Ladder Storage Carriage with Over-Center Locking Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Emergency vehicles like fire engines face challenges in quickly and safely accessing and storing heavy firefighting equipment, such as ladders, due to limited space and the need for rapid deployment in various weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system featuring a carriage with a rotating table and a trolley mounted on it, equipped with a locking mechanism that includes a linkage for over-center rotation, allowing the ladder to be easily tilted and secured in an inclined position for access, while preventing unintended movement and ensuring stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ladder and frame are moved off the roof to provide access to emergency personnel, then the ladder becomes accessible to responders on the ground, but the heavy ladder and frame become difficult to balance and handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a counterweight mechanism that balances the heavy ladder and frame assembly, reducing the effort required to move and position the ladder. The counterweight system compensates for the weight of the ladder and frame, making it easier for emergency personnel to handle the equipment during deployment and retrieval operations.
2Ease of operation
If the frame is moved rearward to allow the ladder to overhang the back of the vehicle, then the ladder becomes accessible to personnel on the ground, but the ladder and frame become difficult to balance and handle
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight mechanism provides balancing force that compensates for the rearward movement and overhanging position of the ladder, maintaining stability throughout the deployment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates dynamic movement capabilities that allow the frame and ladder to be smoothly positioned and locked at various angles. The mechanism transitions from a static mounted position to a dynamic deployed position, enabling controlled movement and stable positioning during emergency operations.
3Ease of operation
If the table rotates to an inclined position for ladder access, then the ladder becomes accessible to personnel on the ground, but the system requires a locking mechanism to prevent unintended movement
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage when the table reaches the desired inclined position, preventing unintended movement before personnel need to interact with the ladder. The system prepares the locked state in advance to ensure safety during the critical deployment phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism operates automatically through the movement of the table itself, utilizing the motion of the table to trigger the locking action without requiring additional manual intervention. The system locks itself into the desired position as part of the natural deployment sequence.
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 system enables quick and safe retrieval and storage of ladders by allowing them to be tilted to a 45-degree angle for easy access, minimizing mechanical stress and ensuring the ladder remains locked in position, enhancing safety and efficiency during emergency operations.
Implementation Method 1
The linkage is configured so that the linkage is collapsed when the table is in the first angular position, and the pivot point undergoes over-center rotation as the table moves from the first to the second angular position.
Implementation Method 2
The linkage includes a first member pivotally coupled to the table at a first pivot point, and a second member configured to be pivotally coupled to the mounting surface at a second pivot point.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems are provided for storing and retrieving objects such as ladders. The systems can include a carriage having a table that rotates, and a trolley mounted on the carriage for holding the object and moving the object linearly in relation to the carriage, so that the object can be stowed in locations such as on the roof of a fire engine or other emergency vehicle, or the roof of a stationary structure. The systems include features for locking the table and the trolley to increase the safety and efficiency of the loading and unloading processes.