stabilization for Curve Traversal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carrier basket transporter systems experience carrier basket swing during curve traversal, leading to loss of transported goods, spillage of liquids, and increased component wear due to residual moments.
Innovation Solution
A stabilized carrier basket trolley and transporter system with a gear mechanism and optional magnetic stabilization, allowing the carrier basket to pivot about a normal axis to the support plate, actively compensating moments during curve traversal, and maintaining horizontal orientation through a combination of gears and magnets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the carrier basket is pivotably attached to the cars to allow horizontal balancing under gravity, then the carrier basket can maintain horizontal orientation during straight transport, but during curve traversal a residual moment causes carrier basket swing leading to loss of goods, spillage of liquids and increased component wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a counterbalancing mechanism with weights and linkages that generate opposing moments to counteract the residual moments causing carrier basket swing during curve traversal. The counterweight system balances the destabilizing forces while maintaining the pivotable attachment for horizontal orientation during straight transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs adjustable parameters including variable damping coefficients, adjustable weight positions, and configurable linkage geometries to optimize the counterbalancing effect. These parameters can be tuned based on curve radius, transport speed, and carrier basket load to maintain stability under varying operating conditions.
2Device complexity
If the distance between the two cars is fixed, then the structural design is simpler, but the trolley cannot compensate for changing angles of the cars relative to one another during curve traversal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic distance adjustment mechanism between the two cars using telescopic linkages or sliding connections that allow the cars to move relative to each other along the track. This dynamic adaptation enables the trolley to compensate for changing angles during curve traversal while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the rigid connection between cars into segmented, independently adjustable components. Each car can be positioned and angled independently relative to the support plate, allowing flexible adaptation to curve geometry while keeping the overall structural design modular and manageable.
3Reliability
If a gear mechanism is added to actively compensate moments during curve traversal, then carrier basket swing is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex active gear mechanisms with a passive counterbalancing system using weights, springs, and dampers that automatically respond to curve-induced moments. This mechanical substitution eliminates the need for motors, sensors, and control systems while achieving the same stabilizing effect through pure mechanical means.
Solution Approach 2:
The counterbalancing mechanism is designed to automatically generate compensating moments in response to curve traversal without external control. The weights and linkages self-adjust based on the trolley's orientation and the forces acting on the carrier basket, providing active stabilization through passive self-regulating mechanical elements.
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 system effectively prevents carrier basket swing, ensuring horizontal orientation and stability during turns, thereby preventing loss of goods and reducing component wear.
Implementation Method 1
a gear mechanism for actively compensating a moment acting on the carrier basket during traversal of curves in the track
Implementation Method 2
optional magnetic stabilization, allowing the carrier basket to pivot about a normal axis to the support plate
Data Source
AI summary
A stabilized carrier basket trolley for a transporter system, the trolley has two cars on the track, on a first side of a support plate and pivotable relative thereto. A distance between the cars changes during traversal of curves and a center of the trolley moves relative to the track towards the inside of a curve. A carrier basket is pivotably connected on the support plate and pivots about a pivot axis. The trolley includes a gear mechanism for actively compensating a moment acting on the carrier basket during traversal of curves that includes a drive wheel drivingly connected to a first gear rotatably mounted on the support plate, and a second gear, meshing with the first gear, non-rotatably connected to the carrier basket. The drive wheel comes into contact with a side of the track upon movement of the center of the trolley relative to the track.