Bolt-on Outriggers for Four Bar Tailgate Anchors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Off-highway truck manufacturers face challenges in attaching an automatic four bar linkage tailgate anchor point to truck frames made of high-strength steel, as welding can compromise the frame's strength and create stress risers, leading to a 'no weld' edict, and existing solutions like routing tailgate actuation links through roller boxes result in excessive wear.
Innovation Solution
A bolt-on clamping arrangement is used to secure an outrigger assembly to the truck frame without welding, providing a mechanically fastened outrigger arrangement that includes an outrigger support frame, braces, lower clamps, and truck frame clamps to support the tailgate actuation link, ensuring secure attachment without compromising the frame's integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If welding is used to attach the cantilevered anchor point to the truck frame, then the anchor point can be securely attached, but the structural integrity of the high-strength steel frame is compromised and stress risers are created
Solution Approach 1:
A clamp assembly serves as an intermediary component between the anchor point structure and the truck frame. The clamp mechanically engages with the frame through contact surfaces and fasteners, providing a secure attachment without welding. This intermediary device transfers loads through friction and mechanical interlocking rather than fusion, avoiding the creation of stress risers in the high-strength steel frame while maintaining attachment strength.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the tailgate actuation link is routed through roller boxes to avoid welding, then the 'no weld' edict is satisfied, but excessive wear occurs on the actuation link
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation link is extracted from the roller box routing path and directly connected to the clamp assembly. This eliminates the intermediate roller boxes that caused excessive wear through friction and contact. The link now follows a direct mechanical path from the actuator to the anchor point, removing the wear-inducing routing through rollers while maintaining the non-welded attachment approach.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a cantilevered anchor point structure is used, then the four bar linkage tailgate can be implemented, but the attachment method creates conflicts with high-strength steel frame requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional welded mechanical attachment system is replaced with a clamped mechanical attachment system. Instead of using welding to join the anchor point structure to the frame, the invention uses a clamp assembly with fasteners that mechanically secure the structure through friction and contact pressure. This substitution maintains the four bar linkage tailgate functionality while making the attachment feasible on high-strength steel frames where welding is prohibited.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanically fastened outrigger arrangement provides an anchor point for an automatic four bar linkage tailgate. The mechanically fastened outrigger arrangement includes an outrigger arrangement support frame and an outrigger extending outward from the outrigger arrangement support frame to a distal end configured to support a tailgate actuation link. Outrigger braces also extend from the outrigger arrangement support frame to the distal end of the outrigger. A lower clamp is configured to secure the outrigger arrangement support frame to a lateral support of a truck, and a truck frame clamp is configured to secure the outrigger arrangement support frame to a truck frame.