Platform Trolley Undercarriage Frame Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing base frames for platform trucks are complex and time-consuming to manufacture, with reduced strength due to numerous weld seams, and have not utilized higher-strength steels effectively, lacking optimal force flow and weight reduction.

Innovation Solution

A base frame design featuring a longitudinal beam with a one-piece upper and lower chord connected via longitudinal webs, using higher-strength steels like voestalpine's alform material, with a reduced number of elements and weld seams, and incorporating angle struts and material recesses for enhanced strength and weight reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional base frames are manufactured using multiple longitudinal welds and standard steel profiles, then structural strength is maintained, but manufacturing complexity increases and production time extends

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate steel profiles into a single integrated base frame body. The base frame consists of one continuous piece of high-strength steel that forms both the longitudinal beam and the headpieces as integral components, eliminating the need for separate welding operations to join these elements. This merging approach reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining structural strength through the inherent continuity of the single-piece construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameter by transitioning from conventional steel profiles to high-strength steel with minimum yield strength of 1000 MPa. This material parameter change allows the single-piece base frame to achieve the required structural strength without relying on multiple welded joints, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while meeting strength requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If multiple welded joints are used to assemble base frame components, then structural integrity is achieved, but weld seam notch failures reduce the overall strength

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidstrength at weld seams
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the welded joints from the base frame construction. By designing the base frame as a single-piece component, the invention removes the source of weld seam notch failures entirely. The structural integrity is maintained through the continuous material structure, avoiding the weakness introduced by welding operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional structural steel is used in base frame construction, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but weight reduction opportunities are lost

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovemanufacturabilityVSAvoidbase frame weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter by specifying high-strength steel with minimum yield strength of 1000 MPa instead of conventional structural steel. This parameter change enables significant weight reduction while maintaining structural integrity, as the higher strength-to-density ratio of the advanced steel allows for optimized component dimensions without compromising strength requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If numerous individual elements are used in base frame design, then adaptability is improved, but the number of required weld seams increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign flexibilityVSAvoidnumber of connecting elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual elements into a single integrated base frame body. The longitudinal beam and headpieces are formed as one continuous component, eliminating the need for separate connecting elements and weld joints. This merging maintains design flexibility through the monolithic structure while dramatically reducing the number of connecting elements required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3630573B2Undercarriage for a platform trolley
Publication Date: 2024.07.03 RAIL CARGO AUSTRIA
  • EP3630573B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3630573B2 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3630573B2 patent drawingFigure 2c~2d

AI summary

The invention relates to an undercarriage (1) for a platform trolley comprising: two head pieces (2a, 2b), each with a buffer plate (3a, 3b) for the arrangement of at least one buffer (4); a longitudinal member (5) connecting the two head pieces (2a, 2b), which longitudinal member defines a loading surface (6) for the arrangement of containers and extends along a central longitudinal axis (7), wherein the longitudinal member (5) comprises a preferably one-piece upper flange (8) and a preferably one-piece lower flange (9), which are arranged substantially one above the other and at their ends are connected to one another and to the head pieces (2a, 2b) via preferably one-piece longitudinal webs (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d).