Spring-Biased Caster Guard Assembly to Prevent Obstacle Binding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable guards for mobile equipment are burdensome to operate, as they often need to be removed and stored when moving over obstacles, and fixed guards can bind, causing equipment to tip over or damage cables and hoses.
Innovation Solution
A retractable guard assembly coupled to a caster, featuring a housing with independently movable guards and biasing elements that transition between deployed and retracted states based on contact with objects, allowing for easy passage over fixed obstacles while maintaining clearance for loose objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If fixed cable guards are used to push cables and hoses aside, then cable protection is improved, but the equipment cannot move over fixed obstacles and may tip over
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guard is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. The guard can be manually moved to a retracted position when approaching fixed obstacles like door thresholds, and returned to its protective position when moving over loose objects, thus resolving the contradiction between cable protection and obstacle clearance
2Adaptability or versatility
If removable cable guards are used, then mobility over obstacles is improved, but operational complexity increases due to removal and storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guard incorporates a spring-loaded mechanism that automatically returns the guard to its protective position after being manually retracted. This self-returning feature eliminates the need for operators to manually remove and store the guard, reducing operational complexity while maintaining mobility capabilities
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cable guards are always deployed to protect cables, then cable protection is improved, but the guards bind on fixed obstacles and cause equipment to tip over
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guard is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. The guard can be manually moved to a retracted position when approaching fixed obstacles like door thresholds, and returned to its protective position when moving over loose objects, thus resolving the contradiction between cable protection and obstacle clearance
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
Enables seamless movement of mobile equipment over various obstacles without user intervention, preventing binding and damage by automatically retracting when encountering fixed objects and maintaining sufficient clearance for loose objects.
Implementation Method 1
corresponding one or more biasing elements coupled to the one or more guards and to the housing for biasing the one or more guards towards a fully deployed state
Data Source
AI summary
Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a retractable guard assembly coupled to a caster of a mobile equipment, comprising a housing and one or more guards at least partially disposed in the housing. The one or more guards are independently movably coupled to the housing. The retractable guard assembly further comprises corresponding one or more biasing elements coupled to the one or more guards and to the housing for biasing the one or more guards towards a fully deployed state. When the one or more guards are in the fully deployed state, contact between a fixed object and a portion of the one or more guards disposed outside the housing causes the one or more guards to transition into a retracted state, and when the contact is removed, the corresponding one or more biasing elements cause the one or more guards to transition into the fully deployed state.