Pivoting Shield Assembly for Dump Box Height Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shield assemblies for dump boxes are cumbersome to remove and reattach during transport to meet vehicle height restrictions, being heavy and requiring multiple people or equipment to handle.
Innovation Solution
A shield assembly with a first plate mounted to the dump box's front wall and a pivotally connected second plate that can be raised and lowered manually using handles, allowing it to be locked in both positions, thus eliminating the need for removal during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the shield assembly is made heavy and robust to provide adequate protection during loading, then protection reliability is improved, but the assembly becomes difficult to remove and reattach, requiring multiple people or additional equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The shield assembly transitions from a static fixed structure to a dynamic movable structure through the pivot mechanism. The shield can rotate between a vertical protective position during loading and a horizontal transport position, enabling easy reconfiguration without removal while maintaining protection when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield assembly is divided into separable components including the first plate mounted to the dump box, the second plate that pivots, and the counterweight mechanism. This segmentation allows the shield to be manipulated in parts through the pivot mechanism, reducing the effort required for repositioning compared to moving the entire assembly as one piece.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the shield assembly is designed to be removable to meet jurisdictional vehicle height restrictions during transport, then adaptability is improved, but time is lost due to disconnecting and reconnecting the assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot mechanism enables the shield to dynamically change its configuration from a vertical extended position that provides maximum protection during loading to a horizontal retracted position that clears height restrictions during transport. This dynamic transformation eliminates the need for complete disassembly and reassembly, reducing time loss while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of removing the shield assembly entirely to meet height restrictions, the invention inverts the approach by folding the shield assembly horizontally against the dump box. This inversion transforms the shield from a vertical obstruction into a compact horizontal structure, clearing height restrictions while keeping the shield attached and ready for quick deployment.
3Ease of operation
If the shield assembly is made to pivot from lowered to raised position using manual force through handles, then ease of operation is improved, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight mechanism provides mechanical advantage to balance the weight of the second plate, reducing the manual force required to pivot the shield assembly. The counterweight system incorporates the shield's weight into the lifting effort, making the assembly easier to manipulate while adding only moderate complexity through the addition of counterweight components and linkage.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot mechanism acts as an intermediary between the manual force applied through the handles and the movement of the heavy second plate. This intermediary mechanism translates small manual forces applied at the handles into large movements of the shield assembly, improving ease of operation while managing complexity through a well-defined mechanical interface.
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
Enables easy manual operation and secure positioning of the shield assembly, reducing the time and effort required to comply with vehicle height restrictions while maintaining protection during loading.
Implementation Method 1
The second plate has a central section positioned above a pivot axis and a pair of outer sections that extend below the pivot axis to provide a cantilever
Implementation Method 2
At least one, and preferably two, handles are pivotally connected to the second plate. The handles are adapted to raise and lower the second plate using manual force
Implementation Method 3
The handles are also adapted to lock the second plate in a raised and a lowered position
Data Source
AI summary
A shield assembly for the dump box of a vehicle includes a first plate connected to a front wall of a dump box. A second plate, having a center section and outer sections is pivotally connected to the first plate. A handle is pivotally connected to the top plate and is adapted to move the second plate to a raised and a lowered position and lock in a raised and a lowered position.