Self-Actuating Overlay Plate for Movable Storage Container Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
The gap between stationary and movable storage container floors causes instability and debris accumulation, potentially disabling the movable storage container or damaging its mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A self-actuating, self-retracting bridging apparatus with an overlay plate and hinge mechanism that connects to the movable storage container, bridging the gap between the two floors and featuring a glide and switch system to ensure proper alignment and prevent over-ascension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a gap exists between stationary floor and movable storage container floor, then the movable storage container can be elevated and retracted, but instability and debris accumulation occur
Solution Approach 1:
An overlay plate is introduced as an intermediary element between the stationary floor and the movable storage container floor. The overlay plate bridges the gap created by the movable container's elevation and retraction, providing a continuous surface that prevents debris accumulation and maintains cart stability while allowing the container to move freely.
Solution Approach 2:
The overlay plate is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed, allowing it to move with the movable storage container as it elevates and retracts. This dynamic configuration ensures the overlay plate maintains its bridging function throughout the container's motion cycle, continuously preventing debris entry and maintaining floor planarity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a bridging apparatus is installed to close the gap, then stability and debris prevention improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The overlay plate is designed as a self-service system that automatically positions itself to bridge the gap between the stationary floor and the movable storage container floor. The plate moves with the container and maintains its bridging function without requiring external control mechanisms, actuators, or complex drive systems, thereby preventing debris accumulation and maintaining stability while minimizing added complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If a self-actuating, self-retracting bridging apparatus is used, then ease of installation improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A glide mechanism serves as an intermediary between the overlay plate and the stationary floor structure. This glide allows the overlay plate to move smoothly and maintain proper alignment as the movable storage container elevates and retracts. The glide mechanism compensates for minor manufacturing tolerances and ensures consistent performance without requiring extremely tight manufacturing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a bridging apparatus. The apparatus may be used to span the gap between a vertically movable storage container and a stationary floor structure when a landing of the storage container is planar to a landing of the stationary floor structure. In this invention, the bridging apparatus comprises a bracket, an overlay plate, a hinge comprising a rod, glides, and a switch, which interact with each other and with the vertically movable storage container and the stationary floor structure. As the storage container ascends, the glide of the overlay plate slides angularly contacts a vertical wall of the stationary floor structure and glides along the wall. When the storage container landing is planar with the stationary floor structure landing, the overlay plate rotates downward to a 90-degree angle, resting in a recess in the stationary floor structure landing, engaging the switch to terminate power to the vertically movable storage container.