Interlocking Mounting Bar for Trailer Lighting Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mounting lights, reflectors, and similar components on flat-bed trailers with sliding tarpaulins is challenging due to the movement of the tarpaulin, which alters their distribution and makes maintenance and electrical connection difficult.
Innovation Solution
A mounting bar system that interlocks with the track and roller system, allowing lights and reflectors to be securely attached below the track, ensuring easy installation, removal, and maintenance, and can be made from lightweight materials since it is not a structural support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If lights and reflectors are mounted to the base of the tarpaulin, then they move with the tarpaulin between extended and retracted positions, but the distribution of lights changes and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate components: the track and roller system remains fixed to the trailer frame, while the mounting bar is detachably connected to the track. This segmentation allows the lighting components to be mounted on the fixed mounting bar rather than moving with the tarpaulin, enabling easy maintenance access while maintaining proper lighting distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting bar and lighting system are extracted from the moving tarpaulin structure and attached to the fixed track system. This extraction separates the lighting function from the moving tarpaulin, allowing lights to remain in fixed positions for easy maintenance while the tarpaulin continues its retraction and extension movements independently.
2Ease of operation
If lights are mounted on a fixed structure, then maintenance is easy, but the lighting distribution changes when tarpaulin moves between positions
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bar serves multiple functions: it provides a fixed mounting surface for lights and reflectors, interlocks with the track system to ensure proper positioning, and remains stationary while the tarpaulin moves. This multi-functionality allows the same fixed structure to maintain consistent lighting distribution while enabling easy maintenance access.
3Strength
If the mounting bar is made from heavy structural material, then it provides strong support, but the overall weight of the trailer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bar is designed with localized strength only where needed for mounting lights and reflectors, rather than being uniformly heavy throughout. The bar can be made from lighter non-structural materials since it only needs to support lighting components, not bear structural loads or act as a bumper protector, thus reducing overall trailer weight while maintaining adequate mounting capability.
4Reliability
If the mounting bar is integrated with the track and roller system, then installation is permanent, but maintenance and replacement become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bar features a dynamic connection system with interlocking elements that provide secure attachment during operation but allow for easy detachment when needed. The interlocking mechanism maintains reliable mounting security while enabling simple installation and removal for maintenance or replacement, transforming a static permanent integration into a controllable reversible connection.
Data Source
AI summary
A track and roller system for guiding and supporting a sliding tarpaulin for covering a flat-bed trailer and for supporting at least one light means. The track and roller system comprises a track for supporting for a plurality of rollers and a mounting bar. The rollers are connected to base portions of sliding supports for the tarpaulin. The track has at least one interlocking element. The mounting bar supports the at least one light means below the track. The mounting bar has an outwardly facing supporting portion for supporting the at least one light means and an interlocking portion connected to the supporting portion. The interlocking portion has at least one interlocking element for interlocking with the at least one interlocking element of the track.