Loading Platform Lifting and Offset Mechanism for Locked Wheel Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle transporters with non-generic loading platforms face challenges in rotating the wheels of vehicles, especially when the parking brake is applied or in all-wheel drive vehicles, due to the need for relative movement between the vehicle's axles and the lifting mechanism, which is not feasible.
Innovation Solution
A loading platform with a lifting device and displacement device that allows the carrying device to be raised, lowered, and displaced as a whole, eliminating the need for relative movement between the vehicle's wheels and its body, and featuring platform parts that can adapt to different wheel configurations and axle positions, including a frame-like structure with longitudinal struts for adjustable support and a pivotable second platform part for optimal positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the wheels of the vehicle are arranged on the supporting device during offsetting and positioning, then the vehicle can be moved and positioned, but the wheels must rotate relative to the vehicle body which is not possible with parking brake engaged or all-wheel drive vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the vehicle relative to the supporting device (conventional approach), the supporting device is moved relative to the vehicle. The lifting device raises and lowers the supporting device, while the offsetting device moves it longitudinally, allowing the vehicle to remain stationary with locked wheels while still achieving loading/unloading operations
2Productivity
If only one axle is arranged on the supporting device during offsetting, then the vehicle can be partially supported, but the other axle requires wheel rotation which is not feasible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the supporting device under both axles simultaneously rather than moving the vehicle over the supporting device. This allows both axles to be supported without requiring wheel rotation, as the supporting device actively positions itself beneath the vehicle
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting device is made dynamically adjustable with platform sections that can be independently positioned and adjusted in length to accommodate different vehicle configurations and axle positions, enabling flexible support of multiple axles without rotation
3Device complexity
If the platform sections are fixed in position, then the structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to different vehicle wheel configurations and axle spacings
Solution Approach 1:
The platform sections are designed with adjustable characteristics - the second platform section can be slid along longitudinal struts to change distance from the first platform section, and the platform sections can be pivoted about transverse pivot axes. This dynamic adjustability allows adaptation to different vehicle wheel configurations and axle spacings
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting device is divided into multiple independent platform sections (first and second platform sections) connected by longitudinal struts, allowing each section to be independently adjusted and positioned to match different vehicle configurations
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a~2c
AI summary
Loading platform (1) for a vehicle transporter (2), comprising: - a support device (5) on which at least one at least two-axle vehicle (6) can be arranged, - at least one lifting device by which, in the assembly state of the loading platform (1) on a vehicle transporter (2), the at least one at least two-axle vehicle (6) can be raised and lowered and/or pivoted, wherein the at least one lifting device has a lifting column (10), - at least one offset device by which, in the assembly state of the loading platform (1) on a vehicle transporter (2), the at least one at least two-axle vehicle (6) can be displaced in a longitudinal direction (L) of the vehicle transporter (2) relative to the lifting column (10), wherein - the support device (5) can be raised and lowered by the lifting device and - the support device (5) can be displaced as a whole by the offset device.wherein the offsetting device comprises at least one longitudinal beam (9) and a third drive device (14) for offsetting the support device (5) along the at least one longitudinal beam (9).