Modular Material Hoist Carriage With Track Locking for Safe Load Lifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack a safe and efficient method for transporting heavy materials to elevated surfaces, as ladders are unsafe for carrying loads and require users to steady themselves, and portable ladders are cumbersome for occasional use.
Innovation Solution
A motorized material hoist system with a drive mechanism, comprising a housing, motor, gearbox, and spool, that slides along a track to lift and lower loads, featuring a carriage with automatic rotation and locking mechanisms for secure transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a ladder is used to reach elevated surfaces, then access to elevated areas is achieved, but it is unsafe for transporting heavy materials and requires users to steady themselves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a material hoist system as an intermediary device between the ground and elevated surfaces. The hoist system includes a carriage that travels along a track mounted on the ladder, separating the functions of access (ladder) and material transport (hoist system). This allows users to safely transport materials without having to steady themselves against the ladder.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a portable ladder is used for occasional access, then temporary elevated access is achieved, but storage and transport of the equipment is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the material hoist system into separate modular components: a track that can be mounted on the ladder, a carriage that travels along the track, and a drive mechanism. This segmentation allows the system to be easily assembled and disassembled, improving storage and transport convenience while maintaining the capability for temporary elevated access.
3Productivity
If a motorized drive system is added to the carriage, then automated material transport is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the carriage to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the support structure for the drive mechanism and the platform for material transport. The drive system is integrated into the carriage design, allowing a single component to handle both propulsion and load-bearing functions, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining automated transport capability.
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 safe and efficient transport of heavy loads up to 250 pounds at 2 feet per second, with a tested capacity of 3,000 pounds and 6,500 trips, addressing the limitations of ladders and portable ladders.
Implementation Method 1
a spool positioned inside the housing between the motor and the gearbox, the spool configured to: selectably wind and unwind a flexible connecting element coupled to the track; and drive movement of the drive along a longitudinal direction of the track
Implementation Method 2
a motor positioned inside the housing; a gearbox positioned inside the housing and coupled to the motor
Data Source
AI summary
A material hoist system includes a drive; and a carriage, wherein the drive is configured to be coupled to the carriage and to move the carriage of with respect to a track of the material hoist system configured to raise a load to an elevated surface; wherein each of the drive and the carriage are configured to be separately coupled to the track and then to each other to slideably lock in a locked position of each of the drive and the carriage with respect to the track.