Modular Trolley With Functional Rails For Versatile Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trolleys lack versatility and modularity in industrial settings, limiting their ability to be easily expanded or combined for varying applications and sizes.
Innovation Solution
A trolley design featuring functional rails with lateral and distal guide recesses that allow for the attachment of modular elements, enabling the expansion and coupling of multiple trolleys to form sets of any size, with a rolling mechanism that can be removably mounted and secured using a screw fastening mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional trolley designs are used, then the structure is simple, but the versatility and modularity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The trolley is divided into modular components including the base unit, functional rails, and interchangeable functional elements. Each component can be independently manufactured and assembled, allowing the system to be configured for different applications without redesigning the entire trolley.
Solution Approach 2:
The functional rails are designed with standardized guide recesses that can accommodate multiple types of functional elements (storage containers, tool racks, equipment mounts). This universal interface allows a single trolley base to serve multiple purposes by simply changing the attached functional elements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed trolley configurations are used, then manufacturing is simple, but expansion and combination capabilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The functional rails are pre-equipped with guide recesses during manufacturing, creating prepared interfaces that enable easy attachment of functional elements later. This preliminary preparation of connection points simplifies both the manufacturing process and the subsequent expansion operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Functional elements are designed to nest onto the functional rails through the guide recesses, with smaller components fitting into the standardized rail structure. This nesting approach allows for compact storage and easy assembly/disassembly of various configurations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If modular functional elements are added to the trolley, then versatility increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the trolley can be equipped with different types of functional rails and elements tailored to specific needs. For example, one rail may be configured for storage while another is configured for equipment mounting, allowing localized optimization without complicating the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The functional rails serve as intermediary components that mediate between the simple trolley base and the diverse functional elements. This intermediary layer with standardized guide recesses simplifies the interface complexity by providing a uniform connection method for various functional attachments.
4Quantity of substance
If multiple trolleys are coupled together, then storage and transport capabilities increase, but the assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple trolleys are merged into a unified transport system through the functional rail interfaces. The standardized guide recesses on each trolley allow them to be coupled together in various configurations (side-by-side, end-to-end, stacked), combining their storage capacities while using the same simple connection mechanism.
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 6~9B
Figure 7B~8
AI summary
The trolley comprises a trolley housing (2) with a first distal side, a second distal side opposite the first distal side, four lateral sides, and a rolling mechanism (3) for rolling the trolley (1) at the first distal side. The trolley housing (2) has at least one functional rail (4) for inserting a functional element, each of the at least one functional rail (4) being arranged along a rail edge, the rail edge being located between one of the distal sides and one of the lateral sides.