Pivotable Ramp Wall Industrial Container with Counter-Balancing Spring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing industrial containers with loadbearing ramp walls are difficult and expensive to manufacture, pose safety risks due to heavy ramp walls, and require separate locking mechanisms that can be challenging for a single user to operate safely.
Innovation Solution
An industrial container design featuring a pivot assembly with torsion springs for counter-balancing the ramp wall, a locking assembly with interconnected links and latches for easy operation, and a retractable hook to prevent interference during loading, allowing for safe and efficient opening and closing of the ramp wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate locking mechanisms are provided on each side of the ramp wall, then the ramp wall can be securely locked in the inclined position, but it becomes difficult for a single user to operate both locking mechanisms safely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate locking mechanisms into a single integrated locking assembly that operates simultaneously on both sides of the ramp wall. The locking assembly includes a pivotable arm with links and latches that engage with ramps on opposite sides of the container body, allowing one user to secure both sides through a single operating point.
2Strength
If the ramp wall is made heavy-duty to support industrial equipment, then it can bear the required load, but it poses safety risks to users due to its weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a counter-balancing spring assembly that applies upward biasing force to offset the weight of the heavy ramp wall. The torsion springs are mounted on the container body and engage with the ramp wall to provide counterbalancing torque, reducing the effort required by users to move the ramp wall while maintaining its structural strength for supporting industrial equipment.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If counterbalancing springs and hydraulic motors are added to assist opening and closing, then user safety is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex hydraulic motor system from the design, retaining only the essential counterbalancing spring assembly. This extraction of unnecessary complexity maintains user safety through the spring-assisted counterbalancing while significantly simplifying manufacturing compared to systems that include both springs and hydraulic motors.
4Ease of operation
If a hook is positioned to prevent interference with the ramp wall in the loading position, then the ramp wall can achieve full incline, but the hook may interfere with the ramp wall when raised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the hook in a different spatial dimension (lower vertical position) relative to the ramp wall's path of motion. The hook is disposed at a height lower than the ramp wall when the ramp wall is in the inclined loading position, allowing the ramp wall to achieve full incline without interference. The hook can be retractable or positioned to move out of the way when not in use.
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 design enhances safety and ease of use by allowing a single user to operate the ramp wall without risking injury, reduces manufacturing complexity and costs, and provides a secure locking mechanism for the ramp wall in both inclined and vertical positions.
Implementation Method 1
The counter-balancing spring assembly may include one or more springs arranged about the pivot shaft for biasing the ramp wall from a downwardly inclined loading position upwardly toward a vertical closed position with a torque force
Implementation Method 2
The two torsion springs may have a combined torque that is between 80% and 100% of the gravitational torque force generated by the weight of the ramp wall
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an industrial container and a method of opening an industrial container. The industrial container includes a container body, a pivot assembly, a counter-balancing spring assembly, and a locking assembly. The container body can have a plurality of walls, the plurality of walls including a pivotable ramp wall. The pivot assembly can connect the ramp wall with the container body for pivotal movement of the ramp wall, and the pivot assembly can include a pivot shaft supported by a pair of arms. The counter-balancing spring assembly can include one or more springs arranged about the pivot shaft for biasing the ramp wall from a downwardly inclined loading position upwardly toward a vertical closed position with a torque force. The locking assembly can be configured to lock the ramp wall in the vertical closed position.