Movable Discharge Floor Air Cushioning for Low-Friction Trailers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transport trailers with movable discharge floors require high power and maintenance due to high friction and energy consumption, leading to significant downtime and costs.
Innovation Solution
An air chamber structure below the movable floor with pressure members that press the longitudinal lateral sides onto parallel supporting sides, using inflatable tubular members and low air flow rates to reduce friction and energy consumption, and incorporating friction-reducing surfaces for efficient movement and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If high power drive means are used to move the floor, then the floor can be moved against high friction, but power consumption and mass increase
Solution Approach 1:
An air cushion acts as an intermediary between the floor and the support surface, reducing direct contact and friction. The air cushion allows the floor to move with minimal resistance, eliminating the need for high power drive means while maintaining effective floor movement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical contact-based support system is replaced with a pneumatic air cushion system. Instead of direct mechanical contact causing friction, the floor is supported and moved through air pressure, substituting mechanical friction with pneumatic support that requires significantly less power.
2Stability of the object's composition
If air pressure is increased to maintain floor support, then floor stability is improved, but air leakage and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air cushion system is divided into multiple separate air chambers instead of a single large chamber. This segmentation allows each chamber to be independently sealed and pressurized, reducing the total sealing perimeter and minimizing air leakage while maintaining floor stability through distributed support.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than pressurizing the entire air cushion system to high levels, the invention uses multiple chambers that can be pressurized to appropriate levels for local support needs. This partial pressurization approach maintains sufficient floor stability while reducing overall air consumption and leakage losses.
3Device complexity
If conventional sealing methods are used for air chambers, then structural simplicity is maintained, but air leakage occurs increasing energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
Flexible sealing elements such as lip seals and bellows are used at the boundaries of air chambers and moving components. These flexible membranes conform to moving surfaces and maintain effective seals without requiring complex rigid sealing structures, preventing air leakage while keeping the design relatively simple.
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 solution significantly reduces energy consumption and maintenance needs by minimizing friction and air leakage, allowing for efficient and reliable operation with lower power requirements and reduced liquid spillage.
Implementation Method 1
the air chambers can be filled with air for providing a low friction cushioning of the floor part extending thereon (each air chamber providing e.g. a respective air bearing)
Implementation Method 2
pressure members configured for pressing the longitudinal lateral sides of the movable floor onto the opposite floor supporting sides
Data Source
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AI summary
A transport space (1), for example a transport cargo space of a truck trailer, having a movable product discharging floor (32), wherein the transport space (1) includes an air chamber structure (23, 24, 25, 26) extending below the floor (32), defining at least one air chamber (AS; AS') with a lower side of the floor, wherein longitudinal lateral sides of the movable floor (32) are supported on two substantially parallel floor supporting sides (23a), the transport space having pressure members (50) configured for pressing the longitudinal lateral sides of the movable floor onto the opposite floor supporting sides (23a).