Industrial Truck Drive Frame with Adjustable Chamfered Apron Walls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing industrial truck designs face challenges in manufacturing trucks with different track widths efficiently, as current modular systems require significant modifications to accommodate varying wheel spacings, leading to increased complexity and cost.

Innovation Solution

The design of a drive frame with adjustable chamfer sections in the apron wall sections allows for different track widths by creating installation space, while maintaining the same design for other components like rear and side wall sections, facilitating easy adaptation and assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If modular systems with multiple lifting masts and battery types are used to adapt industrial trucks to different tasks, then the versatility of the truck system is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveversatilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive frame is designed with universal chamfered sections that can accommodate multiple track widths through geometric variations, allowing a single frame design to serve multiple wheel spacing configurations. This enables one drive frame to support different load units with varying track requirements, reducing the need for multiple specialized frame types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Only the chamfered sections of the skirt wall sections are modified to accommodate different track widths, while the majority of the drive frame components (rear wall sections, side wall sections, connection elements) remain identical across all configurations. This localized modification approach maintains manufacturing efficiency while providing adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If different underframe base frames of varying dimensions are manufactured to accommodate different track widths, then the adaptability to different track gauges is improved, but the manufacturing precision and production complexity worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to track gaugeVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The chamfered sections are designed with variable geometric parameters (chamfer angles, lengths, and positions) that can be adjusted to create different installation spaces for various track widths. This allows a single base frame design to be adapted to multiple track gauges through parameter variation rather than creating entirely different frame structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The drive frame is segmented into standardized components (rear wall sections, side wall sections, connection elements) and variable chamfered sections. This segmentation allows the majority of components to be manufactured with consistent precision using identical jigs and fixtures, while only the chamfered sections require adaptive manufacturing for different track widths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If multiple specialized frame designs are used for different track widths, then the fit for specific track gauge requirements is improved, but the productivity and manufacturing efficiency worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefit for track gaugeVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

A single drive frame design with configurable chamfered sections serves multiple track width requirements, eliminating the need to manufacture and inventory multiple specialized frame types. This universal design approach maintains precise fit for different track gauges while significantly improving manufacturing efficiency through standardized production processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple frame configurations for different track widths are merged into a single base frame design that incorporates adaptable chamfered sections. This consolidation allows all track width variations to be produced from one master template or digital model, improving manufacturing efficiency while maintaining the precise geometric requirements for each specific track gauge application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3712103B1Set of industrial trucks with different track widths
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 JUNGHEINRICH AG
  • EP3712103B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3712103B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3712103B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

A set of industrial trucks with different track gauges of the drive axle, each industrial truck in the set being equipped with a drive frame that accommodates wheels spaced apart from one another with one of the different track gauges, the drive frame having a rear wall section and a side wall section on each side, each with a skirt wall section, the two skirt wall sections being connected to each other to close the drive frame, each of the skirt wall sections having a wall section and a chamfer section, and both wall sections having a distance corresponding to the track gauge, while those with different track gauges having exactly a predetermined distance.