UTV-Coupled Animal Hoist With Sliding Platform And Winch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hunters face challenges in lifting and transporting large animals, such as elk, which can weigh over 500 pounds, due to their weight and size, making it difficult for a single individual to manage.
Innovation Solution
A large animal hoist configured to be operably coupled to a utility terrain vehicle, featuring a durable metal frame with a receiving platform, sliding longitudinal support members, pulleys, and a winch system for lifting and transporting large animals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a large animal hoist is designed to lift animals weighing over 500 pounds, then the lifting capability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for robust frame, pulley system, and winch mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The hoist system is divided into distinct functional modules: a durable metal frame providing structural support, a receiving platform for animal placement, pulleys for mechanical advantage, and a winch system for power application. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system effectiveness for lifting heavy animals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a receiving platform as an intermediary element between the animal and the lifting mechanism. This platform distributes the animal's weight across multiple support points and transfer points, enabling the heavy load to be managed through the pulley and winch system without requiring direct manual handling of the entire 500+ pound mass.
2Ease of operation
If the hoist system is designed to be operably coupled to a utility terrain vehicle, then the ease of operation is improved by enabling single individuals to manage the process, but the device complexity increases due to integration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The hoist system is designed with universal coupling capabilities that allow it to be operably attached to various utility terrain vehicles. The durable metal frame and standardized coupling mechanisms enable the same hoist device to function with different vehicle types, making the system versatile while maintaining ease of operation for single individuals through centralized control.
3Ease of operation
If the receiving platform is slidably coupled to the support portion of the frame, then the ease of operation is improved for animal loading, but the device complexity increases due to the sliding mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving platform is designed with slidable coupling to the support portion of the frame, allowing it to move dynamically between loaded and unloaded positions. This dynamic capability enables easy animal loading and unloading by allowing the platform to be positioned close to the ground or to the vehicle, while the sliding mechanism itself remains a relatively simple guide-rail or slot-based system rather than a complex actuated mechanism.
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
Facilitates the efficient lifting and transportation of large animals by distributing the weight and enabling single individuals to manage the process effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a cable operably coupled thereto
Implementation Method 2
frame further includes a vertical support member extending upward from the winch support member
Data Source
AI summary
A large animal hoist that is configured to be operably coupled to a utility terrain vehicle wherein the present invention facilitates the lifting and transport of a large animal. The present invention includes a frame wherein the frame includes a receiving platform. The receiving platform is slidably coupled to connection members of the frame and includes longitudinal and lateral support members arranged in a configuration to have an animal superposed thereon. A vertical barrier member is operably coupled to the frame inhibiting movement of an animal therepast. A winch assembly is secured to the frame and is operably coupled to a hitch receiver of the utility terrain vehicle. The winch assembly includes a winch and horizontal support members coupled with vertical post members. Lifting members operably couple the winch assembly to the frame wherein a drive cable and pulleys facilitate the movement thereof.