Trailer Safety Stand Lever Lock for Upright Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailer support safety stands face issues with height adjustment mechanisms that are prone to corrosion and require manual operation, posing safety risks due to the need for operators to bend or squat, and may fail under extreme weight conditions, leading to trailer tip-overs and landing gear collapse.
Innovation Solution
A trailer support safety stand with an automatic gas-activated leveling system and a locking device that can be actuated and de-actuated using a lever, allowing for height adjustment and locking while standing upright, featuring a telescoping post assembly and a locking pin for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mechanical means (cranks and gears) are used to adjust the height of the support, then the device can be operated manually, but the mechanism is exposed to corrosion and friction causing wear and failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical crank and gear system with a telescoping post assembly that uses friction-based or cam-based locking mechanisms. This substitution eliminates exposed gears and cranks that are susceptible to corrosion and wear, while maintaining manual operability through a simpler, more robust structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescoping post assembly uses nested tubular structures with friction surfaces or cam locks that provide both adjustability and reliability. The design incorporates protective coatings or materials that resist corrosion, ensuring long-term reliability while maintaining the ability to adjust height manually.
2Extent of automation
If hydraulic or pneumatic means are used to adjust the height, then automatic height adjustment is achieved, but the operator must bend over or squat to insert and remove the security locking pin
Solution Approach 1:
The telescoping post assembly with its locking mechanism is designed to be operated from a standing position. The locking pin or cam lock is positioned and sized such that the operator can easily insert and remove it without bending or squatting, making the system serve itself through ergonomic design rather than requiring awkward operator positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is positioned at a height and orientation that allows operation from a standing position. By changing the spatial arrangement of the locking component, the system enables automatic height adjustment while maintaining ergonomic operation, eliminating the need for the operator to bend or squat.
3Reliability
If the landing gear is seldom used or rusted, then the structure may collapse under extreme weight conditions, but increasing the strength of the landing gear adds weight and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a telescoping post assembly with locking mechanisms that provide redundant support before collapse can occur. The locking mechanism acts as a preventive measure, securing the post at the desired height and preventing catastrophic failure under extreme loads, thereby cushioning against the consequences of rust or infrequent use.
Solution Approach 2:
The landing gear is divided into modular components including the telescoping post assembly with separate locking mechanisms. This segmentation allows for targeted reinforcement of critical load-bearing sections while keeping other parts lightweight, achieving structural integrity without excessive overall weight.
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 provides a safe, secure, and easy-to-use support system that prevents trailer tip-overs and landing gear collapse, with a maintenance-free gas system and ergonomic design, ensuring operator safety and efficient operation even in adverse conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The AUTO-RISERTM trailer stand from TMI Inc. which uses a gas activated leveling system
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a trailer safety stand for temporarily supporting a conventional trailer having a landing gear, wherein the stand comprises a pedestal having a top for engaging the underside of the nose portion of a trailer and a bottom for engaging the ground; means for adjusting the height of the pedestal; a locking device for fixing the height of the pedestal; and means for actuating and de-actuating the locking device. In one embodiment of the present invention, the means for actuating and de-actuating the locking device is a lever that is pivotally connected to the pedestal at a first point along the lever and connected to the locking device at a second point along the lever. When a force is applied away from the pedestal at a third point along the lever, the locking device is actuated and the height of the pedestal is fixed. When a force is applied toward the pedestal at the third point along the lever, the locking device is de-actuated and the height of the pedestal is adjustable.