Boat Hauling Vehicle With Adjustable Support Posts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current boat hauling and launching vehicles are unable to easily navigate areas with varying slope differences, requiring multiple vehicles and resulting in time-consuming and risky transfers, especially when dealing with boats in basins with inclined bottoms or ramps with different slopes.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle with a 'U'- or 'H'-shaped frame and hydraulically controlled telescopic cross-bar, equipped with swiveling carriages and adjustable support posts to maintain the boat's inclination relative to the travel plane, allowing for smooth operation on varying slopes and inclinations, either manually or automatically using electronic control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed-slope vehicle is used, then it can operate on a specific slope, but it cannot adapt to varying slope differences requiring multiple vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to varying slopesVSAvoidvehicle configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle employs dynamically adjustable support legs with telescopic sections and articulation joints that can independently adapt to varying slope angles. The support legs can extend, retract, and articulate to maintain vehicle stability on ramps with different inclinations, eliminating the need for multiple fixed-slope vehicles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle changes its geometric parameters (support leg length, articulation angles) in response to varying slope conditions. By adjusting these parameters, the vehicle can operate on ramps with different slope angles, achieving versatility without increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If multiple vehicles are used for different slopes, then each vehicle can be optimized for its specific slope, but transfer time increases and damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveboat safety during transferVSAvoidtransfer time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle is designed as a universal platform that can handle boats on various slope configurations through its adjustable support legs. This multi-functionality eliminates the need to transfer boats between multiple specialized vehicles, reducing both transfer time and the risk of hull damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The support system is segmented into multiple independently adjustable support legs, each capable of adapting to different slope angles. This segmentation allows the vehicle to maintain stability and safety across varying terrain without requiring multiple complete vehicle systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If the support structure is rigid, then it provides stable support, but it cannot adapt to varying inclinations and extensions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport structure stabilityVSAvoidadaptation to varying inclinations
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure incorporates dynamic elements including telescopic sections that can extend and retract, and articulation joints that can pivot to match varying inclinations. These dynamic components maintain structural stability while adapting to different slope angles and terrain conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure is divided into segmented components (telescopic sections, articulation joints) that can independently adjust their position and angle. This segmentation allows each component to contribute to both stability and adaptability, resolving the contradiction between rigid support and flexible adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables seamless hauling and launching of boats across different slope conditions, reducing transfer time and risk of damage, and accommodating boats of various sizes by maintaining the boat's hull parallel to the water plane during movement, even on sandy bottoms.

Implementation Method 1

Said posts are three in number for each side of the vehicle. In addition, the middle post has a fixed length, whereas the two posts adjacent thereto are telescopic. Still according to the invention, the upper support structure is therefore articulated to the lower frame so as to vary its distance and/or inclination relative to the frame depending on the inclination and extension of the telescopic posts.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic press: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

carriages for hauling, launching and transporting a boat are known, which can be moved along a surface such as a ramp, in a harbor or in a shipyard

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3615377B1Vehicle for hauling and launching boats
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 BOAT ELEVATOR
  • EP3615377B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3615377B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

Vehicle (11) for hauling and launching boats comprising: a lower frame (13) provided with a pair of longitudinal beams (15, 17) inferiorly associated to handling devices (21) and mutually connected by means of at least one cross-bar (19); an upper support structure (25) adapted to support the hull of a boat relative to the frame (13), said structure (25) being provided with a pair of longitudinal bars (27, 29) equipped with transverse slings (31) for carrying said hull; telescopic posts (33) hinged inferiorly to the beams (15, 17) of the frame (13) and superiorly to the bars (27, 29) of the support structure (25), whereby the support structure (25) is articulated to the frame (13) and is capable of varying its distance and/or inclination relative to the frame (13) depending on the extension and inclination of the posts (33).