Outrigger Foot Assembly With Rotating Plates for Ground Compaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outrigger systems for heavy-duty vehicles fail to effectively compact the ground surface, leading to instability during loading and recovery operations due to the outriggers digging up uncompressed dirt.
Innovation Solution
A foot assembly for outriggers with a first and second plate that are rotatably repositionable about a first and second axis, respectively, allowing for angled engagement with the ground surface to improve compaction and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing outrigger systems engage the ground surface perpendicularly, then the outrigger can be driven into the ground, but the ground surface is not compacted and uncompressed dirt is disturbed during loading operations
Solution Approach 1:
The foot assembly introduces a new dimensional aspect by enabling angular engagement with the ground surface rather than purely perpendicular insertion. The first and second plates can be rotated about first and second axes respectively, allowing the assembly to engage the ground at optimized angles that compact the surface while providing stable support during loading operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot assembly incorporates dynamic repositioning capabilities through rotational movement about multiple axes. The first plate rotates about a first axis and the second plate rotates about a second axis, allowing the assembly to adapt its engagement angle with the ground surface dynamically, optimizing both compaction and stability during different phases of operation.
2Reliability
If the outrigger foot assembly is designed with fixed perpendicular engagement, then the structure is simple, but it fails to compact the ground surface effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The foot assembly is segmented into multiple independent components: a first plate and a second plate that can rotate independently about different axes. This segmentation allows each component to contribute to ground compaction from different angles, achieving effective surface compaction while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot assembly adds angular dimensionality to ground engagement by enabling rotation about multiple axes. The first plate rotates about a first axis and the second plate rotates about a second axis, creating multi-directional engagement capability that compacts the ground surface effectively without requiring excessive structural complexity.
3Reliability
If the foot assembly uses multiple rotatable plates, then ground compaction and stability are improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The foot assembly employs dynamic rotational mechanisms where the first plate rotates about a first axis and the second plate rotates about a second axis. This dynamic capability allows the assembly to adapt to different ground conditions and engagement requirements, achieving high stability and effective compaction while using straightforward rotational joints that do not overly complicate the mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a frame, an implement, and an outrigger. The implement is coupled with the frame. The implement is configured to be operated to move or lift another vehicle. The outrigger assembly is fixedly coupled with the vehicle. The outrigger assembly includes a member and a foot assembly. The foot assembly is coupled with an end of the member. The member is repositionable to drive the foot assembly into contact with a ground surface. The foot assembly includes a first plate and a second plate defining multiple edges configured to engage the ground surface. The first plate and the second plate are rotatably repositionable in unison about a first axis between multiple positions. The second plate is, relative to the first plate, rotatably repositionable about a second axis that is perpendicular with the first axis.