Movable Bearer Supports in Enclosed Trailer Tracks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for providing additional support levels in enclosed storage spaces, such as trucks or trailers, face challenges including the need for forklift access, increased weight, labor-intensive assembly and disassembly, and safety hazards due to protruding tracks, which limit their efficiency and versatility.
Innovation Solution
A bearer system with enclosed tracks that allow movable bearer supports to be moved horizontally, reducing the need for forklift access and enabling easier loading and unloading, while the enclosed tracks prevent skewing and can be recessed into the supporting structure to minimize protrusion and safety hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a removable second floor is installed to double storage capacity, then storage capacity is improved, but the system requires forklift access and becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The storage space is divided into multiple levels using removable bearer supports that can be positioned at different heights. Each bearer support acts as an independent segment that can be individually installed and removed, allowing the storage capacity to be doubled without requiring a complex integrated second floor structure. This segmentation enables flexible configuration while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If traditional tracks are used for movable supports, then the supports can move horizontally, but the tracks protrude into storage space creating safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The movable bearer supports are nested within recesses formed in the vertical wall structure. The tracks are integrated into these recesses so that the movable supports can travel horizontally within the recessed space without protruding into the storage area. This nesting approach maintains the movability needed for operation while eliminating the safety hazards of protruding tracks.
3Quantity of substance
If a permanent second floor is installed to utilize vertical space, then storage capacity is improved, but versatility to accommodate different load heights is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bearer supports are designed to be movable along recessed tracks, allowing their position to be dynamically adjusted to match different load heights. Unlike a permanent fixed floor, these supports can be repositioned vertically and horizontally to accommodate various storage requirements. This dynamic configuration maintains versatility while effectively utilizing vertical storage space.
4Adaptability or versatility
If removable bearer supports are used to provide flexible storage, then versatility is improved, but labor-intensive assembly and disassembly is required
Solution Approach 1:
The bearer supports are equipped with rolling elements that move along the recessed tracks, enabling easy repositioning without requiring labor-intensive assembly or disassembly. The supports can be smoothly moved to different positions along the tracks while maintaining structural integrity. This approach provides the versatility of removable supports while eliminating the time-consuming assembly and disassembly operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for optimizing storage in an enclosed transport trailer (6), having transverse bearing beams (2) for supporting a load such as loaded pallets (12, 13) at a mid height of the trailer such that two storage levels are available. The beams have a wheel (10) at each end that runs in a horizontal track (11) attached to each side wall of the trailer, the track enclosing the wheels to prevent them from disengaging from the track. Adjacent beams can be attached together at variable spacings using a spacer bar (15) to suit a particular pallet or load size. The track has a junction adjacent the open end (20) of the trailer that leads up to another track (18) immediately below the roof line where the beams can be moved to an out of the way storage position (19) when not required.