Transportable Corral With Curved Steel Wheels and Hinged Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing corral structures for transporting and enclosing livestock are not easily transportable, adaptable, or flexible, making it difficult to change the area of the corral during use.
Innovation Solution
A transportable corral with hinged panels supported by wheels and collapsable kickstands, featuring jointed, collapsable brace assemblies and steel wheels with curved edges that allow for incremental area adjustments and safe enclosure of livestock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional corral structures are used, then livestock can be enclosed, but the structure cannot be easily transported or rearranged to change the area
Solution Approach 1:
The corral is divided into multiple hinged panels that can be independently moved and reconfigured. Each panel is a separate unit connected by hinges, allowing the overall structure to be segmented into movable sections that can be rearranged to change the enclosed area while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The corral structure incorporates movable components including wheels attached to panels and collapsable kickstands that can be extended or retracted. These dynamic elements allow the corral to be easily transported by rolling and reconfigured by extending kickstands for support, enabling area changes without permanent structural modifications.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid brace assemblies are used to support fence panels, then panels are stable, but the corral cannot be easily folded or compacted for transport
Solution Approach 1:
The brace assemblies are designed as collapsable structures with joints that allow them to transition between extended and retracted positions. When extended, they provide stable support for the panels; when retracted, they allow the panels to be folded together for compact transport, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of folding.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsable brace assemblies can be folded into a compact configuration that nests within or alongside the panel structure during transport. This nesting capability allows the bracing mechanism to be stored efficiently when not in use, enabling easy folding and compacting of the entire corral for transportation.
3Ease of operation
If standard cylindrical wheels are used, then panels can roll, but the wheels cannot easily slide sideways for repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The wheels are designed with curved edges instead of standard cylindrical shapes. This curvature allows the wheels to perform dual functions: rolling forward when force is applied in the rolling direction, and sliding sideways when force is applied laterally. The curved geometry enables easy repositioning of panels in multiple directions without requiring complex mechanical mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A transportable corral includes a plurality of fence panels that are hinged to each other in an end-to-end manner which can be selectively folded together and latched to reduce a perimeter or fence length. Each panel includes a wheel assembly that presents a slick steel wheel with curved sidewalls that is able to roll for moving a panel in a normal direction or slide like a skid for sideways movement. Each panel also includes a brace assembly that is jointed for folding and collapsing when the panel is subjected to excessive outward forces.