Retractable Wheel Assembly for Compact Fold-Out Trailers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large trailers are inefficient in terms of fuel consumption and storage, as they have a high travel profile, which contradicts the need for energy efficiency and are difficult to transport and store.
Innovation Solution
A fold-out trailer design featuring a trailer frame with pivotally supported primary platforms, a retractable wheel assembly, and a locking device that adjusts the distance between wheel assemblies, allowing for a compact travel position and an expanded living/storage area, optimizing space and mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the trailer is designed with a large living/storage area, then the usable space is improved, but the travel profile size increases leading to poor fuel efficiency and storage difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer is divided into multiple platforms (first primary platform, second primary platform, third platform) that can be independently positioned and configured. This segmentation allows the living/storage area to be expanded when needed while maintaining a compact travel profile by collapsing or removing platforms during transportation.
Solution Approach 2:
The trailer employs dynamically adjustable components including pivotally supported platforms that can rotate between horizontal and vertical positions, and a retractable wheel assembly with variable width. These dynamic features enable the trailer to transition between a compact configuration for efficient travel and storage, and an expanded configuration for increased living/storage space.
2Area of moving object
If the trailer is designed with a large living/storage area, then the usable space is improved, but the travel profile size increases making storage and transport difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer structure is segmented into multiple independently positionable platforms. The first and second primary platforms can be pivoted to vertical positions, and the third platform can be removed or collapsed, significantly reducing the overall volume and travel profile for storage and transport while maintaining full living/storage capacity when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The platforms utilize vertical space by pivoting from horizontal to vertical orientations. This dimensional transformation allows the living/storage area to be collapsed upward rather than outward, reducing the horizontal footprint and overall volume required for storage while preserving the potential living space capacity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the wheel assembly is fixed in an extended position, then the stability and living area are improved, but the storage and transport efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly incorporates a retractable mechanism with supports that can slide toward and away from each other on the support base, allowing the distance between wheel assemblies to be varied. This dynamic adjustment enables the wheel assembly to be extended for stable operation and retracted for compact storage, with locking devices securing both positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel assembly is divided into separate supports that move independently on the support base. This segmentation allows each support to be positioned optimally for either stability during use or compactness during storage, providing flexibility that a fixed wheel assembly cannot achieve.
Data Source
AI summary
A trailer includes a trailer frame having a hitch. A stationary support base is joined to the trailer frame. Two supports are slidably guided on the support base toward and away from each other. A wheel assembly is mounted to an end of each of the supports remote from the other support such that a distance between the wheel assemblies varies with movement of the supports on the support base. A locking device selectively locks each support to the support base in a first position where the wheel assemblies are furthest from each other and a second position where the wheel assemblies are closer to each other.