Trailer Hinged Top Door Nested Hinge Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional top-loadable cargo trailers have hinges that project outward when doors are fully open, posing a hazard, and when closed, they overhang, reducing trailer width and capacity, which is a disadvantage in regulated jurisdictions.
Innovation Solution
A cargo trailer with a compound hinge assembly and a resistance mechanism, such as a coil spring, that allows the top door to rotate fully within the trailer's dimensions, minimizing overhang and hazards, and maximizing container volume by ensuring the hinge assembly is fully enclosed when the door is closed and flush against the wall when open.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional hinges are used to mount top doors, then the doors can be opened and closed, but the hinges project outward when doors are fully open causing a hazard to workers and equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is nested within an indentation or offset of the wall, allowing the hinge to be fully enclosed within the trailer's external dimensions when the door is closed, eliminating the protruding hazard while maintaining door operation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly utilizes the depth dimension by being recessed into the wall, allowing it to clear the trailer's external envelope without compromising the door's rotational function in the horizontal plane
2Ease of operation
If hinges are positioned to allow full door opening, then the door can open completely, but the hinges overhang the sidewalls when closed reducing trailer width and capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is nested within an indentation or offset of the wall, allowing the hinge to be fully enclosed within the trailer's external dimensions when the door is closed, maximizing trailer width and capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly utilizes the depth dimension by being recessed into the wall, allowing it to clear the trailer's external envelope without compromising the door's rotational function, thereby preserving maximum trailer width
3Length of stationary object
If the hinge assembly is enclosed within the wall, then trailer width and capacity are maximized, but the hinge mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is nested within an indentation or offset of the wall, allowing the hinge to be fully enclosed within the trailer's external dimensions when the door is closed, maximizing trailer width and capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly utilizes the depth dimension by being recessed into the wall, allowing it to clear the trailer's external envelope without compromising the door's rotational function, thereby preserving maximum trailer width
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 allows for maximum container volume without compromising width or height, while minimizing hazards to workers and equipment, as the hinge assembly is entirely within the trailer's dimensions when closed and the door projects minimally when open.
Implementation Method 1
the resistance mechanism comprises a coil spring encircling a hinge pin passing through the elbow and an opening of a supporting bracket mounted to the wall at a supporting bracket side of the coil spring opposite an elbow side of the coil spring adjacent the elbow an anchor arm of the coil spring adjacent the supporting bracket side of the coil spring presses at the wall adjacent the supporting bracket, and an elbow arm of the coil spring at the elbow side of the coil spring hugs a surface of the hinge arm, to urge the hinged rotation of the hinge arm at the elbow to the closed position of the hinge arm
Data Source
AI summary
A top-loadable cargo trailer has one or more top doors mounted to a container using hinge assemblies which are located entirely within a perimeter of the container when the top door is closed. In this way, no part of the full width, length, or height of the container is taken up by overhanding hinges, and in jurisdictions limiting container width, length, and height no amount of container volume is sacrificed due to hinge overhang. The hinge assemblies have a compound, or dual hinge biased by a resistance mechanism such as a coil spring to provide an orderly opening and closing sequence of the top door. When fully open, the top door hangs vertically flush against the container wall, thus minimize hazard to works and equipment moving about the container.