Material Transfer Vehicle Conveyor Access Stairway

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional material transfer vehicles for asphalt paving lack a safe and space-efficient access stairway for the operator's station, as traditional vertical ladders occupy too much space and protrude outside the vehicle, posing safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

A side stairway with conveyor steps mounted on the upper side of the truck-unloading conveyor, which is designed to be generally horizontal when in the working position and pivots to a travel position, ensuring the stairway is entirely within the vehicle's periphery, providing easy and safe access to the operator's station.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a vertical ladder is used to access the operator's station, then the structure is simple, but it occupies too much space and protrudes outside the vehicle periphery creating safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestairway structureVSAvoidsafety hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stairway is nested within the vehicle's periphery by mounting steps on the conveyor structure. The conveyor acts as the structural carrier, with steps attached to its upper side, allowing the stairway to be contained within the vehicle's outer boundaries while providing safe access to the operator's station

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The stairway transitions from a vertical ladder configuration to a stepped incline that follows the conveyor's angled structure. This dimensional change allows the access path to be integrated within the vehicle's periphery while maintaining safe climbing geometry with appropriate step angles and dimensions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If a conventional stairway is used to access the operator's station, then it is easier and safer to use than a ladder, but it occupies too much space and protrudes outside the vehicle periphery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to operator's stationVSAvoidspace occupied by stairway

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The stairway structure is merged with the conveyor assembly. The steps are mounted on the upper side of the conveyor, utilizing the conveyor's structural framework as the stairway support. This combination eliminates the need for separate stairway support structures and integrates the access function within the existing vehicle geometry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3526408B1Material transfer vehicle

Publication Date: 2021.07.21 ROADTEC INC

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AI summary

A material transfer vehicle includes a frame and an operator's platform that is mounted on the frame. A conveyor is mounted on the frame, adjacent to and below the operator's platform. The conveyor is adapted to be moved between a working position and a travel position. An access stairway to the operator's station includes a side stair portion and a conveyor step that is mounted on the upper side of the conveyor.