Hydraulic Drop Frame Trailer Deck Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cargo or utility trailers present challenges in loading and unloading due to their elevated deck height, requiring the use of ramps which can be physically demanding and unsafe, especially for older or disabled individuals.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic drop frame trailer that lowers to ground level, eliminating the need for ramps by using hydraulic cylinders and pivoting arms to adjust the deck height, allowing for safe and easy loading and unloading with minimal physical effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional cargo or utility trailers are used with elevated deck height, then the structural integrity and stability are maintained, but loading and unloading becomes physically demanding and unsafe
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer employs a hydraulic lift system that dynamically adjusts the deck height between a raised position for transport and a lowered position for loading/unloading. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the need for manual ramp handling and reduces physical strain on users, directly addressing the ease of operation while minimizing injury risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations (manually deploying and securing ramps) with an automated hydraulic system. The hydraulic cylinders automatically lower and raise the deck, eliminating the physical effort required to handle heavy ramps and reducing the risk of physical injury during loading and unloading operations.
2Ease of operation
If ramps are used to bridge the deck height differential, then access to the trailer is enabled, but physical effort increases and safety issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the ramp component from the loading system entirely. Instead of using separate ramps that require manual deployment and securing, the deck itself is lowered to ground level, providing direct access and eliminating the need for external ramps, thereby reducing physical effort while maintaining accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The deck transitions from a static elevated position to a dynamic position that can be lowered to ground level during loading/unloading operations. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the need for static ramps and reduces the physical effort required to load items, as materials can be directly placed onto the lowered deck without manual ramp handling.
3Productivity
If manual ramp deployment is required, then loading capability is achieved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex manual ramp deployment mechanism entirely and replaces it with a simplified hydraulic lift system. The loading capability is maintained through automated deck lowering, eliminating the need for separate ramps and their associated deployment mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic lift system serves multiple functions: it raises the deck for transport stability, lowers the deck for loading/unloading access, and eliminates the need for separate ramp mechanisms. This multi-functionality simplifies the overall device complexity while maintaining full loading capability across different operational modes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The hydraulic drop frame trailer simplifies and safer loading and unloading processes by reducing the deck height to nearly ground level, minimizing the risk of injury and facilitating access for individuals with physical disabilities.
Implementation Method 1
A pair of hydraulic cylinders 30a and 30b are mounted to the frame
Implementation Method 2
A pair of pivoting arms 40a and 40b are coupled between the hydraulic cylinders 30a and 30b and the frame
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic drop frame trailer for a tow vehicle, the hydraulic drop frame trailer including a trailer frame having two sides and a hitch, a pair of wheels, a first and second frame bracket, a trailer bed mounted over the trailer frame, a first and second pivoting hydraulic cylinder, a plurality of hydraulic hoses, a first and second pivoting arm, an operating station connected to a power supply, a first and second axle-less wheel mount with independent suspension mechanism mounted to the first and second pivoting arm, and a plurality of safety locks, each securing an arm to the trailer frame for locking each rotating arm to the trailer bed during transport.