Road Plate Lifting Rollers for Safe Repositioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Moving large and heavy road plates is difficult and unsafe, often requiring multiple workers and expensive equipment like cranes, and existing apparatuses are not designed for both removal and repositioning of road plates.
Innovation Solution
A portable system with a frame straddling the road plate, equipped with rollers and a lifting mechanism, allowing attachment to a vehicle for safe and efficient movement of road plates by one or two workers without heavy equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional heavy equipment like cranes or tractors is used to move road plates, then the road plate can be moved safely, but the equipment is expensive and requires multiple workers and considerable time
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the road plate movement task into two independent functions: a lifting mechanism (jack screw) that raises the road plate off the ground, and rollers that support and guide the movement. This segmentation allows each component to be simpler and less expensive while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The rollers act as an intermediary between the ground and the road plate during movement. Instead of directly dragging the heavy road plate, the rollers mediate the contact, reducing friction and making movement easier and safer with simpler equipment.
2Device complexity
If road plates are moved manually without specialized equipment, then expensive equipment is not needed, but it is unsafe and difficult to move such heavy objects
Solution Approach 1:
The jack screw lifting mechanism allows the road plate to be lifted by its own weight distribution through a mechanical advantage system that can be operated by one or two workers. The system serves itself by using the road plate's central lifting ring as the attachment point, eliminating the need for external heavy equipment.
3Ease of operation
If existing apparatuses for moving manhole covers are used, then removal is assisted, but they are not designed for repositioning road plates which have different size, weight, and non-symmetric distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed with universal applicability for both removal and repositioning of road plates. The frame can straddle the road plate in any position, the lifting mechanism can raise it vertically, and the rollers can guide movement in any direction, making it versatile for both removal and repositioning tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is dynamically adaptable to the road plate's position and orientation. The frame can be positioned to straddle the plate, the jack screw can adjust to the plate's height, and the rollers can be oriented to roll in the desired direction, providing flexibility for various removal and repositioning scenarios.
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
Enables safe and efficient movement of road plates by reducing the need for expensive machinery, facilitating both removal and repositioning with a portable system that can be stored in a work truck.
Implementation Method 1
a lifting mechanism configured to raise and lower the height of the frame relative to the rollers
Implementation Method 2
the frame attached to at least two rollers that are configured to roll in a desired direction of movement
Data Source
AI summary
A road plate moving system and method is disclosed that makes it easier, safer, and more economical to move road plates. A frame detachably attaches to a road plate at the centre of the road plate, and the frame is detachably attached to a vehicle, and the frame is attached to rollers that straddle the road plate and are configured to move in the desired direction of travel. Each roller has a lifting mechanism to adjust the height of the frame relative to the bottom of the rollers. In use, the frame is attached to the road plate, and the road plate is lifted off the ground by the rollers lifting the frame, and the frame and road plate are pulled forward or backwards by the vehicle to move the road plate, which is then lowered to the ground. In a second embodiment, the road plate is lifted by a lifter located above the centre of the road plate.