Mother Daughter Cart Coupling System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mother/daughter cart systems face inefficiencies due to complex locking mechanisms and the need to lift daughter carts off the surface during transport, limiting adaptability and operational simplicity.
Innovation Solution
A coupling system with first and second coupling rails on one cart frame and a third coupling rail on the other, allowing parallel alignment perpendicular to the transport direction, enabling secure and adaptable engagement without lifting, with a locking apparatus for remote disengagement and caster locking for maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex locking mechanisms are used to secure daughter carts to mother carts, then the reliability of the coupling system is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical locking mechanisms with a simpler coupling system that uses locking pins and channels. The locking pins automatically engage with channels on the opposing cart when brought together, eliminating the need for complex locking mechanisms while maintaining secure attachment and improving system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling system is designed to be self-aligning and self-locking. When the mother cart and daughter cart are brought together, the locking pins automatically engage with the channels without requiring manual intervention or complex locking mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable coupling.
2Reliability
If daughter carts are lifted off the surface during transport, then the coupling effectiveness is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system allows daughter carts to remain on the same surface level as the mother cart throughout the coupling process. The locking pins engage horizontally without requiring vertical lifting, maintaining equipotential conditions and eliminating the need for complex lifting mechanisms, thereby improving ease of operation while ensuring effective coupling.
3Adaptability or versatility
If customized mother/daughter cart arrangements are used for optimal performance, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system uses standardized locking pins and channels that can be applied to various cart configurations. This universal coupling mechanism allows different sizes and types of mother and daughter carts to be coupled together without requiring custom locking mechanisms for each configuration, thereby maintaining adaptability while reducing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for joining at least one daughter cart to a mother cart utilize a coupling system having first and second coupling rails attached to one of the mother and daughter cart frames, and a third coupling rail attached to the other of the mother and daughter cart frames. The coupling rails all extend in a parallel manner to one another in a direction generally perpendicular to a primary transport direction and parallel the underlying surface, when engaged for conveying the daughter cart with the mother cart. The third coupling rail is retained in a channel between the first and second coupling rails, in such a manner that the daughter cart is coupled to and moves with the mother cart as the mother cart is moved in the primary transport direction while the third coupling rail is positioned in the channel between the first and second coupling rails.