Roof Cargo Track and Winch Loading for Solo Vehicle Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle rooftop carriers are difficult and impractical to use, requiring multiple people to lift and position cargo due to their height and design, making it challenging to load and unload bulky items safely and efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A cargo transport system featuring a track with vertical and horizontal regions, connected by a transitional curved section, and equipped with wheels and a winch system that allows carts to move along the track, enabling easy loading and unloading of cargo from the ground to the vehicle roof, with a bumper acting as a track stop and a winch for mechanical assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional rooftop carriers are used, then cargo can be stored on vehicle roof, but loading and unloading becomes difficult and requires multiple people
Solution Approach 1:
A track system serves as an intermediary between the ground and the rooftop carrier, providing a guided path for carts to transport cargo. The track includes vertical and horizontal sections with a transitional curved region, allowing carts to move from ground level to the roof without manual lifting. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by making cargo loading easy while maintaining a manageable device complexity through modular track and cart components.
2Volume of moving object
If modern vehicle roofs are positioned higher, then cargo storage capacity is improved, but lifting cargo becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The track system incorporates a transitional curved region that smoothly connects the vertical and horizontal sections. This curved transition allows carts to navigate the angle change from ground level to the elevated roof position without abrupt movements, making cargo transport easier while accommodating the higher roof position that provides greater storage capacity.
3Ease of operation
If manual lifting is used for conventional carriers, then no additional mechanical systems are needed, but physical strain increases and safety decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cart system is self-propelled along the track using a winch mechanism that winds a cable to pull the cart and its cargo load along the track. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual lifting by multiple people, significantly reducing physical strain while maintaining reasonable device complexity through the use of a single winch unit and simple cart design.
4Productivity
If track system with winch is implemented, then solo operation becomes possible, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The track system is designed to be universally applicable to various vehicle types and cargo configurations. The same track and cart system can handle different cargo sizes and weights, and can be used for both loading and unloading operations. This multi-functionality justifies the device complexity by enabling solo operation and significantly improving productivity across multiple use cases without requiring separate systems for different 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
The system allows for safe and efficient solo operation of loading and unloading heavy or bulky cargo onto and from vehicle roofs, reducing physical strain and requiring minimal training, while enabling quick and secure transportation of large volumes of cargo.
Implementation Method 1
The system includes a winch comprising a cable configured to be wound and unwound from the winch
Implementation Method 2
Each cart comprises a plurality of wheels, each wheel configured to be housed within a track groove
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is a transport system comprising a track positioned vertically and horizontally on the rear and top, respectively, of a vehicle. One or more roller carts cooperate with the track and are configured to enable cargo to be moved from ground level to the vehicle roof for storage and transport to a desired destination. A winch is used to physically hoist the cart along the track to load and unload the cargo from the vehicle roof. Thus, the transport system is operatively deployed upon a vehicle and is selectively movable to allow a user to easily and quickly load and unload cargo to and from the vehicle roof.