FRP Tube Conveyor Frame for Non-CDL Trucks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing truck-mounted conveyors are heavy, require a CDL-rated truck, and pose electrical safety risks due to steel construction, limiting their versatility and safety, especially when operating near power lines.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-mounted conveyor system with a fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) tube frame that is lightweight, non-conductive, and adaptable for use on non-CDL trucks, featuring a four-sided FRP tube configuration with integrated belt V-guide tracks, carriage guides, and slewing drives for flexible positioning and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel construction is used for truck-mounted conveyors, then structural strength and load-bearing capacity are improved, but electrical conductivity increases creating safety hazards when operating near power lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by replacing traditional steel construction with fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) materials for the conveyor frame. This composite material provides the necessary structural strength and load-bearing capacity while being non-conductive, thus eliminating the electrical conductivity hazard when operating near power lines.
2Strength
If steel conveyors are used, then structural integrity is improved, but weight increases requiring larger trucks and reducing payload capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fiber-reinforced plastic composite materials that provide high strength-to-weight ratio. This allows the conveyor to maintain structural integrity while significantly reducing weight compared to traditional steel construction, enabling use on smaller trucks and increasing available payload capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters from steel to FRP composite, altering the density and strength characteristics. This parameter change enables the conveyor to achieve required structural performance with reduced weight, directly addressing the contradiction between strength and weight.
3Productivity
If conventional truck-mounted conveyors are used, then material handling capability is improved, but adaptability to different sites and orientations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a telescopic carriage system that allows the conveyor to dynamically adjust its length and position. The carriage can extend and retract, enabling the conveyor to adapt to different site configurations, orientations, and overhang requirements while maintaining material handling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the conveyor with universal features including a telescopic carriage that can operate in multiple positions and orientations. This multi-functional design allows the same conveyor system to handle materials at various locations and angles, significantly improving site adaptability while maintaining productivity.
4Strength
If CDL-rated trucks are used for mounted conveyors, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but operational flexibility and cost are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy steel construction with lightweight FRP composite materials, significantly reducing the conveyor's weight. This weight reduction allows the use of non-CDL rated trucks with lower payload capacities, expanding truck selection flexibility and reducing operational costs while maintaining adequate load-bearing capacity for most applications.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a vehicle-mounted conveyor system, and more specifically a conveyor system that can be mounted on a short-length, non-CDL truck. The conveyor can convey a wide range of materials, including shingles, shakes (e.g., loose dirt, gravel, and rocks), tiles, underlayment, solar panels, siding, bricks, fasteners, etc. In some embodiments, the conveyor system includes a frame with a four-sided FRP tube, a belt positioned on top of the tube, cleats interconnected to the belt, belt pulleys, a motor, a material backstop, and conveyor positioning features. Conveyor positioning features include a tilting hinge a conveyor carriage, a telescopic vertical post, and a slewing drive. In some embodiments, the conveyor frame is a fiber-reinforced plastic material.