Lifting Floor Pushing Element for Tail Lift Cargo Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile means of transport, such as tail lifts for commercial vehicles, face difficulties and safety concerns during loading and unloading of heavy goods, requiring cumbersome and often dangerous pivoting movements to transfer cargo from the loading platform to the vehicle.

Innovation Solution

A mobile transport system with a horizontal loading surface and a lifting floor that can move between two positions, allowing the lifting floor to be lowered relative to the loading area, featuring a pushing element that covers part of the frame in one position and releases it in another, enabling automatic conveyance of the load into the transport without additional devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional devices such as ropes, chains, scaffolding and hydraulic cylinders are used to transfer cargo from the loading platform to the vehicle, then the cargo transfer capability is improved, but the device complexity and overall weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecargo transfer capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the need for additional cargo transfer devices (ropes, chains, scaffolding, hydraulic cylinders) by redesigning the loading platform itself. The lifting floor is made displaceable relative to the vehicle interior, allowing cargo to be moved simply by shifting the floor position rather than using separate transfer mechanisms. This resolves the contradiction by removing unnecessary devices while maintaining cargo transfer capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The lifting floor serves multiple functions: it acts as both the loading platform surface and the cargo transfer mechanism. By making the floor itself displaceable between a first position (flush with loading surface) and a second position (lowered), it eliminates the need for dedicated transfer devices. This multi-functionality approach reduces device complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional devices such as ropes, chains, scaffolding and hydraulic cylinders are used to transfer cargo, then the cargo transfer capability is improved, but the overall weight of the transport system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecargo transfer capabilityVSAvoidoverall weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the weight of additional cargo transfer devices by integrating the transfer function into the lifting floor structure itself. The displaceable lifting floor eliminates the need for ropes, chains, scaffolding, and hydraulic cylinders, directly reducing the overall weight of the transport system while maintaining cargo transfer capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If pivoting movements are used to transfer cargo from the loading platform to the vehicle, then the cargo transfer function is achieved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome and dangerous movements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecargo transfer functionVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving cargo horizontally through pivoting movements, the patent inverts the approach by moving the loading platform floor vertically between two positions. Cargo remains stationary on the floor while the floor itself moves, eliminating the need for dangerous pivoting operations and significantly improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Ease of operation

If the lifting floor is made displaceable relative to the vehicle interior, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the pushing element mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pushing element is integrated directly into the lifting floor structure, making the floor self-propelled. The pushing element forms part of the floor and automatically displaces the floor between positions without requiring external complex mechanisms. This self-service approach improves ease of operation while minimizing additional device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2574180B1Transport means with a lifting platform and pushing element
Publication Date: 2016.08.24 RANDT STEPHAN
  • EP2574180B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2574180B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2574180B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A movable transport means (1) is described with at least one horizontal loading surface (4, 5), a frame (2) supporting the loading surface (4, 5) and at least one lifting platform (6, 7) which is movable between a first position, in which an upper side of the lifting platform (6, 7) and the loading surface (4, 5) are substantially arranged in a plane, and at least one second position, in which the lifting platform (6, 7) is lowered in relation to the loading surface (4, 5). The lifting platform (6, 7) comprises a pushing element (9, 12) which forms the upper side of the lifting platform (6, 7) and, in the first position of the lifting platform (6, 7) parallel to the loading surface (4, 5), can be displaced between a first position, in which the pushing element (9, 12) covers part of the frame (2), and a second position, in which the pushing element (9, 12) opens up that part of the frame (2) which is covered in the first position.