Portable Livestock Corral Rack Arms for Stable Panel Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable corral systems suffer from instability of wheel systems causing panels to twist during extension and retraction, and are limited in the number of panels that can be held, restricting the size of the deployed corral.
Innovation Solution
A portable livestock corral with a chassis and shiftable racks that include upper and lower rack arms to support corral panels, preventing lateral movement and allowing for multiple panels to be stored and transported efficiently, featuring a suspension system with torsion assemblies to stabilize the panels during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional wheel systems are used to support panels during transport, then the corral can be moved, but the panels become unstable and twist during extension and retraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces rack arms as intermediary components between the wheel system and the corral panels. These rack arms provide a stable interface that prevents direct contact between unstable wheels and panels, thereby eliminating panel twisting while maintaining mobility. The rack arms act as a mediator that decouples the instability of the wheel system from the panels.
2Quantity of substance
If existing frames are used to hold panels, then the corral can be transported, but the number of panels that can be held is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the panel support system into multiple independent rack arms that can be selectively engaged with panels. This segmentation allows the frame to hold a greater number of panels by distributing them across multiple rack arms, rather than requiring a single complex support structure. Each rack arm can independently support one or more panels, increasing overall capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack arms are designed to be shiftable between engaged and disengaged positions, providing dynamic adaptability. This allows the frame structure to adjust its configuration based on the number of panels being transported, enabling the system to hold more panels when needed while maintaining structural simplicity when fewer panels are present.
3Speed
If panels are stored in a compact configuration for transport, then mobility is improved, but panel stability and prevention of lateral movement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The shiftable rack arms can be positioned in different configurations - engaged to prevent lateral movement during storage, and disengaged to allow easy panel removal during deployment. This dynamic positioning system maintains panel stability during transport while enabling rapid mobilization, resolving the contradiction between compact stable storage and quick deployment.
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 provides a stable and efficient means of transporting and deploying a larger number of panels, enabling the formation of larger corral configurations without twisting, enhancing the usability and versatility of the corral.
Implementation Method 1
featuring a suspension system with torsion assemblies to stabilize the panels during transport
Data Source
AI summary
A portable livestock corral is configured to be operably attached to a vehicle for advancement in a forward direction. The portable livestock corral broadly includes a chassis and opposed sets of corral panels. The chassis includes an elongated corral frame extending longitudinally along the forward direction. The opposed sets of corral panels are positioned to extend longitudinally along respective sides of the corral frame in a stored condition, with the corral frame configured to removably support the opposed sets of corral panels when the corral is advanced in the forward direction by the vehicle. The chassis further includes a shiftable rack supported by the corral frame and configured to removably engage and support at least one of the opposed sets of corral panels in the stored condition.