Foldable Trolley Chassis for Compact Folding and Lateral Impact Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable trolleys face challenges in achieving a compact folded state while maintaining robustness and flexibility in the unfolded state, particularly in withstanding lateral impacts and ensuring sufficient load-bearing capacity.
Innovation Solution
A foldable trolley frame design featuring a chassis assembly with pivotable sub-assemblies, side folding assemblies with intersecting rods, and lateral support intersecting rod assemblies, allowing for improved lateral impact resistance and load-bearing capacity through coordinated movement of pivotal axes and sliding components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the trolley frame uses a simple folded structure, then the folded volume is reduced, but the lateral impact resistance and load-bearing capacity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The trolley frame is divided into multiple strut assemblies (front left, front right, rear left, rear right) connected through chassis sub-assemblies. Each strut assembly can be independently folded, allowing the overall structure to compact while maintaining structural integrity through the distributed hinge connections and lateral support intersecting rod assemblies that provide reinforcement during folding and unfolding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The trolley frame employs dynamic folding mechanisms where the chassis sub-assemblies pivot about pivotal axes and the side folding assemblies with intersecting rods dynamically adjust their configuration. The lateral support intersecting rod assemblies with slides on middle guide rods provide dynamic lateral support during folding, enabling the structure to maintain strength while achieving compact folding.
2Strength
If the trolley frame uses a robust structure with lateral support, then the lateral impact resistance is improved, but the folded volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral support intersecting rod assemblies are nested within the side folding assemblies. The first and second rods of the lateral support assembly are hinged to the intersecting rod assemblies, allowing them to be contained within the overall folded structure. The slides on the middle guide rods enable the lateral support components to be compacted into the folded configuration while providing lateral reinforcement when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral support intersecting rod assemblies are pre-configured with hinges and slides that enable them to automatically engage and provide lateral support during the folding and unfolding process. The hinged joint shafts and slide mechanisms are designed to activate the lateral support function just as needed, providing robustness when required while maintaining compact folding.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the chassis assembly uses fixed sub-assemblies, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of folding and unfolding deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The chassis assembly uses pivotable sub-assemblies connected by hinges that allow controlled movement about pivotal axes. The first chassis sub-assembly pivots about a first pivotal axis relative to the second chassis sub-assembly, enabling smooth folding and unfolding while maintaining structural stability through the defined pivotal connections and parallel pivotal axes that guide the movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The chassis assembly is segmented into first and second chassis sub-assemblies connected by hinges, allowing independent movement and folding of each section. This segmentation enables the structure to fold smoothly while maintaining stability during operation, as each sub-assembly can be optimized for its specific folding path and structural role.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable trolley, the foldable trolley comprising a trolley frame, the trolley frame comprising: a front left strut assembly, a front right strut assembly, a rear left strut assembly, a rear right strut assembly; a chassis assembly including a first chassis sub-assembly and a second chassis sub-assembly, the first chassis sub-assembly and the second chassis sub-assembly being hinged to each other such that they are pivotable about a first pivotal axis between the first and second chassis sub-assemblies, the first chassis sub-assembly being hinged to both of the front left strut assembly and the front right strut assembly to define a second pivotal axis substantially parallel to the first pivotal axis, the second chassis sub-assembly being hinged to both of the rear left strut assembly and the rear right strut assembly to define a third pivotal axis substantially parallel to the first pivotal axis.