Tractor Front-End Carrier With Wooden Deck And Steel Braces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current attachments for tractor front-end loaders, such as buckets, fork lifts, and hay forks, are inadequate for carrying large volumes or long objects, and are costly and inefficient due to their complex steel construction and high material costs.
Innovation Solution
A front-end carrier with a large deck and back area, made from wooden or synthetic boards supported by steel angle irons, allowing for the carrying of long objects and materials with a capacity similar to a full-size pickup truck, and constructed using common materials and simple fabrication techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a traditional steel bucket is used, then strength and rigidity are provided, but the volume and floor area are too small for carrying large volumes or long objects
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier is divided into separate components: a deck portion, a back portion, and support structures. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and assembled to create a larger overall volume while maintaining structural integrity through the support structures connecting the segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a traditional three-sided bucket design to a four-sided enclosure by adding a back portion that extends vertically. This dimensional change increases the usable volume and floor area significantly, allowing the carrier to hold large volumes of material or long objects while maintaining the same basic bucket attachment functionality.
2Volume of moving object
If the side walls are made high to increase volume, then carrying capacity improves, but the weight and material cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly thick walls throughout, the support structures have varying thicknesses positioned strategically where needed for maximum strength. The deck and back portions use appropriate wall thicknesses localized to areas subject to highest stress, reducing overall material usage and weight while maintaining necessary structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier combines different materials with complementary properties: a deck and back made from engineered wood or composite materials providing sufficient strength and rigidity, combined with steel support structures for the load-bearing framework. This composite approach achieves high volume capacity while reducing overall weight compared to all-steel construction.
3Strength
If a solid steel construction is used, then strength is improved, but the manufacturing cost and fabrication complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier is manufactured as separate modular components (deck portion, back portion, support structures) that can be produced independently using standard fabrication processes. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing by reducing the size of individual components and allowing each to be optimized for its specific function, then assembled together to create the complete carrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The design employs tubular support structures with optimized wall thicknesses and openwork patterns that provide sufficient strength while minimizing material usage. These parameter optimizations allow the carrier to achieve necessary strength requirements through geometric efficiency rather than relying on solid, material-intensive construction.
4Area of stationary object
If the deck area is increased to carry more materials, then carrying capacity improves, but the stability and rigidity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The deck and back portions utilize engineered wood or composite materials that provide high strength-to-weight ratios and excellent rigidity. These materials maintain stability even when used in large-area configurations, supporting the increased carrying capacity without compromising the structural integrity or stability of the carrier assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structures are positioned asymmetrically relative to the deck and back portions, with closer spacing under the deck area where loading occurs and wider spacing toward the rear. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes the distribution of structural support to maintain stability while accommodating the full deck area for carrying materials.
Data Source
AI summary
This implement attaches to the hydraulic system of a front-end loader for a tractor or similar vehicle. It has two planar surfaces, a deck and a back, that are fastened together at an approximately 90 degree angle. The deck is constructed primarily of wooden or synthetic boards or sheets, supported below or above by two or more steel angle irons or channel irons bolted to the boards or sheets. The back consists of a similar combination of boards or sheets, irons, and bolts, with a grill or strips possibly replacing some boards or sheets in the upper part. Each deck support is fastened to a back support using one or two steel braces or gussets, bolted or welded to the supports. Two steel yokes are fastened to the back, suitable for attaching the carrier to the front-end loader hydraulics. The carrier can be lifted and tilted by the front-end loader system, just as the system would do with its normal bucket attachment.