Movable Bridging Assembly for Trailer Gap Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing apparatus for moving goods between storage areas, such as warehouses and vehicle trailers, faces challenges in safely bridging the gap between the lifting platform and the trailer opening, particularly due to the confined size and weight of goods, which poses a risk to operators trying to access and operate the door mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A bridging assembly with movable portions is integrated into the lifting platform, allowing it to transition between a storage position and an in-use position, reducing the gap between the platform and the trailer floor, enabling safe access and operation of the door assembly by allowing the operator to stand on the first portion and reach the door without leaning over safety barriers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gap between the lifting platform and the trailer opening is reduced to allow safe access, then operator safety is improved, but the door assembly cannot be properly positioned and operated
Solution Approach 1:
The bridging assembly is divided into two portions: a first portion that extends from the platform to reduce the gap and provide safe operator access, and a second portion that extends from the first portion to bridge the remaining gap to the trailer floor. This segmentation allows the door assembly to be positioned and operated safely while maintaining structural continuity for goods movement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the opening size is reduced to minimize impact on access through the opening, then the door assembly can be properly positioned, but the gap bridging becomes more difficult and unsafe
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to bridge the gap horizontally within the confined opening space, the bridging assembly extends vertically downward from the platform level. This dimensional change allows the first portion to provide safe operator access at platform height while the second portion bridges the horizontal gap to the trailer floor, solving both the access and safety problems simultaneously.
3Strength
If the bridging assembly is made rigid to provide stable support for goods and personnel, then structural strength is improved, but the assembly cannot be stored when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The bridging assembly incorporates movable portions that can be rotated between an in-use position (extending to bridge the gap) and a retracted position (stored against the platform). This dynamic configuration allows the assembly to provide stable structural support when deployed while being easily stored when not in use, eliminating the need for separate storage space.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to apparatus and a method for the movement of goods between a platform of lifting apparatus and one or more floors of a movable goods storage area such as a vehicle trailer. A bridging assembly is typically located at an edge of the said platform adjacent the opening of the movable goods storage area and the bridging assembly can be moved between a withdrawn storage position to an extended in use position, and an intermediate position which is provided to allow operation of a door assembly provided for the said opening to be selectively closed and opened for access to the interior of the good storage area, said intermediate position allowing a gap to be provided between the bridging assembly and the opening which is sufficient to allow movement of the door assembly between open and closed positions whilst allowing an operator to reach the door assembly to operate the same whilst standing on the bridge assembly..