Folding Expansion Trailer Linkage for Constant-Height Capacity Gain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing folding trailers face challenges in optimizing their folding structure to increase capacity while maintaining a consistent height before and after folding, resulting in inconvenient and non-smooth folding processes.
Innovation Solution
A folding expansion trailer design featuring a linkage structure with interconnected side folding, bottom support, and expansion components, where the front and rear frames converge towards the center during folding, ensuring the height remains unchanged, and the expansion component increases unfolding length without altering the trailer's width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the trailer uses a traditional folding structure to maintain consistent height before and after folding, then the height remains unchanged, but the capacity is limited and the folding process is not smooth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the trailer frame structure movable and adjustable. The front and rear frames are connected through folding linkages that allow the frame to dynamically change its configuration between extended and folded states. The connecting rods and hinge joints enable smooth transitions while maintaining consistent height, resolving the contradiction between capacity and folding smoothness.
Solution Approach 2:
The trailer frame is segmented into multiple independent components including front frame, rear frame, side folding components, bottom support components, and expansion components. Each segment can move independently through folding and expanding motions, allowing the overall structure to increase capacity while maintaining smooth folding operations through coordinated segment movement.
2Length of moving object
If the trailer expands to increase capacity, then the unfolding length increases, but the width remains unchanged requiring complex linkage mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion component uses dynamic linkage mechanisms with connecting rods and hinge joints that allow the trailer to smoothly expand in length. The synchronized movement of multiple connecting rods enables the expansion frame to unfold upward or fold downward in coordination with the main frame, increasing capacity without requiring overly complex fixed mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The expansion frame is designed as an nested structure that can be stored within or alongside the main trailer frame when folded. The open ring-shaped expansion frame with hinged connections allows it to be compact during transport and then deployed to extend the trailer length, reducing the complexity of the overall linkage system.
Data Source
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AI summary
A folding expansion trailer comprises a front frame, a rear frame, side folding components, a bottom support component and an expansion component, wherein upright rods are respectively arranged on the front frame and rear frame, sliding sleeves are arranged on the upright rods; each side folding component comprises a plurality of X-shaped cross articulation pieces which are sequentially articulated; the bottom support component comprises a front bottom frame, a rear bottom frame and a limiting piece, the front bottom frame is hinged with the rear bottom frame, and the limiting piece is used for supporting and limiting the front bottom frame and the rear bottom frame; the expansion component comprises an expansion frame and connecting rod mechanisms, the expansion frame is hinged with two rear upright rods, and sliding sleeves on the rear upright rods drive the expansion frame to rotate via the connecting rod mechanism.