Modular Forestry Trailer Frame for Adjustable Timber Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing forestry trailers for transporting timbers are heavy, rigid, and lack flexibility in adjusting components such as the position of the driving assembly and loading bridges to accommodate varying cargo needs, leading to inefficiencies and noise during transport.

Innovation Solution

A trailer design featuring a 45° oriented square tube bearing assembly with adjustable towing hitch, interchangeable loading bridges, and a modular structure allowing components like a crane mounting platform and protective grid, secured with V-shaped grooves and fasteners, enabling customizable configurations based on cargo requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid framework with pre-determined positions for driving assembly and loading bridges is used, then structural strength and stability are improved, but adaptability to different cargo needs deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidadaptability to cargo needs
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing assembly is divided into modular components including I-profiles spaced apart and connected by transversal binding beams, allowing selective positioning and configuration of loading bridges at different locations along the longitudinal beams to match various cargo dimensions and weight distributions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The driving assembly is made adjustable along the longitudinal beams through a mechanism involving transversal beams and positioning elements, enabling dynamic repositioning of the driving assembly to accommodate different cargo weights and centers of gravity, transforming a static structure into an adaptable system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If multiple vertical beams and loading bridges are firmly connected to the bearing assembly, then cargo securing capability is improved, but trailer weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecargo securing capabilityVSAvoidtrailer weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Loading bridges are equipped with vertical beams that can be positioned and secured in advance at optimal locations along the longitudinal beams, allowing cargo to be properly restrained before transport begins, ensuring reliability without requiring excessive structural weight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The bearing assembly provides localized support through distributed I-profiles and selectively positioned loading bridges rather than a continuously rigid structure, concentrating strength where needed for cargo securing while reducing overall weight in non-critical areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If loading bridges are fixed in pre-determined positions, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but flexibility for different cargo configurations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidflexibility for cargo configurations
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing assembly consists of standardized, spaced-apart I-profiles connected by uniform transversal binding beams, creating a modular base structure that is simple to manufacture while enabling flexible positioning of loading bridges at various intervals to suit different cargo requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The longitudinal beams and binding beams are designed as universal components that can accommodate loading bridges at multiple positions along their length, allowing the same basic structure to serve multiple cargo configurations and applications

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

Data Source

PatentEP4577446B1Forestry trailer, in particular for transporting of timbers
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 TAJFUN PLANINA PROIZVODNJA STROJEV D O O
  • EP4577446B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4577446B1 patent drawingFigure 3~8
  • EP4577446B1 patent drawingFigure 9~13

AI summary

The purpose of the invention is to provide a trailer, in particular a tractor trailer, which should be suitable for transporting of a bundle of timbers or similar shaped rigid linear parts, wherein the construction design of the trailer should allow combining of typical components, which could be combined and adjusted, with respect to number and position thereof, with regard to specific needs of each user, namely to shape, quantity and length of the cargo, which is intended to be transported. According to the invention such trailer comprises a bearing assembly (1), which is supported by a driving assembly (2), and is moreover furnished with a towing hitch (3) and at least two loading bridges (4, 4', 4''), wherein said bearing assembly (1) is an uniform linear section of a square tube, which is turned around its longitudinal geometric axis at 45°, so that one of its diagonals extends parallel to the ground, and the other diagonal is perpendicular to the ground.