Side Roll Up Tarpaulin System for Flatbed Trailers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side roll up tarpaulin systems for semi-flatbed trailers are inefficient and pose a risk of injury due to the need for manual operation, which requires climbing and lacks the ability to hold the tarpaulin in an intermediate position between fully open and closed states.
Innovation Solution
A side lifting/closing tarpaulin system with pivoting arms and a roller bar, supported by bulkheads, allows for manual or motorized operation, enabling the tarpaulin to be rolled between open and closed positions while being held securely in intermediate positions, using a mechanical drive to rotate the roller and a locking mechanism for secure closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual operation is used to move the tarpaulin, then the system construction is simple, but the operator must climb on top of the load which increases risk of injury and reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A telescoping control arm acts as an intermediary mechanism between the operator and the tarpaulin. The operator controls the tarpaulin from the ground through this arm, eliminating the need to climb on the load while maintaining mechanical advantage for moving the heavy tarpaulin.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual climbing and direct handling of the tarpaulin is replaced by a mechanical leverage system using the telescoping control arm. This substitutes dangerous manual labor with a mechanical advantage system that amplifies the operator's ground-based control.
2Ease of operation
If a remotely activated means is used to move the tarpaulin, then operator safety is improved, but the construction becomes expensive and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The control arm is designed to be telescoping rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its length during operation. This dynamic adjustment provides the necessary reach and leverage without requiring an overly long or bulky fixed structure, reducing overall system size and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescoping control arm serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical leverage for moving the tarpaulin, extends the operator's reach from ground level, and allows for adjustable positioning during the tarpaulin movement process. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components.
3Device complexity
If a fixed control arm is used, then the construction is simpler, but the tarpaulin cannot be held in intermediate positions between fully open and closed
Solution Approach 1:
The telescoping control arm can be extended or retracted to different lengths, allowing the operator to hold the tarpaulin at various intermediate positions during the rolling process. This dynamic adjustment capability enables precise positioning control that a fixed arm cannot provide.
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 enhances safety and efficiency by allowing secure and efficient movement of the tarpaulin between open and closed positions without the need for manual climbing, reducing the risk of injury and enabling intermediate positioning for better cargo protection.
Implementation Method 1
The roller bar is supported by an outer end of each of the arms. The tarpaulin is supported in rolled fashion on the roller bar
Implementation Method 2
The system comprises a pair of pivoting arms, each arm supported by a corresponding bulkhead. The arms are pivotable, in corresponding fashion, with respect to a side of the platform, between an upper, open orientation and a lower, closed orientation.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a side lifting/closing tarpaulin system for a flatbed trailer, the trailer having an elongated platform having front and rear ends, sides, a pair of bulkheads of similar construction extending upwardly from the platform at its front and rear ends, and a plurality of tarpaulin supporting beams extending laterally across the platform, and longitudinally along the platform. The system comprises a pair of pivoting arms, each arm supported by a corresponding bulkhead. The arms are pivotable, in corresponding fashion, with respect to a side of the platform, between an upper, open orientation and a lower, closed orientation. Each arm is provided with an elongated slot along a longitudinal axis of the arm. Each arm is mounted relative to the bulkhead such that the pivot sits within the slot in a manner that permits longitudinal movement of the arm relative to the pivot. There is further provided mechanical drive means to rotate the roller to roll or unroll the tarpaulin thus causing movement of the arms between the open and closed positions.