Extendable Transfer Ramp for Bridging Cargo Gaps Between Trailers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for transferring cargo between commercial vehicles are physically intensive, limited to lightweight cargo, pose risks of damage and injury, and are inefficient, especially when gaps between vehicles need to be bridged.
Innovation Solution
A transfer ramp system with extendable arms and a pivoting ramp mechanism that aligns with vehicle platforms to bridge gaps, allowing safe and efficient transfer of cargo without the need to jump gaps, using actuators and latching systems for deployment and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual methods are used to transfer cargo between commercial vehicles, then equipment complexity is reduced, but physical effort and risk of injury increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transfer ramp as an intermediary device between commercial vehicles to enable safe cargo transfer. The ramp includes extendable arms that can be positioned between vehicles, providing a stable surface for cargo movement without requiring manual handling across gaps, thereby reducing physical effort and injury risk while maintaining relatively simple equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer ramp system incorporates self-adjusting features where the extendable arms can automatically position and stabilize themselves during deployment. The latching mechanisms and alignment systems operate with minimal human intervention, allowing the equipment to service itself during the cargo transfer process while reducing the need for complex control systems.
2Device complexity
If lightweight cargo transfer methods are used, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but cargo weight capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer ramp employs dynamic extendable arms that can adjust their length and position based on the cargo weight and vehicle configuration. The arms can be extended to provide additional structural support for heavier cargo while maintaining a compact, simple design when not in use. This dynamic capability allows the system to handle varying cargo weights without requiring permanently complex equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer ramp is divided into segmented extendable arms that can be independently positioned and supported. Each segment can bear a portion of the cargo weight, distributing the load across multiple structural elements. This segmentation allows the system to handle heavier cargo while maintaining overall equipment simplicity through modular, manageable components.
3Device complexity
If gaps between vehicles are bridged using manual methods, then equipment requirements are minimized, but transfer time and efficiency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer ramp system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning the extendable arms and establishing a stable transfer surface before cargo movement begins. The arms can be deployed and secured in advance, creating a ready-to-use bridge between vehicles. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for time-consuming manual adjustments during the actual cargo transfer, thereby improving efficiency without requiring excessively complex equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical methods with a more efficient mechanical system featuring extendable arms and latching mechanisms. Instead of relying on workers to manually bridge gaps or stabilize cargo during transfer, the system uses automated mechanical extension and locking features to quickly establish a stable transfer path, significantly reducing transfer time while maintaining reasonable equipment complexity.
4Reliability
If stable platform alignment is achieved between vehicles, then cargo transfer safety is improved, but device complexity and adjustment mechanisms increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer ramp incorporates self-aligning features where the extendable arms automatically adjust their position to match the vehicle platforms. The arms can sense and adapt to platform height and position differences through self-adjusting mechanisms, eliminating the need for complex manual alignment procedures or sophisticated control systems while maintaining high safety standards for cargo transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves stable platform alignment by dynamically changing physical parameters such as arm length, angle, and position. The extendable arms can adjust their geometric parameters to accommodate different vehicle configurations and platform heights. These parameter changes enable safe cargo transfer across varying conditions without requiring equally variable complexity in the alignment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Transfer ramp systems, including transfer ramp systems for loading, unloading, or transferring cargo between one or more commercial vehicles, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a transfer ramp system comprises a transfer ramp and at least one extendable arm attached to the transfer ramp. The at least one extendable arm is usable to extend or retract the transfer ramp. The transfer ramp system is mountable beneath a top platform of a vehicle or trailer. When the transfer ramp system is mounted beneath the top platform, the transfer ramp is moveable between (a) a stowed position in which the transfer ramp is positioned beneath the top platform and (b) a deployed position in which the transfer ramp is usable to bridge a gap between the top platform and another structure for moving cargo between (i) the other structure and (ii) the vehicle or trailer.