Deployable Corral System for Livestock Trailers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The process of setting up and tearing down portable corral fencing for livestock transportation is laborious and time-consuming, particularly for individuals of smaller stature or those with physical disabilities, as it requires manual handling of heavy materials and frequent relocation during travel.
Innovation Solution
A transport trailer with an integrated and deployable corral system that uses a powered drive system, such as hydraulic or electrical, to automatically deploy and retract a corral outside the trailer, reducing the need for manual lifting and allowing for simplified setup and takedown, with optional features like storage bins and a shade canopy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual portable fencing is used to create a corral, then a fenced-in space can be provided for livestock, but the setup and takedown process becomes laborious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The corral fencing is designed as a dynamic, deployable structure that can be quickly extended and retracted. The fencing panels are mounted on a trailer frame with telescoping or foldable support legs that can be deployed to ground level to create a corral, and then retracted back into the trailer frame for transport, enabling rapid setup and takedown without manual assembly/disassembly of individual panels
Solution Approach 2:
The corral fencing panels and support structures are nested within the trailer frame when not in use. The fencing panels slide into or fold against the trailer walls, and the support legs collapse into a compact configuration that fits within the trailer's interior or side compartments, allowing the entire corral system to be stored in a space-efficient manner during transport
2Ease of operation
If heavy corral fencing materials are manually handled, then the corral can be erected, but the process becomes particularly difficult for individuals of smaller stature or those with physical disabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The corral system is designed to deploy and support itself without requiring manual lifting or positioning of heavy fencing panels. The telescoping support legs automatically extend to ground level when deployed, and the fencing panels are mounted on a tracked or wheeled mechanism that allows them to be positioned and secured without manual handling, making the system accessible to individuals of all strengths and abilities
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical handling of heavy fencing materials is replaced with a motorized or hydraulic deployment mechanism. The system uses electric motors or hydraulic cylinders to extend the support legs, deploy the fencing panels, and position the corral structure, eliminating the need for manual lifting and positioning of heavy components
3Extent of automation
If a deployable corral system is integrated into the trailer, then automated deployment is achieved, but the trailer's dimensions may change when the corral system is stowed
Solution Approach 1:
The corral deployment mechanism, including telescoping support legs, fencing panels, and tracking systems, is nested within the trailer's interior volume or side compartments. The support legs collapse into a compact configuration that fits within the trailer's wheel wells or undercarriage, and the fencing panels are stored in recessed areas or fold against the trailer walls, maintaining the trailer's original external dimensions when the corral system is stowed
Solution Approach 2:
The corral system utilizes the vertical dimension and three-dimensional space within the trailer more efficiently. The support legs extend vertically when deployed, and the fencing panels are mounted on a mechanism that allows them to be positioned in multiple dimensions, enabling automated deployment while keeping the stowed profile compact and within the trailer's original footprint
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 system significantly reduces the manual labor required for setting up and tearing down corrals, enabling easier and faster deployment of a secure outdoor space for livestock, while maintaining a compact trailer size during transport.
Implementation Method 1
The integrated corral system can be deployed and retracted automatically by means of an onboard hydraulic or electrical power system
Implementation Method 2
The integrated corral system can be deployed and retracted automatically by means of an onboard hydraulic or electrical power system
Data Source
AI summary
A deployable corral system for a transport trailer, such as a livestock trailer, provides a readily deployable corral along the trailer, and is readily stowable along the trailer in a retracted configuration for travel. The corral includes a pair of spaced-apart and pivotably-extendable corral rails with a cross-rail extending between distal ends of the extendable corral rails. When the extendable corral rails are extended the cross-rail is spaced from an exterior side of the livestock trailer, and when the extendable corral rails are retracted the cross-rail is positioned near a roof of the trailer. A drive system is operable to move the extendable corral rails between the extended and retracted positions. Optionally, the drive system is powered by motors associated with linear or rotary actuators. Further options may include storage bins along the cross-rail, a deployable shade awning, and a deployable trough.