Pivoting Container Sections With Force-Activated Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container designs for handling and emptying materials like garbage and gravel are unsafe, difficult to operate, and inefficient, as they require manual handling and high forces, leading to risks during tilting and uneven emptying.
Innovation Solution
A container with two pivotally connected sections that can be locked and unlocked using predetermined forces, allowing for safe and easy opening and closing without leaving the truck cab, reducing the risk of unintended displacement and facilitating material handling and emptying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the container uses a locking mechanism to prevent unintended displacement, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to automatically lock the container sections in the closed position and automatically unlock when opening forces are applied, eliminating the need for manual operation and reducing complexity while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical locking systems with a simpler force-based unlocking mechanism that responds to predetermined opening forces, reducing the number of moving parts and mechanical components while maintaining reliable locking during transport
2Ease of operation
If the container sections are designed to be easily opened by applying forces, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to risk of unintended opening
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is pre-configured with predetermined opening forces that must be exceeded to unlock, ensuring the container remains securely locked during normal operation while allowing intentional opening when sufficient force is applied
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses force magnitude as a parameter to differentiate between normal operational conditions (where the locking force suffices to prevent opening) and intentional opening operations (where predetermined opening forces are exceeded), enabling both safety and ease of operation
3Device complexity
If the container requires manual handling to open the door, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container sections automatically lock and unlock through force application, eliminating the need for manual door handling and operations, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining relatively simple device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the traditional manual door and handle mechanism entirely, extracting the unnecessary component that required manual operation, and replaces it with a force-based opening system that operates automatically based on applied forces
Data Source
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AI summary
A container (1) is provided comprising a first container section (3), and a second container section (5), arranged oppositely to each other and pivotally connected to each other at a pivoting axle (A).The first container section (3) and the second container section (5) are adapted to be displaced around the pivoting axle (A) between an open position and a closed position. The container (1) further comprises a locking mechanism (8.1, 8.2) arranged to lock the first container section (3) to the second container section (5) in the closed position. The locking mechanism (8.1, 8.2) is arranged to, when the first container section (3) and the second container section (5) are in the closed position, release the lock upon opening forces (F1), exceeding predetermined opening forces (F11), to permit the first container section (3) and the second container section (5) to be displaced to the open position.