Portable Loading Ramp Collapsing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wheeled vehicle loading devices are difficult to operate, transport, and store due to their bulky and inflexible designs, and permanently attached systems limit the versatility of loading platforms.
Innovation Solution
A portable ramp with a novel collapsing and folding design that allows sections to slide and fold sideways, reducing storage size while maintaining versatility through adjustable width and length, featuring spring-loaded locks for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional ramps are designed to be wide and long for loading vehicles, then they provide adequate loading capability, but they become bulky and difficult to transport and store
Solution Approach 1:
The ramp is divided into multiple sections that can be folded relative to each other. Each section contains rails, crossbeams, and support structures that can be collapsed into a compact configuration while maintaining the ability to form a complete loading ramp when extended.
Solution Approach 2:
The ramp sections are designed to nest within each other when collapsed, with crossbeams sliding along rails and support structures collapsing inward. This nesting arrangement allows the ramp to reduce to a fraction of its extended volume for storage and transport.
2Volume of moving object
If ramps are made foldable to reduce storage size, then portability improves, but structural stability and strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The ramp includes pre-positioned locking mechanisms that engage automatically or manually when sections are extended into the loading position. These locks secure the ramp sections together, providing structural stability equivalent to a rigid ramp when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The ramp transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic collapsible structure that maintains rigidity when needed. The folding sections provide flexibility for storage, while locking mechanisms provide rigidity during use, allowing the structure to adapt its properties based on operational requirements.
3Device complexity
If single lane ramps are used to reduce complexity, then manufacturing simplifies, but stability decreases and storage becomes twice as difficult due to needing two ramps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines multiple ramp lanes into a single integrated structure that functions as one stable unit. The parallel rails and crossbeams create a wide stable base that prevents rolling or shifting, eliminating the need for multiple separate ramps while maintaining ease of storage.
4Length of moving object
If folding ramps decrease length but not width, then length is reduced for storage, but the ramp remains bulky and equally difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The ramp collapsing mechanism operates in multiple dimensions simultaneously - sections fold lengthwise to reduce length, while crossbeams collapse widthwise to reduce width. This multi-dimensional collapsing approach reduces the ramp's volume in all directions, creating a compact package for storage and transport.
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 ramp becomes smaller and more user-friendly for transport and storage while accommodating a variety of vehicle sizes, maintaining a safe loading angle and versatility for multiple applications.
Implementation Method 1
the ramp has spring loaded locks to position the ramp at two set widths
Data Source
AI summary
A loading device for users to move vehicles onto an elevated platform, using an inclined structure formed of a plurality of horizontal sections that are each adjustable so as to adjust the width of the inclined structure.