Drop Body Trailer Layout for Direct Tipping Tall Waste Containers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional trailers cannot accommodate taller municipal solid waste (MSW) containers due to height restrictions and instability issues, necessitating multiple handling steps and increased costs for emptying, as they cannot be tipped directly at waste locations.
Innovation Solution
A trailer design with a rear container door hinged at the top, incorporating a door clearance assembly and hydraulic lift mechanism, allowing the door to swing open during tipping, and a lower center of gravity to stabilize the container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If conventional flatbed trailers are used to transport taller MSW containers, then the containers can be transported over the road, but the combined height exceeds tunnel restrictions and the higher center of gravity creates instability
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer is divided into two distinct levels: a raised front section for hitch attachment and a lowered rear cargo bed for container placement. This segmentation allows the container to sit lower relative to the ground, reducing the center of gravity height and improving stability during transport, while still accommodating the full height of tall MSW containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The trailer design shifts the stability solution from vertical dimension (lowering the entire trailer) to horizontal dimension (creating a stepped profile with raised front and lowered rear). This dimensional change allows the container to be positioned optimally for stability while maintaining compatibility with road height restrictions.
2Length of moving object
If double drop trailers are used to accommodate taller containers, then height restrictions are satisfied, but the container door cannot swing open during tipping due to interference with wheel assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assemblies are extracted from the traditional position directly behind the cargo bed and relocated to a separate wheel well structure positioned below and behind the cargo bed. This extraction removes the physical interference that prevents door opening during tipping, allowing the container door to swing freely while the wheels remain in their lowered position.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of positioning the wheels behind the cargo bed as in conventional trailers, the design inverts this arrangement by placing the wheels below and behind the cargo bed in a separate well structure. This inverted configuration allows the container door to open during tipping without wheel interference, while still providing proper support and alignment.
3Device complexity
If conventional trailers are used, then standard equipment can handle the containers, but additional machinery like forklifts and ADTs are required at waste disposal sites, increasing time and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer is designed with self-service capabilities by incorporating a built-in tipping mechanism that uses the trailer's own structure and the container's door hinge as a fulcrum. This eliminates the need for external machinery like forklifts or articulated dump trucks at waste disposal sites, allowing the trailer to tip and empty the container autonomously, thereby improving waste disposal efficiency and reducing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The trailer design combines multiple functions into a single system: it provides stable transport accommodation for tall containers, enables direct tipping at waste disposal sites, and eliminates the need for additional specialized machinery. This multi-functionality improves productivity by streamlining the waste disposal process while maintaining relatively simple trailer construction.
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
Enables direct tipping of taller MSW containers at waste locations, reducing handling complexity and costs by minimizing the need for additional machinery and transfers.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic lift mechanism to align the container for efficient emptying
Implementation Method 2
the trailer is typically placed on a tipper and raised on an angle of approximately 62 degrees to permit the solid waste to pour out
Data Source
AI summary
A drop body trailer for transporting and emptying waste from a container. The trailer includes a trailer hitch section configured to engage with a tractor for towing of the trailer by the tractor. A main cargo section is connected to the trailer hitch section and supports the container. A wheel support section is provided that includes a wheel assemble and a flatbed that extends rearward to the rear of the trailer. A door clearance assembly is located on or between the main cargo section and the wheel support section. The door clearance assembly is configured to permit the rear container door to swing open during tipping of the trailer. The door clearance assembly may be a ramp or a hydraulic lift mechanism.