Independent Rolling Element Guide for Trailer Wall Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing truck and container loading/unloading systems, such as those described in EP2716591 and US2005053451, face issues with wear and damage to trailer or container walls due to mechanical contact, particularly when using canvas materials.
Innovation Solution
A guide system featuring an autonomous, mechanically independent longitudinal trolley with rolling elements on both sides, where the rotation speeds can be independently controlled using position sensors and motors, allowing for contactless operation and precise navigation within the trailer or container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If guide wheels or skis are used to guide the trolley, then the trolley can be guided along the trailer walls, but wear and damage to the trailer walls occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact guidance system (wheels or skis touching walls) with an optical measurement system (laser rangefinders) that measures distance to the trailer walls contactlessly. This substitution eliminates mechanical wear and damage while maintaining precise positioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces laser rangefinders as an intermediary between the trolley and the trailer walls. Instead of direct mechanical contact, the laser beams serve as intermediaries to measure position, thereby preventing direct contact and associated wear and damage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If contactless position sensors are used, then wear and damage to walls is prevented, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple mechanical contact sensors with optical laser rangefinders. While this increases measurement capability and eliminates wear, it also introduces more complex electronic control systems to process the optical data and coordinate the independent rolling elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the trailer walls themselves as reference surfaces for the laser rangefinders. The walls reflect the laser beams back to the sensors, allowing the system to self-measure its position without requiring additional infrastructure or complex external guidance systems.
3Measurement precision
If independent motor control of rolling elements is implemented, then precise navigation is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the trolley's propulsion system into multiple independently controlled rolling elements, each with its own motor. This segmentation allows precise differential steering and positioning by controlling each wheel independently based on laser rangefinder data, achieving high navigation precision through distributed control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback control where laser rangefinders constantly measure the trolley's position relative to the trailer, and this information feeds back to the control system which adjusts the speed of each independently controlled rolling element to maintain precise positioning and navigation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Guide system for loading/unloading equipment comprising a longitudinal trolley (4) with rolling elements (6, 7, 8, 9) arranged on both sides of the longitudinal trolley (4), which enters a truck trailer or container. The rotation speeds of the rolling elements (6, 7, 8, 9) on one side are independent from the rotation speeds of the rolling elements (6, 7, 8, 9) on the opposite side. It also comprises one or more preferably contactless position sensors on the longitudinal trolley (4) to sense the inside walls of the trailer or container and a control system that sets the different speeds of the rolling elements (6, 7, 8, 9) according to the measurements taken by the position sensors in order to centralise the longitudinal trolley inside the trailer or container.