Waterproof Top Door Sealing Mechanism for Trailers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional top-loadable cargo trailers face issues with tarp damage, shifting, and cumbersome mounting, as well as the need for weatherproofing and durability to prevent contamination and water ingress during transport.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates weatherproof top doors with a double seal mechanism using outer and inner door rails, cross struts, and a door panel system made from materials like extruded aluminum and thermoplastic composites, which can be easily opened and closed to secure the load and prevent water entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If tarps are used to cover the top opening, then the trailer can be loaded from above, but the tarps are subject to damage, shifting, and are cumbersome to mount and unmount
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces durable but cumbersome tarps with lighter, easier-to-handle door assemblies that can be quickly mounted and unmounted. The doors are designed as complete units that can be rapidly installed, eliminating the need for time-consuming tarp attachment while providing more reliable coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the covering system from flexible tarps to rigid or semi-rigid door assemblies. This parameter change provides structural stability, prevents shifting, and enables easier operation through standardized mounting mechanisms.
2Reliability
If top doors are provided to protect material, then weatherproofing is improved, but the doors need to be both durable and light for fuel economy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction for the top doors, combining lightweight materials with durable coatings and sealing systems. This allows the doors to maintain weatherproofing capabilities while reducing overall weight to improve fuel economy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the door assembly. The door panels use lightweight materials, while the sealing edges and weatherproofing components use heavier, more durable materials locally where needed for protection.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If top doors are made durable for rough handling, then longevity is improved, but repair time increases when damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the door assembly into separable components including door panels, frames, and sealing elements. This segmentation allows individual components to be replaced independently, reducing repair time when damage occurs while maintaining overall durability through robust construction of each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the door system with replaceable components that can be quickly removed and replaced. When damage occurs, only the affected component needs to be replaced rather than the entire door assembly, minimizing downtime while maintaining durability through component replacement.
4Reliability
If a double seal mechanism is used for weatherproofing, then water protection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the double seal mechanism with the door frame and panel structures, integrating the sealing functions into the existing door assembly rather than adding separate complex mechanisms. This merging approach provides enhanced waterproofing while minimizing additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible sealing elements and gaskets that conform to the door and frame surfaces, creating effective seals through material properties rather than complex mechanical mechanisms. This approach provides reliable waterproofing with minimal structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A trailer has a container with top doors having a frame and weatherproof thermoplastic inserts. Sealing flaps are provided at edges of the top doors to make sealing contact with sidewall top rails or top edges of end walls and tailgate. The top doors have angled extensions with grooves for ball gaskets to overlap in hand-in-hand fashion to form a reliable seal where the top doors come together. The system provides a weatherproof means to enclose the container to prevent or deter entry of water.