Hinge Locking System With Guide Channel For Portable Corral Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
The process of setting up and tearing down portable corrals for livestock is laborious and time-consuming, particularly for individuals with physical limitations or disabilities, as it involves manually loading, unloading, and rearranging pivotably coupled fence components.
Innovation Solution
A hinge locking system that allows for secure angular positioning of pivotable rails relative to stationary rails, using a tracking pin and guide channel with a locking pin to lock the rails in place, facilitating easier deployment and retraction of corral systems integrated with transport trailers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual loading, unloading, and rearranging of pivotably coupled fence components is used, then the corral system can be set up and taken down, but the process becomes laborious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge locking system enables dynamic positioning of the pivotable rail at multiple angular positions through the guide channel, allowing the corral components to be quickly adjusted and locked into place without extensive manual rearranging, thereby increasing setup and takedown speed while reducing manual labor
2Adaptability or versatility
If pivotably coupled fence components are used, then the corral can be adjusted to different positions, but the locking mechanism requires precise alignment for secure positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The guide channel acts as an intermediary element that guides the tracking pin through a predetermined path, automatically ensuring precise alignment between the tracking pin and locking pin holes at each locking position. This eliminates the need for manual alignment precision while maintaining multiple adjustable angular positions
3Reliability
If a locking pin system with tracking pin and guide channel is implemented, then secure angular positioning is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge locking system merges multiple functions into a integrated assembly: the guide channel provides both the locking path and the positioning guide, while the tracking pin and locking pin work together as a combined mechanism. This integration achieves reliable secure positioning without proportionally increasing device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge locking system is provided for locking pivotable hinge parts at a desired angular position relative to one another. The hinge locking system includes a locking pin, a plate with a locking pin receiver, a movable pin receiver defining an axial bore for receiving the locking pin, and a pair of spaced-apart limit stops along the plate. The movable pin receiver is movable relative to the plate, and the limit stops are selectively contacted by the movable pin receiver to limit the maximum relative movement of the movable pin receiver. When the axial bore of the movable pin receiver aligns with the plate's locking pin receiver, the locking pin is insertable through the locking pin receiver and the axial bore in the movable pin receiver, to thereby lock the movable pin receiver and the hinge parts against further movement.