Slidable Platform Assembly for Heavy-Duty Vehicle Engine Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles, especially heavy-duty trucks, pose a challenge due to their elevated height, requiring the use of ladders or step stools for engine maintenance, which is cumbersome and time-consuming, as existing solutions do not provide adequate access or stability for comfortable repair work.
Innovation Solution
A horizontally slidable platform assembly that can be attached to the front of a vehicle using mounting receivers, featuring a stationary frame and a slidable platform with stops for extension and retraction, allowing secure and comfortable access to the engine compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a ladder or step stool is used to access the engine compartment, then access to the engine is possible, but the operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming due to continuous repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is pre-positioned at the front of the vehicle in a fixed location, eliminating the need for continuous repositioning during maintenance tasks. The platform extends forward from the vehicle frame, providing stable access points before the user even begins work on the engine compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform incorporates telescoping sections that can extend and retract to provide access at different positions along the engine compartment. This dynamic adjustment allows the user to optimize platform position for different maintenance tasks without leaving the platform.
2Ease of operation
If the vehicle height is reduced for easier engine access, then access becomes easier, but the vehicle's ground clearance and performance are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The platform acts as an intermediary structure between the ground and the engine compartment. It provides extended reach with handrails and access points that allow the user to access the engine area without needing to climb or reach excessively high, effectively bridging the height gap while preserving the vehicle's original ground clearance.
3Ease of operation
If a fixed platform is attached to the front of the vehicle, then engine access is improved, but the device complexity and number of attachment components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is designed to attach to universal mounting locations on the vehicle frame, such as existing bumper mounts or frame rails, rather than requiring custom attachment points. The platform structure itself serves multiple functions: providing access, supporting user weight, and offering handrails for safety, thereby reducing the need for additional separate components.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the platform is made extendable to reach different engine parts, then access versatility is improved, but the structural complexity and stability requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The platform incorporates telescoping sections with locking mechanisms that allow the platform length to be adjusted for different access needs. The locking mechanism maintains structural integrity and stability at each extended position, providing rigid support when locked while enabling adjustment when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform is divided into multiple sections, with at least one telescoping section that can extend and retract. This segmentation allows the platform to adapt its length for different engine compartment access requirements while maintaining manageable size and weight for installation and storage.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a slidable platform assembly and a method of attaching the assembly to the front end of a vehicle. The assembly comprises a frame attachable to a receiver secured to the front end of the vehicle and also comprises a platform slidable within the frame. Various embodiments of slidable platform assembly and methods of attachment to the receiver of the vehicle are herein disclosed.