Support Foot Guide Device for Offset Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support feet for vehicles, such as semi-trailers, face issues with weight-intensive designs and inadequate vertical guidance due to V-shaped slots, leading to damage from bending and buckling stresses when compensating for position offsets and uneven surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A support foot with a pivotable compensating element and a guide device featuring a pivotable guide element that allows for angular and linear offset compensation, reducing the need for extensive side walls and maintaining vertical force transmission, while ensuring precise positioning and continued functionality even if a restoring device fails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If V-shaped slots are used in the sidewalls of the foot element for guidance, then guidance between the rolling segment and footplate is provided, but the foot element becomes weight-intensive and vertical guidance is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance function is segmented between two separate components: the guide element (with guide surface) attached to the foot element, and the guide recess in the compensating element. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, enabling vertical guidance without requiring extensive sidewalls throughout the entire foot element length.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance mechanism transitions from horizontal V-shaped slots to a vertical guide surface arrangement. The guide surface extends vertically along the rolling path, providing guidance in the vertical dimension rather than relying on horizontal slot constraints, thereby achieving proper vertical alignment.
2Reliability
If side walls extend along the entire length of the foot element to provide guidance, then guidance over the entire rolling path is ensured, but the foot element weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing continuous sidewalls along the entire foot element length, the guidance function is segmented into a localized guide element with a guide surface that extends vertically. This localized guidance structure provides sufficient guidance throughout the rolling path without the weight penalty of extensive sidewalls.
Solution Approach 2:
A guide element acts as an intermediary component between the foot element and compensating element. This guide element, with its guide surface and corresponding guide recess, mediates the guidance function, allowing the foot element to be lighter while still ensuring proper guidance throughout the rolling path.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the support foot is designed with a pivotable compensating element, then position offset compensation is achieved, but complex guidance mechanisms are required to maintain functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The guide element with its guide surface and the corresponding guide recess in the compensating element act as an intermediary mechanism that simplifies the guidance function. This straightforward sliding contact between the guide surface and guide recess provides the necessary guidance for the pivotable compensating element without requiring complex mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide surface and guide recess arrangement allows the compensating element to self-guide during its pivoting motion. The vertical guide surface naturally constrains the movement path of the compensating element, eliminating the need for additional complex guidance mechanisms while maintaining adaptability for position offset compensation.
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 lightweight support foot that effectively compensates for positional offsets, maintains vertical force transmission, and ensures the support foot remains functional and securely positioned, preventing damage from bending and buckling stresses.
Implementation Method 1
a pivotable support leg is provided at the lower end of an extendable support part or support element... a pivotable support leg is provided at the lower end of an extendable support part or support element, which is designed to compensate for uneven floors and a misalignment of the position of the vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The base has an adjusting element (4) adjusting position displacement of a support element (50) and movable relative to a base element (2) between origin and deflected positions. A guide device has a guiding element (30) i.e. lever element, pivotably arranged at the adjusting and base elements. The guiding element is arranged directly or indirectly at the adjusting and base elements over respective bearing areas (32, 34). The guiding element is translatorily and movably arranged at the adjusting element over the bearing area (32) which is formed as slotted hole.