Expandable Trailer Floor Section Pivoting Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Expandable trailers face issues with structural stability and obstruction of interior space when collapsed, as well as inability to support furniture during transport due to foldable floor elements that must be retracted, leading to balance concerns with heavy loads.
Innovation Solution
An expandable trailer design featuring extendable supports and floor sections that pivotally couple to remain level and balanced, allowing storage during transport, with optional leveling jacks for parking and coupling for adjacent trailers to align floor sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the expandable portion is received inside the trailer interior when collapsed, then structural stability is improved, but the trailer interior is obstructed and furniture positioning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable portion is divided into separate floor elements that can be independently folded and positioned. These segmented floor elements can be stored outside the trailer interior when collapsed, preventing obstruction while maintaining structural stability through their distributed configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor elements are designed to fold vertically upward from the horizontal plane, utilizing the vertical dimension for storage. This allows the expandable portion to be compacted without occupying trailer interior space, resolving the conflict between stability and interior accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If floor elements are folded up into retracted position at one side during transport, then trailer interior is unobstructed, but the expandable portion cannot support furniture and balance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The floor elements are configured with asymmetric folding characteristics, allowing them to be positioned at different angles and locations. This asymmetry enables optimal weight distribution and balance during transport while still keeping the trailer interior accessible, contrary to symmetric folding into a single position.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor elements serve multiple functions: they provide structural support when extended, can be positioned to maintain balance during transport, and allow trailer interior accessibility. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between interior accessibility and balance maintenance.
3Ease of operation
If only one side of the trailer supports the expandable portion, then the trailer interior is unobstructed, but balance is compromised when containing heavy loads
Solution Approach 1:
The floor elements are designed to be distributed across multiple support points and can be positioned to counterbalance heavy loads. By strategically placing these elements, the system creates counterweight effects that maintain balance even when only one side of the trailer is actively supporting the expandable portion during transport.
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 design ensures the expanded portion remains level and balanced, enabling storage of furniture during transport and stable parking, addressing the stability and obstruction issues of previous designs.
Implementation Method 1
at least one support, comprising an inner member and an outer member, the outer member having an inner opening that extends substantially along a length of the outer member, the inner member housed within the opening and coupled to the rail of a corresponding one of the at least one floor section, the at least one support being extendable
Implementation Method 2
at least one rectangular floor element, having a first longitudinal edge pivotally coupled to the inner longitudinal edge of a corresponding one of the at least one floor sections
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable trailer comprising a chassis, at least one pair of extendable supports, at least one pair of horizontal floor sections and at least one pair of floor elements. Each support is extendable laterally outwardly to a respective side of a central longitudinal axis of the chassis. The horizontal floor sections of each pair of horizontal floor sections are spaced apart laterally and each have an outer rail which is coupled to a corresponding one of the supports. The floor elements are pivotally coupled to each other and to the floor sections. Upon extension of the extendable supports from a retracted position to an open, extended position, the horizontal floor sections move laterally outwardly to extend from the chassis and the floor elements move from an upright vertical arrangement to an arrangement where the floor elements lie in horizontal alignment with the floor sections.