Rotatable Stopper Mechanism for Trolley Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Transport trolleys with stopper members that restrict inclination to prevent tipping often result in a larger inclination angle when the stopper contacts the ground, increasing the likelihood of collision with obstacles, which can obstruct movement.

Innovation Solution

A transport trolley with a rotatable stopper member positioned to the front or rear of the wheels, equipped with an elastic member that allows it to rotate around a horizontal axis, enabling it to avoid obstacles by applying elastic force against the load from the obstacle, thus maintaining a smaller inclination angle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the stopper member is provided at a position close to the floor surface to make the inclination angle small, then the prevention of tipping over is improved, but the likelihood of collision with obstacles increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of tipping overVSAvoidcollision with obstacles
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper member is made rotatable around a horizontal rotation axis line instead of being fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. When the trolley encounters an obstacle, the stopper member can rotate to avoid collision, while still maintaining its function of restricting inclination angle to prevent tipping over when the trolley tips to the side

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the stopper member is provided at a position close to the floor surface, then the inclination angle when stopper contacts ground is small, but movement of the transport trolley may be obstructed by collision with obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinclination angleVSAvoidmovement smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable stopper member allows the trolley to maintain a small inclination angle for stability while enabling smooth movement by allowing the stopper to rotate away from obstacles, preventing obstruction of movement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the stopper member is made rotatable to avoid obstacles, then movement obstruction is reduced, but the complexity of the stopper mechanism increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement smoothnessVSAvoidstopper mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper member is made rotatable around a horizontal rotation axis line with simple elastic member (spring) mechanism that applies elastic force to return the stopper to its initial angle, providing obstacle avoidance functionality with minimal added complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic member automatically returns the stopper member to its initial angle after it rotates to avoid an obstacle, eliminating the need for complex control systems or additional actuation mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 configuration effectively restricts the trolley's inclination, preventing tipping and reducing the likelihood of collisions with obstacles, allowing for smoother movement while maintaining a smaller inclination angle.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic member that applies elastic force such that the stopper member returns to an initial angle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3132991B1Transport trolley and walker
Publication Date: 2019.04.03 FUJI CORP
  • EP3132991B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3132991B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3132991B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A transport trolley and a walker that make an inclination angle of the transport trolley small while preventing a stopper member from colliding with an obstacle. The transport trolley is provided with a traveling trolley main body provided with multiple wheels, a stopper member that restricts inclination of the trolley main body by contacting a floor surface in a case in which the trolley main body is inclined to one side in the travel direction, and an elastic member that applies elastic force such that the stopper member returns to an initial angle. The stopper member, when contacting an obstacle from the front or rear in the travel direction, avoids the obstacle by rotating in the rotation axis line against elastic force due to the load in the travel direction received from the obstacle.