Portable Gate With Double-Knuckle Hinges for Transport and Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable gate systems for animal confinement or feedlots lack the ability to fold for transport and do not have a double-knuckle hinge structure that allows proper positioning of gate sections relative to building walls, limiting their flexibility and usability.
Innovation Solution
A portable gate system featuring a center gate section with double-knuckle hinge assemblies at its ends, enabling end and divide gates to be pivotally secured together, allowing for proper positioning even if the center gate is not aligned with the walls, and allowing the system to be folded for transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the gate system is made rigid and fixed in structure, then it provides stability and strength, but it cannot be transported easily or reconfigured
Solution Approach 1:
The gate system is divided into multiple separate gate sections (first gate section, second gate section, third gate section, fourth gate section) that can be independently positioned and connected. Each section can be individually adjusted and secured to the fence structure, allowing the system to be reconfigured for different pen layouts while maintaining structural integrity through the modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate sections are designed with movable and adjustable components including hinges, latches, and positioning mechanisms that allow the gates to be dynamically repositioned, opened, closed, and reconfigured. The sections can be moved between different locations and angles while maintaining secure connection to the fence structure.
2Ease of operation
If the gate sections are made movable and foldable for transport, then it improves portability and ease of storage, but it reduces structural stability
Solution Approach 1:
The gate system consists of separate, modular gate sections that can be independently handled, moved, and stored. Each section is a self-contained unit with its own structural framework, allowing individual sections to be transported and stored separately while maintaining their structural integrity when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate sections include built-in structural reinforcements, bracing elements, and connection mechanisms that are pre-installed to maintain stability during transport and storage. The design anticipates movement and reconfiguration needs by incorporating features that preserve structural integrity throughout the entire operational cycle from storage to deployment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a simple hinge connection is used between gate sections, then it reduces device complexity, but it does not allow proper positioning relative to building walls
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge connection system is divided into multiple functional components including the hinge mechanism itself, positioning elements, adjustment features, and connection interfaces. Each component performs a specific function in enabling accurate positioning of gate sections relative to fence structures and building walls while maintaining manageable complexity through functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge structure acts as an intermediary mechanism between the gate sections and the fence/building structure. It provides the necessary degrees of freedom for positioning while maintaining secure connection, mediating between the need for accurate alignment and the requirement for stable attachment to the fixed fence structure.
4Manufacturing precision
If the gate system requires precise alignment with building walls, then it ensures proper positioning, but it reduces ease of installation and reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The gate sections incorporate adjustable and movable components that allow positioning to be optimized after installation. The hinges and connection mechanisms enable fine-tuning of gate section positions relative to fence structures and building walls, allowing precise alignment to be achieved through adjustment rather than requiring perfect initial positioning during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate system includes pre-installed alignment features, adjustment mechanisms, and positioning elements that compensate for variations in fence installation and building wall positions. These features are built into the design to facilitate easy adjustment and achieve proper alignment without requiring highly precise initial installation conditions.
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 system provides a stable and flexible gate configuration that can be easily transported and securely positioned relative to walls or fences, creating multiple holding pens and ensuring proper alignment and stability in operation.
Implementation Method 1
A double-knuckle hinge structure on the ends of a center gate section which permits end divide gates and end gates to be pivotally secured together
Data Source
AI summary
A portable gate including a center gate section, a center divide gate, a first end divide gate, a second end divide gate, a first end gate, and a second end gate. If the portable gate is located in a building, the portable gate will also include a wall mounted gate. If the portable gate is located in an area bounded by a fence, a fence mounted gate replaces the wall mounted gate. The gates may be hingedly moved to form four holding pens. When the gates are folded so as to be positioned adjacent the inner and outer sides of the center section, a front-end loader may move the portable gate to another location. The opposite ends of the center gate section are provided with double-knuckle hinge joints.