Spreader Tailgate Cart and Prop for Safer Tailgate Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing, storing, and reinstalling spreader tailgates on dump bodies are labor-intensive and require expensive extraneous equipment, posing safety risks due to manual manipulation and exposure to pinch and crush points.
Innovation Solution
A cart with wheels and support shelves, combined with a prop that securely holds the tailgate away from the dump body, allows for efficient removal, storage, and reinstallation of spreader tailgates, reducing manual labor and equipment costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual manipulation and lifting of the spreader tailgate are performed, then the tailgate can be removed and stored, but intense labor and numerous laborers are required with high exposure to safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
A cart with support shelves and a prop member serve as intermediary devices between the spreader tailgate and the ground. The cart receives and supports the tailgate weight, while the prop member maintains the tailgate in a safe position during removal and reinstallation, eliminating direct manual handling and exposure to pinch and crush points
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the spreader tailgate to support itself through its own pivot feature at the top, while the cart and prop provide minimal assistance. The tailgate's self-weight and pivot mechanism do the work of holding it away from the dump body, reducing the need for external lifting equipment and manual labor
2Ease of operation
If locking hydraulic cylinders are used to hold the spreader tailgate away from the dump body, then the tailgate can be positioned, but the dump body system becomes complicated with added cost and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning function is extracted from the dump body system and transferred to a separate, simple prop member that is inserted into existing openings. This removes the complexity of integrating locking hydraulic cylinders into the dump body while still achieving the desired tailgate positioning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The prop member is a simple, inexpensive mechanical component compared to locking hydraulic cylinders. It can be easily inserted and removed as needed, providing temporary positioning without the complexity and cost of permanent hydraulic system modifications
3Ease of operation
If a chain or wire rope is used to hoist the spreader tailgate, then the tailgate can be lifted on and off the dump body, but expensive extraneous equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The spreader tailgate's own weight and pivot mechanism are utilized to perform the lifting function. When the prop member is inserted and the dump body is lowered, the tailgate automatically swings away from the dump body and is supported by the cart, eliminating the need for external hoisting equipment
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of lifting the tailgate upward with hoisting equipment, the approach is inverted: the dump body is lowered while the tailgate remains pinned at the top, causing the tailgate to swing away and be caught by the cart. This reverse approach eliminates the need for lifting equipment
Data Source
AI summary
A spreader tailgate removal, storage, and reinstallation apparatus and method are disclosed for safety and efficiency of changing and storing replacement spreader tailgates. The apparatus includes a prop for holding the spreader tailgate away from a dump body and a cart to receive, hold, or stage the spreader tailgate for removal, storage, or reinstallation respectively.