Bulk Material Trailer Gate Assembly for Stable Unloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bulk material shipping containers pose challenges in unloading loose materials while maintaining stability and weight distribution when elevated for unloading, as the gate opening assembly can increase the height of the container, affecting the trailer's movement and stability.
Innovation Solution
A bulk material shipping container trailer with a base structure and container support assembly that includes corner nesting supports and lateral support arms, featuring a gate opening assembly integrated into the trailer's design to allow unloading from the bottom without increasing the container's height, ensuring stability and efficient material transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a gate opening assembly is added to enable unloading from the bottom, then unloading capability is improved, but the height of the container increases affecting trailer stability
Solution Approach 1:
The gate opening assembly is nested within the space between the trailer base structure and the container bottom, utilizing the existing vertical space rather than adding external height. The assembly includes a gate mover positioned within this gap, allowing the gate to open downward without increasing the overall container height profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate opening assembly operates in the vertical dimension by moving the gate downward to an open position, rather than requiring horizontal or lateral space. This dimensional approach allows unloading functionality while maintaining the container's external height dimensions unchanged.
2Ease of operation
If the container is supported above the ground for unloading, then unloading access is improved, but weight distribution and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The gate opening assembly is merged with the trailer base structure, sharing the same support framework and connection points. This integration ensures that the unloading mechanism's weight is distributed through the existing trailer structure, maintaining balanced weight distribution while providing ground-level unloading access.
3Productivity
If a gate mover assembly is added to move the gate, then unloading efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gate mover assembly utilizes the existing container gate structure and integrates it with the trailer's support system. The same structural elements serve dual purposes: supporting the container during transport and enabling gate movement during unloading, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining unloading efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A bulk material shipping container trailer includes a base structure, a container support assembly, and a gate moving assembly positioned between the base structure and a container loaded onto the trailer, to enable material in the container to be unloaded from the container through the gate moving assembly and the base structure.