Collapsible Sled for Rough Terrain Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing human transport devices, such as stretchers, are often cumbersome and not suitable for quick evacuation of injured persons in emergency situations, particularly in environments where conventional stretchers cannot be easily employed, like battlefields or during disasters.
Innovation Solution
A compact, portable sled made of a wear-resistant flexible panel with adjustable sheet portions and strapping, designed to be lightweight, collapsible, and adaptable for various transportation methods, including dragging, lifting, and hoisting, to facilitate rapid and secure evacuation of injured individuals over rough terrain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional stretchers are used for transporting injured persons, then the transport device provides sufficient structural strength and stability, but the device becomes cumbersome and difficult to deploy in emergency situations
Solution Approach 1:
The stretcher is divided into multiple functional components: a flexible panel base, separate sheet portions for head and foot sections, and modular strapping systems. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured and assembled, simplifying deployment while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stretcher employs dynamic elements including flexible panels that can bend and conform, adjustable sheet portions that can be positioned as needed, and strapping systems that can be quickly tightened or released. These dynamic features enable rapid deployment and adaptation to different patient sizes and transport scenarios.
2Weight of moving object
If the sled is made lightweight for portability, then the transport device becomes easier to carry and deploy, but the material durability and wear resistance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the sled are constructed with different material properties optimized for their specific functions. The flexible panel uses wear-resistant material for ground contact areas, while sheet portions use lighter materials for coverage. This local differentiation maintains durability where needed while reducing overall weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The sled employs composite construction combining multiple materials with complementary properties: wear-resistant flexible panel material for the base, lighter sheet material for coverage portions, and strong but lightweight strapping materials. This composite approach achieves the desired balance between weight and durability.
3Volume of moving object
If the sled is designed to be collapsible for compact storage, then the transport device becomes more portable and storable, but the structural integrity during transport may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The sled incorporates dynamic structural elements that transition between collapsed and deployed states. The flexible panel and sheet portions can be folded and collapsed for compact storage, then expanded and secured to form a rigid-like structure during transport. The strapping system provides dynamic reinforcement that activates during use to maintain structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sled design includes pre-positioned attachment points, pre-configured strapping arrangements, and pre-planned folding sequences that enable rapid deployment from compact storage. These preliminary arrangements ensure that when the sled is deployed, the structural components are correctly positioned to provide immediate structural integrity.
4Ease of operation
If sheet portions are made of limp material for comfort and flexibility, then the patient contact surfaces become more comfortable and adaptable, but the wear resistance is reduced compared to the flexible panel
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet portions are specifically designed with limp, compliant material properties optimized for patient comfort and conformability. These sheet portions are positioned to contact the patient directly, while the more durable flexible panel forms the structural base that contacts the ground. This local quality differentiation addresses both comfort and durability requirements in their respective locations.
Data Source
AI summary
A compact, portable sled for transporting a person comprises a flexible panel, sheet portions and strapping. The flexible panel has head and foot portions, first and second sides, a sled length, and a sled width. The flexible panel is constructed of a wear resistant material for dragging over rough terrain. The sheet portions made of limp material that is less resistant to wear than the flexible panel. One sheet portion is attached to and extends laterally outward from the first side of the flexible panel. Another sheet portion is attached to and extends laterally outward from the second side of the flexible panel. The flexible panel and sheet portions are collapsible to a compact configuration and expandable from the compact configuration to a use configuration in which the person may be received on the sled for transporting. The strapping is used to secure the person in the sled.