Variable Width Heavy Load Transport Vehicle Chassis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heavy-duty transport vehicles face challenges in efficiently reducing their width for empty return journeys, leading to unnecessary expenses and compliance issues with legal regulations, as current solutions require complex adjustments and do not optimize for compactness when unloaded.

Innovation Solution

The transport vehicle features a central wheelless chassis part with pivotable lateral chassis parts, allowing for easy reduction in width by pivoting the side chassis parts downwards, and adjustable width and track width configurations using telescopic cross members and support arrangements, facilitating easy folding and unfolding for compact transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the transport vehicle maintains a wide configuration for transporting heavy loads, then the load capacity and stability are improved, but the vehicle width becomes excessively large for empty return journeys

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload capacityVSAvoidvehicle width
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The chassis parts are designed to be dynamically reconfigurable, allowing the transport vehicle to switch between a wide configuration for heavy loads and a narrow configuration for empty returns. The lateral chassis parts can be pivoted relative to the middle chassis part, enabling the width to be adjusted based on operational needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of energy

If the vehicle width is reduced for empty return journeys, then transportation costs and compliance with legal regulations are improved, but the ability to transport heavy and wide loads is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation costVSAvoidload transport capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The transport vehicle employs a dynamic width adjustment mechanism where lateral chassis parts can be pivoted to achieve a narrow configuration during empty returns, reducing transportation costs and compliance issues. When heavy loads need to be transported, the same chassis parts can be repositioned to provide the necessary width and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If complex adjustment mechanisms are used to change the width and track width, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewidth adjustment capabilityVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The chassis is segmented into a middle chassis part and two lateral chassis parts that can move independently. This segmentation allows for width adjustment through relatively simple pivoting movements of the lateral parts, avoiding the need for complex adjustment mechanisms while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If the lateral chassis parts are made pivotable to reduce width, then the ease of operation for folding is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding easeVSAvoidchassis structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the chassis into separable lateral parts that can pivot independently, the system achieves ease of folding operation. The pivot connections allow the lateral chassis parts to be quickly moved into a folded position without requiring complex disassembly or adjustment mechanisms, balancing operational ease with structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3174779B1Heavy load transport vehicle of variable width
Publication Date: 2018.06.27 SCHEUERLE FAHRZEUGFABRIK GMBH
  • EP3174779B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3174779B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3174779B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a heavy load transport vehicle of variable width, with a chassis (10) which has two chassis parts (10b, 10c) which each support a number of wheel arrangements (13a-13d; 14a-14d) arranged one behind another, wherein the two chassis parts (10b, 10c) define a transport platform for the heavy load to be transported. According to the invention, it is provided that the transport vehicle (1) has a wheel-free central chassis part (10a) arranged between said two lateral chassis parts (10b, 10c), and that at least one lateral chassis part (10b, 10c) is pivotable about a pivot axis in relation to the central chassis part (10a).