Vehicle Support Leg With Inclined Guide Track

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing support devices for vehicles, such as caravans, face challenges in achieving high support height, minimizing installation height, and ensuring ease of operation and stability, while also being cost-effective and payload-efficient, due to limitations in design and the need for multiple support points.

Innovation Solution

A support device with a guide track arrangement where the lower point is closer to the fixed pivot of the side strut, allowing for a large support height and minimal overall height, combined with a hydraulic cylinder for convenient operation and a three-point support system for enhanced stability and payload efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional support devices with hand crank and spindle are used, then the device can be operated manually, but the operation is very tedious and inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidloss of time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual hand crank and spindle mechanism with a hydraulic cylinder system. The hydraulic cylinder uses fluid pressure to automatically extend and retract the support leg, eliminating the need for manual cranking operations. This substitution of mechanical systems with hydraulic systems directly resolves the contradiction by making operation convenient while reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Length of moving object

If telescopic cylinders are used to achieve high lifting height, then the support height is increased, but the overall height becomes too great requiring folding during transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport heightVSAvoidoverall height
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the arrangement of the guide track from a vertical orientation to an inclined orientation relative to the vehicle floor. This dimensional change allows the support leg to achieve high support height through the inclined guide track while the overall installation height remains compact. The support leg extends along the inclined guide track rather than vertically, enabling high lifting capability without increasing the vertical installation footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Stability of the object's composition

If multiple support points (seven points) are used to support the vehicle, then the vehicle is well-supported, but the weight increases reducing payload capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates redundant support points from the conventional seven-point support system, reducing to a three-point support system. By removing unnecessary support components and simplifying the support architecture, the system achieves adequate vehicle support with significantly reduced weight, thereby increasing payload capacity while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Length of moving object

If the support leg is designed for high support height, then the support capability is improved, but the installation height increases causing damage risk during driving

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport heightVSAvoiddamage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an inclined guide track arrangement that allows the support leg to achieve high support height along the incline while maintaining a compact vertical installation height. This dimensional reorientation enables the support leg to extend far enough to provide high support capability without protruding excessively upward, thereby minimizing the risk of damage during driving while preserving support performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

The solution enables a high support height with minimal installation height, easy operation, and significant weight savings by reducing the number of support points, ensuring stable and convenient vehicle leveling and maneuverability.

Implementation Method 1

a hydraulic cylinder is provided, the piston rod of which is articulated on the head area of the support leg

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP3473506B1Connecting device for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 EWO FLUID POWER
  • EP3473506B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3473506B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3473506B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a support device (1) for a vehicle, in particular for a trailer, comprising a support leg (9) with a mounting area (10) that can be placed on a surface (12) and a console (4) that can be attached under the floor (2) or chassis (6) of a vehicle, with a guide track (7) in which a head section (8) of the support leg (9) is slidably guided between a first point (P1), where the support leg (9) is in an upwardly raised transport position (T), and a second point (P2), where the support leg (9) is in a downwardly lowered support position (S), wherein at least one side strut (14) is pivotably articulated on one side to an intermediate section (13) of the support leg (9) located between the mounting area (10) and the head section (8) and on the other side to a pivot point (20) that is fixed relative to the guide track (7), characterized in thatthat the second point (P2) of the guide track (7) lies below the first point (P1) of the guide track (7).