Motorized Cargo Strap Winding for Faster Secure Tie-Down
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cargo straps do not effectively utilize a motor to rotate a drive shaft for winding and unwinding a tethering member, limiting their efficiency and security.
Innovation Solution
A motorized cargo strap system with a housing, motor, drive shaft, and tethers that allow for controlled winding and unwinding of tethers using a motor, secured by a key-operated switch and anchored at multiple points for enhanced security and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a motor is added to automatically wind and unwind the tethering member, then productivity and ease of operation are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the motor, drive shaft, tethering member, and housing into a single integrated cargo strap device. The motor is mounted within the housing and directly engages the drive shaft, which is coupled to the tethering member, creating a compact automated system that secures cargo without requiring separate manual operations for each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The motorized system performs the winding and unwinding of the tethering member automatically through motor rotation, eliminating the need for manual winding operations. The system serves itself by using the motor's rotational power to tension and release the cargo strap without human intervention in the critical securing and unsecuring actions.
2Ease of operation
If a motor is added to rotate the drive shaft for winding the tethering member, then ease of operation is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical winding operations with an electric motor system. Instead of requiring users to manually wind and tension the tethering member through physical effort, an electric motor rotates the drive shaft to automatically wind the tethering member, converting electrical energy to mechanical work and significantly reducing the physical effort required to operate the cargo strap.
3Reliability
If multiple tethers with securing members are used to anchor at multiple points, then reliability and security are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cargo strap device is divided into distinct functional segments: a housing containing the motor, a drive shaft for rotation, multiple independent tethers (first tether and second tether), and securing members for attachment. Each segment performs a specific function, and the modular design allows the tethers to be independently adjusted and secured at different anchor points, enhancing reliability through distributed attachment points while maintaining manageable complexity through functional separation.
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 system provides efficient and secure attachment and detachment of cargo straps, enhancing user control and preventing unauthorized use.
Implementation Method 1
A motor mounted within the housing is electrically coupled to a power supply and mechanically couples to the drive shaft such that when the motor is turned on, the motor rotates the drive shaft in a first direction or a second direction when the motor is turned on
Implementation Method 2
the second tether is wound about the shaft when the drive shaft rotates in the first direction and the second tether is unwound from the drive shaft when the drive shaft rotates in the second direction
Data Source
AI summary
A motorized cargo strap device and method for holding down cargo by mechanically winding the cargo strap about a driving member of a motor includes a housing enclosing an interior space. A motor is mounted to the housing and a drive shaft positioned within the housing is engaged to the motor and is rotated in a first direction or second direction by the motor. A first tether is coupled to the housing. A second tether is attached to the drive shaft is wound about the shaft when the drive shaft rotates in the first direction and the second tether is unwound from the drive shaft when the drive shaft rotates in the second direction. A first securing member is attached to the first tether and a second securing member is attached to the second end of the second tether.