Dual-Directional Hydraulic Slidable Storage Tray for RVs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slidable storage trays in vehicles, especially those with expandable rooms, are difficult for elderly users to access due to manual actuation requirements and potential issues with electric motor actuation, such as misplaced or damaged limit switches and binding on tracks, and hydraulic cylinders have not been effectively designed for dual directional movement with full retraction inside the cargo bay.
Innovation Solution
A dual directional slidable storage tray actuated by two hydraulic cylinders, where one cylinder is attached to the vehicle frame and the other to the tray, with a control system using solenoid valves and switches to ensure both cylinders retract inside the compartment when the tray is retracted, allowing easy access without needing to crouch under an expandable room.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual actuation is used to move the slidable tray, then the device complexity is reduced, but heavy cargo makes it difficult for users (especially elderly users) to move the tray between extended and retracted positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical actuation system with a hydraulic actuation system. Hydraulic cylinders with rod ends and barrel ends are used to provide automated mechanical force to move the tray, eliminating the need for users to manually push or pull heavy cargo-laden trays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic cylinders as the actuation mechanism. The hydraulic system provides controlled force to extend and retract the slidable tray, making it easy for users (including elderly users) to operate without physical strain while maintaining system sophistication through hydraulic control.
2Ease of operation
If electric motors are used to actuate the slidable tray, then ease of operation is improved, but limit switches can be misplaced or damaged causing the motor to stop at incorrect locations and the tray may bind on its track
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electric motor actuation system with a hydraulic actuation system. This eliminates the need for limit switches and electrical components that can malfunction, providing a more reliable mechanical-hydraulic solution for tray movement control.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic system uses simple, robust components (cylinders, hoses, valves) that are less prone to the complex failures associated with electric motors and electronic control systems. The hydraulic components are designed to be durable and maintenance-friendly.
3Ease of operation
If hydraulic cylinders are used to actuate the slidable tray, then ease of operation is improved, but portions of the hydraulic cylinders may be extended outside the cargo bay even when the tray is retracted inside the storage compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic actuation system is divided into two separate cylinders: one attached to the vehicle body and one attached to the tray. This segmentation allows independent control and positioning of each cylinder, enabling the system to retract both cylinders inside the cargo bay when the tray is retracted, eliminating the protrusion problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement of the hydraulic cylinders by attaching one to the vehicle body and the other to the tray, creating a distributed configuration. This dimensional reorganization ensures that when the tray is retracted, both cylinders can be positioned inside the cargo bay, solving the protrusion issue.
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 actuation system enables easy and safe access to cargo without manual effort, preventing cylinder exposure outside the cargo bay when retracted and ensuring smooth operation by controlling the tray's movement with switches, enhancing usability for all users, particularly the elderly.
Implementation Method 1
a first hydraulic cylinder (22, 24) adapted to move the slidable storage tray (20) between an extended position and a retracted position
Data Source
AI summary
A slidable storage tray adapted to be hydraulically actuated between a retracted position wherein the tray is nested inside a vehicle's storage compartment and an extended position wherein at least a portion of the tray is located outside of the vehicle's storage compartment. The slidable storage tray is dual directional so that it extends from either a first side or a second side of the vehicle. The hydraulic circuit comprises a first hydraulic cylinder and a second hydraulic cylinder. The rod of the first cylinder is attached to the vehicle/storage compartment frame and the rod of the second cylinder is attached to the slidable storage tray. The two hydraulic cylinders are attached together so their barrels cannot move relative to one another. The two hydraulic cylinders are facing the same direction so that their rods both extend in the same direction.