Pivoting Trailer Support Assembly for Reduced Wide-Load Overhang
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transporting oversize loads exceeding maximum legal dimensions is costly and complex due to requirements for pilot vehicles, restricted travel times, and routes, with existing solutions failing to efficiently reduce load width and associated costs.
Innovation Solution
A transport trailer with a pivotably coupled support assembly that extends beyond the trailer in a first position to support wide loads and then inclines to reduce overhang, allowing for efficient loading and transportation of loads up to 16 feet or greater, thereby reducing the horizontal width and associated costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the load width is reduced to below 16 feet, then shipping cost is reduced nearly in half, but the device complexity increases due to the need for movable support assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The support assembly is made movable with respect to the trailer, allowing it to transition between extended and retracted positions. This dynamic configuration enables the system to adapt its width to reduce shipping costs while maintaining the capability to support wide loads when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The support assembly is divided into movable components that can be independently positioned relative to the trailer. This segmentation allows the wide load support function to be separated from the transport configuration, enabling cost-effective shipping when the support assembly is retracted
2Adaptability or versatility
If the support assembly extends beyond the trailer to support wide loads, then the load capacity is improved, but the horizontal width increases requiring additional requirements and restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The support assembly transitions from a static to a dynamic configuration, extending beyond the trailer during loading to accommodate wide loads, then retracting during transport to minimize horizontal width and avoid regulatory restrictions
Solution Approach 2:
The support assembly utilizes vertical positioning and angular orientation to provide load support capacity without permanently increasing the horizontal footprint during transport, effectively moving the support function to different spatial dimensions when needed
3Device complexity
If the support assembly is fixed in position, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to reduce load width for efficient transport is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The support assembly incorporates movable joints and positioning mechanisms that allow it to adjust its configuration between loading and transport phases, enabling width reduction for efficient transport while maintaining structural support capabilities
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
This solution enables the efficient transportation of oversize loads with reduced shipping costs and complexity by minimizing the horizontal width of the load, eliminating the need for additional requirements and restrictions, and facilitating safer movement of super-loads.
Implementation Method 1
A transport trailer with a pivotably coupled support assembly that extends beyond the trailer in a first position to support wide loads and then inclines to reduce overhang
Data Source
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AI summary
A transport trailer (14) and a method for transporting an oversize load (12) are provided. The transport trailer includes a trailer. The trailer includes an elongated body (24) that extends in a length direction and that has an upper base surface (28). A support assembly (18) is configured to support the oversize load and is pivotably coupled to the trailer to move between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the support assembly extends over the upper base surface and beyond the trailer in a width direction that is transverse to the length direction (26) to define a wide load overhang that extends beyond the trailer in the width direction. In the second position, the support assembly is positioned at an incline relative to the first position to one of reduce and eliminate the wide load overhang.