Foldable Utility Trailer Deck with Rotating Side Rails
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transportation of utility trailers is inefficient due to their structure, which requires them to be shipped as single units, making multiple trailer shipment difficult and expensive.
Innovation Solution
The utility trailer design features foldable side rails, front rails, and rear gates/ramps that can be folded inward onto the deck, allowing for compact stacking and efficient transportation, reducing the need for extensive finishing work and enabling multiple trailers to be transported as a single load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the utility trailer is designed with a standard structure for use, then the trailer can perform its function of transporting equipment, but it requires transportation as a single unit which is inefficient and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer structure is divided into separable components including the deck frame, side frames with rotating assemblies, front frame, and ramp. These segments can be folded or disassembled for compact transportation while maintaining structural integrity during use
Solution Approach 2:
The side frames and front frame incorporate rotating assemblies that allow the frames to transition between upright operational positions and folded transportation positions. This dynamic capability enables the trailer to adapt its configuration based on whether it is being used or transported
2Quantity of substance
If multiple utility trailers are to be transported together, then transportation costs can be reduced, but the structure must allow for compact stacking which complicates the design
Solution Approach 1:
The foldable side frames and front frame allow the trailer components to nest compactly against the deck frame during transportation. This nested configuration enables multiple trailers to be stacked vertically or horizontally on a single transport platform, maximizing the quantity of trailers that can be shipped together
3Productivity
If the side frames are made foldable for transportation, then multiple trailers can be stacked, but the rotating mechanism increases the complexity of the trailer assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating assemblies incorporate self-latching mechanisms that automatically secure the side frames in both upright and folded positions. This self-service feature reduces the need for complex manual adjustment mechanisms and simplifies the assembly process while maintaining structural stability during transportation
Data Source
AI summary
A utility trailer includes a deck frame, siderails extending along each side of the deck frame, a front rail extending along a front of the deck frame, and a rear gate/ramp across a rear of the deck frame. Each siderail rotates between an upright position extending away from the respective side the deck frame and a stowed position aligned with and over the deck frame. The front rail rotates between an upright position extending away from the deck frame and a stowed position aligned with the deck frame and over the folded siderails. The rear gate/ramp rotates between an upright position and a lowered position having one end resting on a surface below the utility trailer, and also rotates between the upright position and a stowed position aligned with the deck frame and over the folded siderails.