Repositionable Load Carrying Tray Assembly for Light Utility Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light utility vehicles face challenges in efficiently loading and unloading cargo within safe weight limits, as conventional solutions like ramps, tail lifts, and cranes add bulk, reduce payload space, and pose health and safety risks, often necessitating the use of larger trucks for heavier loads.
Innovation Solution
A repositionable load carrying tray assembly with winching means, slidable rails, pivot arms, and a hinge system that allows the tray to pivot and incline, enabling easy loading and unloading by moving the tray's center of gravity to reduce the need for additional lifting equipment and maximize payload space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional loading equipment (ramps, tail lifts, cranes) is added to the vehicle, then loading and unloading capability is improved, but vehicle bulk and payload space are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the loading equipment functionality directly into the tray assembly itself. The tray incorporates pivot arms, hydraulic cylinders, and winching means that enable it to tilt and lower to ground level, eliminating the need for separate loading equipment and preserving payload space.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray assembly serves multiple functions: it carries payload during transport, then transforms into a loading platform by tilting and lowering to ground level. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated loading equipment, resolving the contradiction between loading capability and payload space.
2Device complexity
If manual manipulation is used for loading and unloading, then equipment complexity is reduced, but health and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tray assembly performs the loading and unloading operation automatically through its tilt and lower functions. The hydraulic system and winching means enable the tray to move itself and the payload without requiring manual manipulation, reducing health and safety risks while maintaining relatively simple equipment.
3Quantity of substance
If larger vehicle is used to carry heavy loads, then load carrying capacity is improved, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tray assembly is designed with dynamic tilt and lower capabilities that enable it to handle heavy loads (up to 4 tonnes) on smaller vehicles. The hydraulic system and winching means provide the necessary force to tilt and lower the tray with heavy payloads, allowing smaller vehicles to perform tasks previously requiring larger vehicles, thus reducing fuel consumption and operational costs.
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 tray assembly allows for safe and efficient loading/unloading of heavy loads without additional bulk, reducing operational costs and health risks, while maintaining a compact design suitable for smaller vehicles, and can be retrofitted to light utility vehicles up to 4 tonnes load capacity.
Implementation Method 1
winching means (9) capable of causing the tray (67) to move either in a rearward direction, or in a forward direction, relative to the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
As the centre of gravity transits the pivot point in a rearward direction, with respect to the vehicle, it causes the tray assembly to pivot about the pivot point solely under the influence of gravity so that the tray becomes inclined with respect to the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a combination of tilt tray and/or dumpster assembly that is usable on a light utility vehicle. When operating as a tilt tray, the operation of loading or unloading the tray is made easier by providing a gentle slope for moving payload onto and/or off of the tray. In dumpster mode, any load may be dumped directly off the tray. When in tilt tray mode of operation, the invention uses gravity to enable the tray assembly to pivot about pivot points as the tray assembly is moved rearwardly or forwardly on the vehicle. As the centre of gravity transits one of the pivot points, the tray assembly assumes a new tilt angle, relative to the vehicle. The tray assembly can be moved rearwardly so that its rearmost end makes contact with the ground. The tray may be loaded or unloaded when the tray assembly is in any angular position when the rearmost end is in contact with the ground. A unique hinge assembly enables the tray assembly to pivot, and/or to be forcibly rotated, depending on the mode of operation, into a wide variety of angles, relative to the ground. The invention is simple to control, compact, lightweight and versatile, making it suitable for use on light utility vehicles without the need for any special license or training of the operator.