Composite Jack Stand Structure for Heavy Load Manual Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heavy-duty jack stands are cumbersome and require multiple persons to move safely, posing an injury risk, as they are typically made of heavy metal and lack efficient manual handling solutions for supporting loads up to 30 tonnes in industrial settings.

Innovation Solution

A lightweight jack stand constructed with composite material via pultrusion, featuring reinforcing fibers wound in both clockwise and anticlockwise directions around a tubular post, combined with a metal base and top for enhanced compressive strength and safety, allowing single-person handling and supporting loads up to 30 tonnes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If jack stands are made from heavy metal parts to sustain heavy loads, then load-bearing strength is improved, but weight increases making them cumbersome to move

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-bearing strengthVSAvoidweight of jack stand
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials consisting of a metal base structure with embedded reinforcing fibers (such as carbon fibers, glass fibers, or aramid fibers) to achieve both high strength and low weight. The composite material provides the necessary load-bearing capacity while significantly reducing the overall weight compared to traditional solid metal construction, enabling single-person handling of jack stands rated for heavy loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If multiple persons are used to lift and position jack stands to ensure safety, then safety is improved, but operational complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety during handlingVSAvoidnumber of persons required
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces the weight of the jack stand through composite material construction and optimized structural design, directly counteracting the gravitational force that makes handling difficult. By reducing the weight to a level that a single person can safely manage, the need for multiple persons is eliminated, simplifying the operational procedure while maintaining safety through controlled, manageable weights.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Strength

If jack stands are designed to support heavy loads up to 30 tonnes, then load capacity is improved, but structural weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload capacityVSAvoidstructural weight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating reinforcing fibers in specific high-stress regions of the jack stand structure rather than uniformly throughout. The composite material distribution is optimized to provide maximum strength where needed (such as at load-bearing points and connection areas) while keeping other areas lighter, achieving 30-tonne capacity without proportionally increasing overall weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials with high strength-to-weight ratio properties to achieve extreme load capacity. The combination of metal matrix with high-strength fibers creates a material that can support 30 tonnes while remaining light enough for manual handling, fundamentally decoupling load capacity from structural weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution enables safe and convenient manual movement of the jack stand while maintaining the ability to support heavy industrial loads, reducing the risk of injury and improving operational efficiency by distributing weight effectively and providing robust compressive strength.

Implementation Method 1

the composite material including reinforcing fibres wound around the post to improve compressive strength, the reinforcing fibres being separately wound in both clock-wise and anticlockwise directions along the post to further improve compressive strength

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiber reinforcement: Composite Materials

Implementation Method 2

a post including composite material formed via a pultrusion process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPultrusion: Extrusion

Implementation Method 3

The composite material may include polymeric resin material and high strength fibres

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymer matrix composite formation: Composite Materials

Data Source

PatentEP3445531B1A light weight jack stand
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 STAND TECH PTY LTD
  • EP3445531B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3445531B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3445531B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a jack stand. The jack stand includes a base. A post, including composite material, extends from the base. The jack stand also includes a top for topping the post and for engaging with a load. Advantageously, the post may be lightweight (typically less than 12kg) enabling the jack stand to be conveniently moved by a single person without exposing the person to significant risk of injury. The jack stand may be moved as a whole, or in parts.