Tipper Ejection Board Mechanism for Residual Load Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tipper vehicles face the issue of residual load or deadweight due to material getting stuck after tipping, reducing the payload capacity and necessitating additional transport cycles.

Innovation Solution

A tipper arrangement with a movable ejection board mechanically attached to a pivotable ejection arm, actuated by a resilient actuator like a spring or torsion bar, which expels residual load by rotating the arm to eject material from the tipper body when tilted.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a conventional tipper body design is used, then the structure is simple and robust, but residual load gets stuck after tipping reducing payload capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepayload capacityVSAvoidtipper structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tipper body is segmented into functional zones: a removable ejection board at the front that can be independently actuated, separate from the main tipper body structure. This segmentation allows the ejection board to be moved independently to eject residual load without requiring the entire tipper body to be reconfigured.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ejection board is made dynamically movable through pivotable ejection arms that can rotate between a retracted position (during loading) and an extended ejection position (during unloading). This dynamic capability allows the same structure to serve multiple functions: structural support during loading and active ejection during unloading.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the tipper body is tilted for unloading, then load is discharged, but residual material remains stuck in the front area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunloading completenessVSAvoidresidual deadweight
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The ejection board performs a preliminary action by protruding into the load before the main tipping operation. During the tipping process, the ejection board is actively moved forward to push residual material out of the front area, preventing it from getting stuck in the first place rather than attempting to remove it after it has adhered.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The ejection board acts as an intermediary element between the tipping mechanism and the residual load. It translates the rotational motion of the ejection arms into a forward pushing motion that directly contacts and ejects the residual material, mediating the force transfer from the mechanical actuator to the stuck load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If an ejection mechanism is added to remove residual load, then payload capacity increases, but the mechanism adds complexity and potential failure points

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffective payloadVSAvoidmechanical system reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of trying to pull residual load out from the front, the mechanism pushes it out using the ejection board. The ejection arms are positioned to leverage the tipping motion itself, using the body's own movement to drive the ejection action rather than requiring a separate complex actuation system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The ejection mechanism utilizes the existing tipping motion of the tipper body to power the ejection action. As the tipper body tilts forward during normal unloading, this motion is transferred through the pivotable ejection arms to move the ejection board, making the system self-actuating during the tipping cycle without requiring additional energy input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If the ejection arm is positioned to effectively eject load, then unloading efficiency improves, but the arm extends below the tipper body increasing overall height

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveejection effectivenessVSAvoidtipper structure height
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The ejection arms are designed to nest within or alongside the tipper body structure when in the retracted position. The pivotable connection allows the arms to be stored compactly during loading operations, and only extend to their functional position when needed for ejection, minimizing the overall height envelope of the structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Effectively reduces residual deadweight by ensuring complete unloading, enhancing payload capacity and reducing the need for additional transport cycles.

Implementation Method 1

the actuator is a resilient actuator such as a spring or a torsion bar

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring action: Spring

Implementation Method 2

the actuator is a resilient actuator such as a spring or a torsion bar

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorsion bar: Torsion Spring

Implementation Method 3

the at least one ejection arm is pivotable attached with respect to the tipper body and extend to below the tipper body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLever: Lever

Implementation Method 4

the normal loading position may be that the tipper body is substantially horizontal so that load maintains by gravity in the tipper body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4385817B1Deadweight reduction in tippers
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 VOLVO TRUCK CORP
  • EP4385817B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4385817B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4385817B1 patent drawingFigure 2C

AI summary

A tipper arrangement (1) for a vehicle, comprising: a tipper body (3) for carrying a load (5/A); a movable ejection board (7) mechanically attached to at least one an ejection arm (9) at a front (10) of the tipper body inside the tipper body, the at least one ejection arm (9) is pivotable attached with respect to the tipper body (3) and extend to below the tipper body; an actuator (11) configured to rotate the at least one ejection arm (9) from an initial position in which the at least one ejection arm (9) is in mechanical contact with a stopper element (13) below the tipper body that prevent rotation of the at least one ejection arm (9), to a rotated position in which the at least one ejection arm (9) is rotated about a pivot axis (15) to cause a motion of the ejector board (7) towards the rear (17) of the tipper body to expel load from the front of the tipper body.