Modular Lifting Apparatus for Goods Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lifting apparatus for transferring goods between vehicle trailers and warehouses requires lengthy and expensive construction, including excavation for ramp formation, and necessitates diverse technical expertise for assembly, leading to delays and space inefficiency in confined yards.
Innovation Solution
A modular lifting apparatus assembled from factory-formed units, featuring a vertically movable platform with integrated drive means and guide mechanisms, eliminating the need for on-site excavation and allowing for simplified manufacturing and quick assembly, with features like a ramp design that adjusts to match storage area levels and includes safety mechanisms and adjustable components for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional lifting apparatus with scissor lift is installed, then goods can be lifted between storage areas, but construction time becomes lengthy and expensive requiring excavation and ramp formation
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting apparatus is divided into separate modular components: a body unit containing the scissor lift mechanism and a separate ramp unit. This segmentation allows the body unit to be pre-assembled in the factory and transported to the site, where it can be quickly connected to the ramp unit, significantly reducing on-site construction time while maintaining the goods lifting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The body unit is completely assembled, tested, and prepared in advance during factory production. This preliminary assembly includes installing the scissor lift mechanism, control systems, and safety devices, so that when the unit arrives at the site, only minor connections are needed, eliminating the need for lengthy on-site construction and excavation work.
2Shape
If excavation work is performed for ramp formation, then the floor level can be aligned with the warehouse, but a significant area of the loading yard becomes unusable
Solution Approach 1:
The ramp is designed as a separate, removable unit that can be positioned adjacent to the body unit rather than being excavated into the ground. This allows the ramp to provide the necessary floor level alignment while occupying minimal permanent space, keeping the loading yard area usable for other operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The ramp unit is designed to be movable and adjustable, allowing it to be positioned at different locations as needed. This dynamic design enables the ramp to provide floor level alignment when required while allowing the loading yard area to be reused for other purposes when the ramp is moved or removed.
3Ease of manufacture
If drive means and guide means are integrated into the body unit module, then the modular unit can be manufactured as a complete assembly, but diverse technical expertise is required leading to downtime and delays
Solution Approach 1:
The body unit is further segmented into specialized sub-modules: a drive means module containing the hydraulic or electric drive system, a guide means module with the guide rails and mechanisms, and a body frame module. Each sub-module can be manufactured and tested separately by specialists in their respective fields, then assembled together, reducing the need for diverse expertise to be available simultaneously and minimizing manufacturing downtime.
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 modular lifting apparatus significantly reduces construction time and costs, enhances manufacturing efficiency, and optimizes space usage by eliminating the need for excavation, enabling quick adaptation to different storage area heights and facilitating efficient goods transfer without disrupting yard operations.
Implementation Method 1
The drive means are typically provided in the form of one or more hydraulic rams which require a different expertise to that required to fabricate the body unit frame, guide means and platform
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~1d
Figure 1e~1f
AI summary
The invention relates to a lifting apparatus (2) of a type which can be used to allow movement of goods to and from and between first and second goods storage areas (6;8). The apparatus (2) is located in a space (4) between openings into both of said storage areas (6,8) and includes a platform (20) which can be raised in the vertical plane so as to allow differences in height between floors of the respective goods storage areas (6;8) to be taken into account such that for example goods can be moved onto the platform (20) of the lifting apparatus from a first floor height on a first goods storage area to a floor of a second goods storage area at a different height.