Pivotable Tow Bar for Livestock Trailer Passage Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailers for treating four-legged animals are cumbersome to prepare for transport due to complex and time-consuming processes involving detachable tow bars and brake cables, which are often soiled, and impede user movement and freedom.
Innovation Solution
A trailer design with a pivotable tow bar that moves sideways and upward, allowing easy clearance of the passage opening and eliminating the need for detachment and reattachment, enabling quick transition between operational and transport positions without soil removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tow bar is made detachable to clear the passage opening, then the passage is cleared for animal movement, but the detachment and attachment process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The tow bar is made movable sideways relative to the frame and floor, allowing it to be quickly positioned to clear the passage opening without complete detachment. This dynamic positioning system enables rapid transition between blocking and clearing states, reducing preparation time while maintaining passage accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The tow bar is divided into a front part that can be independently moved sideways relative to the frame. This segmentation allows the front part to be repositioned to clear the passage while the rest of the tow bar remains connected, simplifying the operation and reducing time compared to complete detachment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the tow bar projects forwards in the central position, then it is ready for towing, but it impedes the passage of animals through the passage opening
Solution Approach 1:
The tow bar is designed to be movable between a central position for towing readiness and a side position for clearing the passage. This dynamic repositioning capability allows the system to adapt to different operational requirements, enabling quick transition between towing and treatment modes without complex detachment procedures.
3Ease of operation
If the tow bar and brake cables are detached for movement, then the passage is cleared, but the connections become soiled and require cleaning before safe reconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The tow bar is made dynamically repositionable sideways while remaining connected to the frame. This allows the passage to be cleared without complete detachment, preventing excrements from soiling the connections and maintaining reliability. The brake cables remain connected and protected throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of completely detaching the tow bar and brake cables, only the front part of the tow bar is extracted and moved sideways to clear the passage. This partial extraction maintains the integrity and cleanliness of the electrical and mechanical connections while achieving passage clearance.
Data Source
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AI summary
Trailer for treatment of four-legged animals, comprising: - a floor (12) and a frame (14) which bounds an animal set-up space with passage opening, the frame being provided with a barrier which is movable between an open position and a closed position; - a wheel suspension connecting at least two wheels with the frame; - a tow bar (30) which is movable sideways relative to the frame and the floor between a central position, in which the tow bar in a longitudinal median plane projects forwards with respect to the frame and the floor, and a side position, in which at least a front part of the tow bar (30a), with respect to the position of the tow bar in the central position, is moved sideways for clearing an area in front of the passage opening (18).