Boat Trailer Extender with Guide Bar and Winch Strap System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Boat trailers are difficult for small vehicles to load and unload on steep boat ramps, as the rear axle often touches water, leading to increased risk of getting stuck and potential danger during the loading and unloading process.
Innovation Solution
A boat trailer extender system using a track bar, guide bar with rollers, and a winch with a plastic-covered strap and closed loop strap brake, allowing the trailer to extend and retract without the rear axle touching water, featuring a double spool for secure strap management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the boat trailer is directly attached to the vehicle on a steep boat ramp, then the loading and unloading operation can be performed, but the rear axle of the vehicle touches water causing the vehicle to get stuck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a boat trailer extender as an intermediary device between the vehicle and the boat trailer. This extender includes a guide bar with rollers that extends beyond the vehicle's rear axle, allowing the trailer to be positioned further back on the ramp. The intermediary structure transfers the load through the extender framework rather than directly through the rear axle, preventing the axle from contacting water while maintaining operational capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional boat trailer extender is used, then the trailer can be extended, but the metal strap and components corrode and oxidize quickly when exposed to water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction for the extender components, particularly using aluminum alloy frameworks combined with plastic-coated or powder-coated metal straps. The aluminum provides structural strength and natural corrosion resistance, while the plastic or powder coating adds an protective barrier layer. This composite approach allows the extender to maintain both extension functionality and enhanced durability in wet environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes flexible plastic-coated straps and thin film protective coverings on metal components. These flexible coatings conform to the underlying metal structure while providing a continuous protective barrier against water and corrosion. The thin film layers allow the straps to remain flexible for operation while significantly extending the service life of metal components exposed to water.
3Device complexity
If gears are used to extend and retract the boat trailer, then the mechanism can be compact, but the mechanism becomes complex and prone to failure in wet environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex gear mechanism from the extender design and replaces it with a simpler winch-based strap system. The winch mechanism uses a drum and winding strap instead of interlocking gears, significantly reducing the number of moving parts and potential failure points. This extraction of the complex gear subsystem maintains the extension and retraction functionality while improving reliability in wet environments through mechanical simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes a gear-driven mechanical system with a winch-driven strap system. The winch mechanism relies on friction and winding tension rather than precise gear meshing, making it more tolerant of environmental conditions. The strap system replaces complex mechanical linkages with a flexible tension member, reducing the number of joints and potential failure points while maintaining the ability to extend and retract the trailer.
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 enables safe loading and unloading of boats by preventing the vehicle's rear axle from touching water, reducing the risk of getting stuck and minimizing corrosion and oxidation, thus enhancing safety and durability compared to existing solutions.
Implementation Method 1
a winch that is used to move the guide bar, the winch uses a strap and a series of track guide rollers that form a strap loop
Data Source
AI summary
A boat trailer extender that comprises of a track bar that connects to a tow vehicle, a guide bar that mounts on the track bar, the guide bar is configured to receive a boat trailer, four horizonal and four vertical guide bar rollers that are used to stabilize the guide bar on the track bar, a winch that is used to move the guide bar, the winch uses a strap and a series of track guide rollers that form a strap loop, and a closed loop strap brake that is used to add tension to the strap as it is spooled onto a spool of the winch. The spool is a two-sided spool, a first side of the spool can release and retrieve the strap as the guide bar is moved on the track bar, and a second side of the spool can retrieve and release the strap as the guide bar is moved on the track bar.