Mud Flap Lifter for Dump Trucks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mud flaps on vehicles, especially dump trucks, are prone to damage or dislodgement when reversing or operating on unstable soil, leading to potential fines and safety hazards due to inadequate protection against debris ejection.

Innovation Solution

An automatic mud flap lifting system with a pair of cables connected to a motorized lifting assembly under the vehicle bed, which raises and lowers the mud flaps using sheaves and fairleads, allowing for easy installation and operation via a control switch in the cab.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a single long cable with complicated pulley system is used to lift mud flaps, then the mud flaps can be raised and lowered, but the device complexity increases and installation becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemud flap lifting operationVSAvoidpulley system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single long cable system is segmented into two separate cables, each handling one mud flap independently. This segmentation simplifies the overall system architecture by eliminating the need for a single complex cable routing system that spans the entire vehicle width, making installation and maintenance easier while retaining the lifting function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The complicated pulley system with numerous rollers is extracted and replaced with a simpler motorized winch assembly. The winch directly winds the cables to lift the flaps, removing the intermediate pulley components and their associated complexity while maintaining the core lifting capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If a lever-type retraction apparatus with cylinder and piston is used, then the mud flaps can be retracted, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemud flap retractionVSAvoidinstallation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical lever-type retraction apparatus with cylinder and piston is replaced with an electric motorized winch system. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical linkages, pivot points, and hydraulic/pneumatic components, resulting in a more compact, easier-to-install system that can be mounted in limited spaces under the vehicle bed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If mud flaps are suspended freely from the truck body, then they provide debris protection, but they are prone to damage or dislodgement when reversing or operating on unstable soil

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris ejection protectionVSAvoidmud flap stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mud flaps are transformed from a static, fixed suspension system to a dynamic, motorized lifting system. The ability to actively raise and lower the flaps based on operational conditions allows them to maintain protection during normal operation while being retracted during reverse or unstable soil conditions, thereby improving reliability and preventing damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables preliminary action by allowing the mud flaps to be raised in advance before damage can occur during reversing or on unstable soil. The motorized control system can proactively position the flaps to avoid contact with rear tires or dumped material, preventing damage before it happens rather than reacting after damage occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 effectively raises mud flaps to prevent damage during reverse operation or unstable conditions and allows for easy lowering when safe, thereby reducing the risk of fines and safety hazards while maintaining debris containment.

Implementation Method 1

A pair of cables is provided, each of the cables having a first end connected to one of the sheaves on a motor of the lifting assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

Each of the cables is coiled around the corresponding sheave upon actuation of the motor in a first direction, thereby raising the mud flaps

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS9884656B2Mud flap lifter

Publication Date: 2018.02.06 FLAPS UP

AI summary

The present invention relates to a mud flap lifting system for raising and lowering a pair of mud flaps connected to a rear portion of a vehicle and suspended behind corresponding rear wheels of the vehicle, which is particularly beneficial for use on dump trucks. The lifting system raises the rear mud flaps to a safe position when the truck is reversing or on unstable soil or is dumping its load. The mud flaps may thereafter be lowered via an associated control switch in the cab of the truck so that the truck may travel from the job site.