Deployable Wheel Assembly for Single-User Equipment Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual lifting and transportation of heavy equipment poses significant risks of injury and inefficiencies, requiring multiple users and increasing labor costs and time consumption, particularly in industries like construction and manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
An equipment transport apparatus with a fixed wheel system that allows a single user to easily move heavy equipment, featuring a coupling block and wheel assembly that can be deployed and stowed, ensuring balanced weight distribution and reducing the need for assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual lifting and transportation of heavy equipment is performed, then the equipment can be moved, but the risk of injury to users increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wheeled transport apparatus as an intermediary device between the heavy equipment and the user. This apparatus includes a coupling mechanism that attaches to the equipment and wheels that enable easy movement, thereby mediating the interaction between the user and the heavy equipment to reduce injury risk while maintaining operational efficiency
2Reliability
If multiple users are used to transport heavy equipment, then the equipment can be moved safely, but labor costs and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transport apparatus is designed to enable a single user to safely transport heavy equipment independently. The self-contained design with integrated coupling mechanisms and wheeled propulsion allows the equipment to be moved without requiring assistance from multiple users, thereby reducing both time consumption and labor costs while maintaining safety
3Productivity
If complex apparatuses with numerous movable objects are used to transport heavy equipment, then the transportation capability is improved, but the operation and maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transport apparatus is segmented into distinct functional components: a coupling block for attaching to equipment, a wheel assembly for movement, and a positioning mechanism for deployment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying both operation and maintenance while maintaining effective transportation capability
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 apparatus significantly reduces the risk of injury and enhances operational efficiency by enabling single-user transportation, while being cost-effective and easy to maintain, thus improving productivity and reducing labor costs.
Implementation Method 1
The wheel assembly is rotatably coupled to the coupling block such that the wheel assembly is configured to rotate relative to the coupling block
Data Source
AI summary
An equipment transport apparatus is designed to facilitate the transportation or movement of a piece of equipment by a single user. The equipment transport apparatus includes a coupling block configured for being attached to the piece of equipment in a fixed position, a wheel assembly rotatably coupled to the coupling block, and a position selector coupled to the wheel assembly. The wheel assembly is configured to rotate relative to the coupling block between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration. The coupling block has a wheel positioning flange having a first opening and a second opening and the position selector is configured to engage with the first opening when the wheel assembly is in the deployed configuration and with the second opening when the wheel assembly is in the stowed configuration. The apparatus provides a safer, more efficient, and user-friendly solution to the challenges associated with equipment transportation.