Modular Ramp Curb Design for Wheel Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ramp solutions fail to provide a durable and effective side lip to retain vehicle wheels, as low-profile lips are ineffective and higher lips are fragile, and integrated welding seams compromise structural integrity and reflective tape placement.
Innovation Solution
A modular ramp system with a rail and curb design featuring an angled inner wall, shelf, and shelf extension that secures the deck, providing a strong and resilient curb that resists impact and deformation, while allowing for reflective tape placement along the ramp.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lip height is increased to improve wheel retention, then the restraining function is improved, but the lip becomes fragile and susceptible to breaking under impact
Solution Approach 1:
The ramp is divided into modular sections with standardized curb designs. Each module incorporates a curb that is integrated into the ramp structure rather than being a separate component, allowing for consistent strength and retention properties across all modules while enabling easy replacement if damage occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The curb is constructed using composite material properties by integrating it as an inherent part of the ramp structure rather than using separate welded components. This integration creates a unified structural element that combines the load-bearing function of the ramp with the retention function of the curb, eliminating weak points at weld seams.
2Strength
If welding is used to attach lips to the ramp, then the attachment strength is improved, but welding seams create heat affected zones that reduce structural integrity and prevent reflective tape placement
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful welding process is extracted and replaced with a non-thermal attachment method. The curb is integrated into the ramp structure through mechanical means or as a monolithic component, eliminating the heat affected zone and associated structural weaknesses while maintaining strong attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary design approach is used where the curb is formed as an integrated feature of the ramp structure rather than being separately attached. This intermediary structure serves both as the load-bearing surface and as the retention lip, eliminating the need for separate attachment processes that create weld seams.
3Reliability
If a side lip is added to retain vehicles, then the safety function is improved, but the lip structure becomes more complex and prone to failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The retention lip function is merged with the main ramp structure by integrating the curb as an inherent feature of the ramp modules. This consolidation eliminates separate components and their associated attachment points, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining the vehicle retention safety function.
Data Source
AI summary
A ramp system includes a rail with an outer wall that defines an extent of the ramp in a width dimension. The rail includes an inner wall that is connected to the outer wall at a curb head. The inner wall extends away from the curb head at an angle relative to the outer wall. A side wall is oriented parallel to the outer wall. A lower end of the side wall is connected to a lower end of the outer wall by a bottom wall. A shelf is connected between an upper end of the side wall and a lower end of the inner wall. The shelf extension is connected between the lower end of the inner wall and the outer wall. A deck is secured to the shelf.