Enclosed Tow Truck Bed Frame for Low-Angle Vehicle Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a towing solution that protects luxury, rare, and antique automobiles from weather, road debris, and unauthorized access during transportation, while also allowing for safe loading and unloading at a low grade to prevent damage.
Innovation Solution
A frame assembly for a flatbed tow truck that supports a box compartment, providing an enclosed space for vehicles, constructed from steel tubing beams welded together, which can be retrofitted onto existing trucks to create a protected environment and facilitate low-grade loading/unloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an open flatbed tow truck is used, then loading and unloading is simple and quick, but the vehicle is exposed to weather, road debris, and unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The box compartment is nested over the flatbed, creating an enclosed space that protects the transported vehicle while maintaining the flatbed's loading functionality. The frame structure integrates with the existing flatbed chassis, combining protection with operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The box compartment acts as an enclosing shell that provides weather and debris protection. The frame structure with vertical support beams creates a rigid protective enclosure around the flatbed area.
2Ease of operation
If a steep-grade flatbed is used for loading, then the truck can accommodate standard flatbed designs, but vehicles with low ground clearance or long ends may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The flatbed is designed to be movable relative to the truck chassis, allowing the bed to be tilted to a downward diagonal orientation. This dynamic configuration enables the bed to approach the ground at a low angle for safe vehicle loading, then return to horizontal for transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The flatbed is tilted to a downward diagonal orientation before vehicle arrival, preparing a low-grade loading surface in advance. This preliminary positioning allows vehicles with low ground clearance to be loaded safely without encountering steep angles during the loading process.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an enclosed box compartment is added to protect vehicles, then weather and debris protection is provided, but the truck's structural complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protective enclosure is divided into modular components: a frame structure with vertical support beams and a box compartment. This segmentation allows the protection system to be added as a separate assembly over the existing flatbed, rather than integrating protection into the base truck structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame structure serves multiple functions: it supports the box compartment for weather protection, provides mounting points for securing vehicles, and integrates with the flatbed's existing chassis. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, minimizing weight increase.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If an enclosed box compartment is added to protect vehicles, then weather and debris protection is provided, but the overall device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame structure is merged with the existing flatbed chassis, utilizing the chassis as part of the support system. The vertical support beams connect the box compartment to the flatbed, creating an integrated structure that combines the enclosure with the loading platform rather than treating them as separate complex systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The box compartment is nested over the flatbed, with the frame structure serving as the connecting interface. This nesting arrangement allows the protective enclosure to be added without fundamentally redesigning the flatbed structure, maintaining relative simplicity while providing comprehensive protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A frame assembly for supporting and mounting a box compartment over and around a flat bed of a flatbed tow truck is described. The frame assembly includes a frame attached to a chassis of a flatbed tow truck. The frame includes at least one left and at least one right side support beams, at least one left and at least one right horizontal connection beams, two or more left side and two or more right side vertical support beams, at least two cross-beams, and at least one vertical connection beam. One or more of the at least two cross-beams is connected to the chassis and is further connected at each of its ends to the left and right side support beams. Each vertical connection beam is connected to either the left or right horizontal connection beam and is oriented generally vertically for attachment of a box compartment to the frame.