Removable Equipment Lock Actuates Rear Door
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing removable transport equipment, such as removable skips and concrete mixers, face challenges with manual or hydraulic actuation of rear doors, which are cumbersome, require hydraulic connections, and limit functionality when not tilting, posing safety and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A device that utilizes existing immobilization locks on the equipment to actuate functional members, such as rear door locking mechanisms, through a control means connected to the lock, allowing remote and automatic operation without additional vehicle modifications or hydraulic connections, ensuring ease of use and assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual actuation of rear door locking mechanisms is used, then the equipment can be operated without hydraulic connections, but the operation becomes cumbersome and requires direct vehicle connections
Solution Approach 1:
The immobilization lock serves a dual function: it secures the equipment to the vehicle and simultaneously actuates the functional member (rear door locking mechanism). The lock's closing motion directly triggers the actuation through a control means, eliminating the need for separate manual or hydraulic actuation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The immobilization lock is designed to perform multiple functions: securing the equipment during transport and automatically actuating the functional member when closed. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional actuation mechanisms and simplifies the overall system.
2Extent of automation
If hydraulic actuation is used for functional members, then automatic operation is achieved, but hydraulic connections are required which limit functionality when not tilting
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing immobilization lock mechanism to automatically actuate the functional member without requiring external hydraulic connections. The lock's closing action directly triggers the actuation through a control means, providing automatic operation while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the actuation function from the hydraulic system and integrates it into the immobilization lock mechanism. This eliminates the dependency on hydraulic connections while maintaining automatic actuation capability, thereby improving adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If additional actuation devices are mounted on the vehicle, then functional members can be actuated, but the vehicle structure must be modified which increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The immobilization lock on the equipment itself serves as the actuation trigger. The control means is mounted on the equipment and is actuated by the lock's closing motion, eliminating the need for additional vehicle-mounted actuation devices and structural modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of mounting actuation devices on the vehicle, the invention inverts the approach by placing the control means on the equipment and using the equipment's own immobilization lock to trigger actuation. This eliminates the need for vehicle structural modifications.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the equipment is locked in transport position, then stability is improved, but the functional members cannot be actuated
Solution Approach 1:
The equipment has different locking zones: a first locking zone for transport position and a second locking zone for actuation. The control means is positioned to be actuated only when the immobilization lock is closed on the second locking zone, allowing stable transport positioning while enabling functional member actuation when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between transport mode (locked on first zone, functional members inactive) and operational mode (locked on second zone, control means actuated). This dynamic positioning allows the equipment to maintain stability during transport while enabling actuation when positioned correctly.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The equipment has a functional unit actuating device with a control unit (6) fixed on a predetermined zone (32) of the equipment, so that the control unit is arranged opposite to a lock (99) or clamp in a stopping position of the equipment such that the lock pushes the control unit when the lock immobilizes the equipment in the stopping position. A mechanical or electrical connection unit (7) connects the control unit to a functional unit (5) to convert an effort of the lock on the control unit by an actuating command of the functional unit. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a vehicle comprising a mobile part articulated on a fixed part and for linearly displacing a removable equipment with respect to the fixed part (2) a method for mounting a functional unit actuating device on a removable equipment for transporting a load.