Hinged Link Lifting Device for Vertical Side Vehicle Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional forklifts struggle to load palletized goods onto vehicles or trailers with vertical sides without damaging the pallets or the vehicles, leading to unsafe and inefficient manual handling in small-scale operations.

Innovation Solution

A lifting device comprising hingedly joined links that can move from a linear to a bent arrangement in one direction but not the reverse, allowing for safe and stable lifting of pallets onto vehicles or trailers using a flexible sleeve and strap system, compatible with conventional forklifts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional forklifts are used to load pallets onto vehicles with vertical sides, then the forklifts can lift and move pallets, but they cannot load pallets onto vehicles or trailers with side walls even if the side walls are relatively short

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to load onto vehicles with side wallsVSAvoidoperational limitation on flat surfaces only

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting device incorporates a flexible link mechanism that can dynamically change its configuration from a linear arrangement during lifting to a bent arrangement during loading onto vehicles with vertical sides. This dynamic adaptability allows the device to overcome the operational limitations of conventional forklifts while maintaining lifting capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The lifting device is divided into multiple hinged links that can independently move relative to each other. This segmentation allows the device to bend and conform to the geometry of vehicles with side walls, enabling loading operations that would be impossible for rigid forklift systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If simple slings, straps, or ropes are used to overcome the forklift limitation, then the forklift can access vehicles with side walls, but the slings, straps, and ropes can damage the pallets and destabilize the loads

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to load onto vehicles with side wallsVSAvoidpallet and load stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting device applies lifting force through multiple discrete link points rather than a single sling or strap. This distributed contact approach maintains pallet and load stability while achieving the necessary adaptability to load onto vehicles with vertical sides, avoiding the damage caused by concentrated forces from slings and straps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The hinged link mechanism serves as an intermediary between the forklift forks and the pallet, providing both the structural support needed for stability and the flexibility needed to access vehicles with side walls. This intermediary structure eliminates the need for damaging slings and straps while maintaining reliable load securing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If employees hand load pallets from the pallet onto the vehicle/trailer due to forklift limitations, then the forklift operational limitation is avoided, but people are subjected to injuries to hands, feet, backs, shoulders, etc.

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to load onto vehicles with side wallsVSAvoidemployee injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting device performs the loading function automatically through its hinged link mechanism that can bend and extend independently, eliminating the need for manual handling of heavy pallets. This self-service capability removes employees from dangerous manual loading tasks while maintaining the ability to load onto vehicles with vertical sides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic flexibility of the hinged link mechanism allows the system to automatically adapt to different loading geometries without human intervention, enabling safe automated operation in confined spaces where manual loading would be required otherwise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If employees ignore the limitations of forklifts and simply try to load the pallet directly onto the receiving vehicles, then the loading process is simplified, but there is risk of damage to the receiving vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloading process simplicityVSAvoidvehicle damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamic hinged link mechanism allows the lifting device to automatically conform to the receiving vehicle's geometry, enabling direct loading onto vehicles with vertical sides without manual intervention or risk of damage. The system adapts its configuration to match the target geometry, simplifying the loading process while ensuring vehicle safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9580280B2Lifting device, system, and method

Publication Date: 2017.02.28 SCHLOTHAUER TIMOTHY CRAIG

AI summary

A lifting device comprises three or more links hingedly joined end-to-end such that the lifting device is able to hingedly move in a first direction from a linear arrangement to a bent arrangement but is not able to hingedly move from the linear arrangement to a bent arrangement in a second direction opposite the first direction.