Foldable Moving Carrier With Elastic Folding Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable moving carriers with wheels are cumbersome to fold and occupy significant space when folded, making them difficult to carry, transport, and store.
Innovation Solution
A foldable moving carrier design featuring an upper-frame assembly, a lower-frame assembly with a first and second moving member, an elastic member, and a front-wheel assembly with a transmitting member and guiding groove, allowing for efficient energy storage and release to facilitate easy folding and unfolding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional folding mechanisms are used, then the moving carrier can be folded, but the folding procedure is complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member automatically drives the folding process by converting stored elastic energy into mechanical motion. When the moving member is displaced, the elastic member generates restoring force that automatically propels the frame members into folded position without requiring manual manipulation of multiple folding components
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member is pre-loaded with stored energy in the unfolded state. This preliminary energy storage enables the folding mechanism to execute the folding action automatically when triggered, eliminating the need for complex multi-step manual folding procedures
2Volume of moving object
If conventional folding mechanisms are used, then the moving carrier can be folded, but it still occupies large space when folded
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into multiple movable members (first frame member, second frame member, third frame member) that can independently move relative to each other. This segmentation allows each member to be positioned optimally during folding, achieving compact folded volume without requiring overly complex interlocking mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The folding mechanism uses dynamic movement of frame members along guiding paths rather than static hinged joints. The movable members slide and reposition dynamically during folding, enabling compact configuration while maintaining structural integrity and avoiding complex pivot mechanisms
3Ease of operation
If complex folding procedures are used, then folding is possible, but it needs skill to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member serves as an automatic actuator that eliminates the need for users to manually coordinate multiple folding actions. The mechanism self-propels the frame members into folded position using stored elastic energy, reducing the skill requirement to simply initiating the folding motion
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member acts as an intermediary energy storage device between the user's initial input force and the complex folding motion. It converts the simple action of displacing the moving member into coordinated movement of multiple frame members, masking the underlying mechanical complexity from the user
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 enables quick and effortless folding and unfolding, reducing the space required for storage and making the carrier easier to transport and store, while maintaining a compact folded size.
Implementation Method 1
When the first moving member moves along the guiding member, the first moving member enables the elastic member to store a first energy. When the elastic member releases the first energy, the second moving member drives the third moving member to move
Data Source
AI summary
A moving carrier is disclosed. A lower-frame assembly includes a first moving member disposed on the guiding member, a second moving member disposed on the guiding member, an elastic member disposed corresponding to the guiding member, and a third moving member disposed on the second moving member. A transmitting member of a front-wheel assembly has a guiding groove. One end of the third moving member is disposed in the guiding groove. When the first moving member moves along the guiding member, the first moving member enables the elastic member to store a first energy. When the elastic member releases the first energy, the second moving member drives the third moving member to move and the third moving member pushes the guiding groove to move, so that the transmitting member can drive the front-wheel frame to move toward the lower-frame assembly.