Ground Transport Sled Runners for Snow, Sand, and Gravel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheeled carts are ineffective on bulk solid surfaces such as snow or gravel, as the wheels sink into the material, preventing efficient transport of cargo and passengers.
Innovation Solution
A sled design featuring non-Euclidean disk runners with wagon tracks and cross members that stabilize the runners, allowing a cart structure to glide over bulk solid surfaces while keeping wheels elevated and secured, preventing sinking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wheeled carts are used on bulk solid surfaces, then transport capability is provided, but the wheels sink into the material causing ineffective transport
Solution Approach 1:
The sled acts as an intermediary device between the wheeled cart and the bulk solid surface. The runners contact the surface instead of wheels, distributing the load over a larger area to prevent sinking while allowing the cart structure to be transported effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from point contact (wheels) to line contact (runners), effectively changing the dimension of contact. This dimensional change distributes the concentrated wheel load into linear load distribution along the runners, preventing penetration into the bulk solid surface.
2Ease of operation
If the cart structure is placed directly on bulk solid surface, then transport is possible, but the wheels sink and become ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The sled with runners serves as a mediator between the cart and the surface, eliminating the harmful sinking effect while maintaining operational ease. The runners are specifically designed to glide over bulk solid surfaces without penetration.
3Productivity
If runners are used to prevent wheel sinking, then mobility over bulk solid surfaces is improved, but structural stability of the sled must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The sled structure is segmented into distinct functional components: runners for mobility, cross members for structural support, and wagon tracks for wheel accommodation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while contributing to overall stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The runners, cross members, and wagon tracks are merged into an integrated sled structure. The cross members connect the runners to form a rigid frame, combining the mobility function of runners with the stability function of the bracing structure.
Data Source
AI summary
The ground transport sled is configured for use on a bulk solid surface. The bulk solid surface is defined as a supporting surface formed from a bulk solid material. Examples of bulk solid surfaces include, but are not limited to, snow covered surfaces, sand surfaces, and gravel surfaces. The ground transport sled incorporates a plurality of runners, a plurality of cross members, a plurality of wagon tracks, and a cart structure. The ground transport sled forms a vehicle that carries the cart structure over the bulk solid surface. Each wagon track selected from the plurality of wagon tracks mounts on a runner selected from the plurality of runners. Each cross member selected from the plurality of cross member forms a bracing structure that stabilizes the plurality of runners.