Openable Side Board Retaining Mechanism for Industrial Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing industrial vehicle body side boards are prone to accidental uncoupling due to jolts, pose a risk to operators during hooking and unhooking, and are noisy due to the interaction of retaining mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A hooking unit with movable parts that clamp a flexible element without play, using elastic means to secure the side board in intermediate and open positions, reducing noise and operator risk by ensuring secure retention during jolts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hook and ring system is used to retain the side board, then the side board can be held in intermediate position, but the coupling may accidentally uncouple during vehicle jolts
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining mechanism automatically engages and disengages through the oscillating motion of the side board during jolts. The flexible element with loop automatically hooks onto the protrusion when the side board oscillates, eliminating the need for manual intervention and providing self-retention during vehicle movement
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining mechanism uses the dynamic oscillating motion of the side board during vehicle jolts to automatically engage the flexible element with the protrusion. The system converts the harmful oscillating motion into a useful retention action, where the side board's natural movement during jolts triggers the hooking mechanism
2Reliability
If a spring catch is used to prevent accidental uncoupling, then retention reliability improves, but operator safety deteriorates due to injury risk during hooking and unhooking
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining mechanism is designed to automatically engage and disengage through the side board's own oscillating motion during jolts, eliminating the need for manual hooking and unhooking operations. The flexible element with loop self-activates during vehicle movement, removing operators from dangerous interaction with the mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible element with loop acts as an intermediary between the side board and the protrusion, mediating the retention function through automatic engagement during oscillations. This intermediary mechanism transfers the retention function from manual operation to automatic mechanical interaction, reducing direct operator contact with moving parts
3Reliability
If a flexible element with hook and ring is used for retention, then the side board can be retained in intermediate position, but noise increases due to chain or cable tapping on side boards during travel
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the noisy chain or cable from the system and replaces it with a flexible element made of non-noisy material. The flexible element with loop eliminates the tapping and rattling sounds generated by traditional metal chains or cables during vehicle travel, while maintaining the retention function
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter of the flexible element from traditional noisy materials (chain or cable) to a non-noisy flexible material. This parameter change in material composition eliminates the noise generation mechanism while preserving the mechanical retention function
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 solution maintains secure coupling during vehicle jolts, eliminates operator risk, and significantly reduces noise, while being easy to produce and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
elastic means acting on the movable part for pushing it towards the near position in the absence of external stresses
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An industrial vehicle body comprising an openable side board (6) movable at least between a closed position and a completely open position, and retaining means (8) for retaining the openable side board (6) in an intermediate opening position in which it is positioned substantially horizontally; the retaining means (8) comprising at least one elongate element (10) having a first end (11 ) and a second end (12), as well as a hooking unit (13) associated with the second end (12) and at least a fixed first contact element (14) which are removably fixable to one another; the fixed first contact element (14) and the first end (11 ) of the elongate element (10) being fixed one to the openable side board (6) and one to a different part of the body (1 ); the hooking unit (13) comprising a first part (15) and a second part (16) which are movable relative to one another between a distanced position in which the fixed first contact element (14) can be inserted between the two, and a near position in which insertion of the fixed first contact element (14) between the two is inhibited, the first part (15) and the second part (16) in an intermediate position also, in use, being able to clamp between them the fixed first contact element (14); elastic means acting on the first part (15) and/or the second part (16) for pushing them towards the near position.