Foldable Transporter With Articulating Legs for Single-Operator Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an efficient and easy way to transport storage boxes and tools between a shop and a job site, particularly in industrial settings, without the assistance of a second operator, as existing solutions struggle to manage the weight and number of tools effectively, leading to loss and difficulty in carrying all necessary equipment.
Innovation Solution
A single-operator multi-function foldable transporter with articulating legs and a dual-threaded lead screw system that allows for height adjustment and folding, equipped with motorized components for easy loading and unloading onto truck beds, and secure storage solutions for tools and storage boxes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the transporter uses articulating legs with lead screw adjustment, then the height adjustability and loading capability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transporter employs articulating legs with adjustable lengths that can dynamically change configuration. The lead screw mechanism allows the leg lengths to be adjusted during operation, enabling the transporter to adapt to different loading conditions and platform heights. This dynamic adjustability resolves the contradiction by providing height versatility through a controlled mechanical adjustment system rather than fixed structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulating legs are designed with nested sections that can telescope into each other, allowing compact storage when not in use. The lead screw mechanism is integrated within the leg structure, and the struts are positioned to nest alongside the legs. This nesting arrangement reduces overall device complexity by consolidating multiple components into space-efficient configurations.
2Ease of operation
If the transporter is designed to be foldable for easy storage, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural stability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The transporter features foldable legs that can transition between extended and retracted positions. When folded, the legs consolidate into a compact configuration for easy storage in vehicle trunks or small spaces. The articulating joints and locking mechanisms maintain structural integrity during both folded and extended states, resolving the contradiction by providing operational flexibility without compromising stability when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The transporter includes preliminary stabilization features such as outriggers or adjustable feet that can be deployed before loading to prevent tipping. These features counteract potential instability issues that might arise from the foldable design, ensuring that the structure remains stable during operation while maintaining ease of storage when folded.
3Ease of operation
If the transporter includes motorized components for automatic operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transporter incorporates a lead screw mechanism that can be operated manually through a hand crank, allowing the user to adjust leg lengths and position the platform without external power sources. This self-service approach eliminates the need for motors or batteries, resolving the contradiction by providing ease of operation through simple mechanical means that consume no energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The design replaces motorized actuation with a purely mechanical lead screw and hand crank system. This substitution eliminates complex electrical systems, motors, and power management requirements, reducing energy consumption to zero while maintaining ease of operation through intuitive manual controls.
4Productivity
If the transporter uses a dual-threaded lead screw system, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transporter employs a dual-threaded lead screw where two threaded sections are combined on a single shaft. One thread engages with the articulating legs to adjust their length, while the other thread engages with the struts to adjust their position. This merging of functions into a single mechanism allows simultaneous adjustment of multiple components, improving productivity by reducing the number of separate adjustment operations required.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-threaded lead screw serves multiple functions: it adjusts leg length, positions struts, and can be operated from either end of the shaft. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by consolidating several adjustment mechanisms into one universal component, improving loading speed without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
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
Enables a single operator to efficiently transport heavy loads by adjusting leg lengths and angles, ensuring the transporter remains level, and securely locking storage boxes, thereby reducing the risk of loss and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a dual-threaded lead screw mechanism that converts rotational motion into linear motion for adjusting the length and angle of the articulating legs
Implementation Method 2
The system incorporates a mechanical advantage system that multiplies the applied force to lift and move heavy loads onto truck beds
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A system is disclosed including a transporter, having a top load bearing surface or bed, and four wheeled articulating legs, that may be operated by a single user/operator, and can be lowered or raised by changing the lengths or angles of its legs while maintaining the transporter bed level. The legs that may be folded up to be loaded onto or unloaded from a truck bed, or a stationary platform, by a single operator while carrying heavy load. The loading and unloading process is assisted by various safety brakes that prevent accidental slippage of the transporter off the truck bed. The legs' angles are changed using a dual-threaded lead screw. The transporter further includes two edge detectors on the front-end and the rear-end to detect the edge of the truck bed automatically, and prepare the folding of the transporter legs for loading onto the truck bed.