Modular Cleaning Trolley With Segmented Platform And Cross Brace
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a growing need for cleaning utensil trolleys that can be more variably adapted to customer requirements in terms of their frame structure and overall design, while maintaining an attractive appearance and ensuring ease of assembly and use, particularly in spaces with unique space constraints such as airplanes or trains.
Innovation Solution
A modular trolley design featuring a platform composed of individual elements with four corner connectors that allow for adjustable dimensions, a single cross brace connecting four vertical supports without additional fastening elements, and accessories such as impact protection and storage compartments, made from materials like plastic and elastic materials for ease of assembly and adaptability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a modular platform design with individual corner elements is used, then adaptability to customer requirements is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is divided into individual elements including a base element and four corner elements that can be separately manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows the platform to be customized for different dimensions and configurations while maintaining a manageable number of standardized components, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The corner elements are designed as multi-functional components that serve multiple purposes: they connect platform elements, provide attachment points for vertical supports, and enable wheel mounting. This universality reduces the total number of different component types needed, allowing customization without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single cross brace connects four vertical supports without additional fastening elements, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The cross brace is designed as a single integrated component that directly connects all four vertical supports without requiring separate fastening elements. This merging of connection functions into one piece simplifies manufacturing and assembly while maintaining structural reliability through the inherent design of the cross brace geometry and material properties.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the platform dimensions can be variable, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is constructed from standardized modular elements (base element and corner elements) that can be assembled in different configurations. This segmentation allows variable overall dimensions to be achieved through combinatorial assembly of fixed-size components, avoiding the need for custom manufacturing of each dimension while maintaining precision through standardized component tolerances.
Data Source
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AI summary
The trolley (10) has a platform (12) composed of identity element and a frame (14) with four vertical supports (26) and a cross-beam (36). The frame is fastened on the platform. The platform has four corner connectors (18) which are identity element of the platform and at which wheels (30) are attached. The corner connectors have receivers for fastening vertical supports.