Lightweight Hoof Trimming Device Frame Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hoof trimming devices are excessively heavy, leading to cumbersome working conditions for farriers and high transportation costs, with significant environmental impact due to the need for heavy-duty vehicles.
Innovation Solution
The use of lightweight materials, such as aluminum, for the platform, uprights, and girders, combined with bent profile elements to absorb loads effectively, reduces the device's weight to below 750 kg, allowing for easier transportation and reduced emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel is used for the frame to absorb forces from animal weight and movement, then the strength and reliability are improved, but the weight of the device increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from steel to aluminum alloy, fundamentally altering the density and strength-to-weight ratio of the frame. This allows the device to maintain sufficient structural strength while reducing the overall weight from over 1200 kg to under 750 kg, enabling transport with ordinary vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs aluminum alloy as a composite material solution, combining lightness with adequate strength through material science advancements. The aluminum alloy frame provides a favorable balance between weight reduction and load-bearing capacity, resolving the contradiction between strength requirements and weight reduction goals.
2Ease of operation
If the device weight is reduced to improve working conditions and reduce transport costs, then the ease of operation and transportability are improved, but the ability to absorb forces from animal weight and movement may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the material parameter to aluminum alloy with optimized thickness and structural design, the frame maintains sufficient strength to absorb forces from animal weight and movement while achieving the weight reduction target of under 750 kg, thereby improving ease of operation without compromising strength.
3Weight of moving object
If heavy-duty vehicles are used to transport the device, then the transport capability is improved, but the transportation costs and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the weight parameter of the device from over 1200 kg to under 750 kg through material substitution, enabling transport with ordinary passenger cars instead of heavy-duty trucks. This significantly reduces fuel consumption, emissions, and transportation costs while eliminating the need for specialized heavy vehicle transport.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a trimming device (2) and associated method for trimming hooves of animals. The trimming device according to the invention comprises - a platform (50) on which an animal for trimming can be positioned and which is provided with an entrance (6) and an exit (14); - a number of uprights (56, 72) connected to the platform; - a number of girders () connected to at least some of the uprights; and - at least one lifting mechanism for lifting a leg of the animal for trimming, wherein the material for at least a part of the platform, the uprights and the girders is substantially a lightweight material comprising a number of profiled elements.