Wheel Bracket Hole Pattern for Structural Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current material handling apparatuses face challenges in maintaining structural integrity between the support and material handling portions, particularly under heavy loads and abusive conditions, which affects longevity and customer satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A material handling apparatus design featuring a beam with three sets of aligned holes for attaching a u-shaped wheel bracket, allowing for secure fastening of wheels in various orientations, providing stability and flexibility in wheel arrangement and beam configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional support portions are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but structural integrity deteriorates under heavy loads and abusive conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The support portion is divided into multiple components: a beam, wheel brackets with legs, and fasteners. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall structural integrity. The wheel brackets are positioned at specific locations along the beam, creating modular sections that distribute loads more effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel brackets feature asymmetric positioning with legs extending at specific angles relative to the beam. The fasteners are positioned offset from the beam centerline, creating an asymmetric arrangement that optimizes load distribution and prevents orbital movement. This asymmetric design enhances structural integrity without requiring symmetric reinforcement.
2Stability of the object's composition
If thicker steel is used to maintain stability, then structural integrity improves, but weight and material cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener design incorporates a dynamic constraint mechanism where the wheel bracket legs and fastener arrangement work together to prevent orbital movement. The asymmetric positioning creates a self-constraining system that maintains stability through geometric relationships rather than requiring thicker, heavier material.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniformly thickening the entire beam, the design applies localized reinforcement through strategically positioned wheel brackets and fasteners. The legs of the wheel brackets and the offset fastener positions create local structural enhancement exactly where needed to prevent orbital movement, while the rest of the beam maintains its original thickness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed wheel arrangements are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but adaptability to different applications decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel bracket design with asymmetric legs and offset fastener positions serves multiple functions: it supports wheels in various orientations, prevents orbital movement, and accommodates different wheel types. The same bracket configuration can be used across different applications (platform trucks, bar cradle trucks, mesh stock trucks) without requiring custom designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric fastener positioning creates a dynamic constraint system that adapts to different wheel orientations. The legs and fasteners work together to prevent orbital movement regardless of wheel direction, providing versatile support without requiring multiple specialized bracket designs.
Data Source
AI summary
A material handling apparatus includes a support portion having a beam, a wheel disposed on one side of the beam, and a wheel bracket disposed on an opposing side of the beam. The wheel bracket has two legs and a yoke, and is disposed with the legs against the beam to define a gap between the beam and the yoke. The beam and wheel bracket each include a defined pattern of identically arranged holes, a first set arranged on a square pattern, a second set arranged on rectangular non-square pattern, and a third set arranged on a rectangular pattern similar to that of the second set but oriented ninety degrees to the second set. The wheel bracket is disposed having its defined pattern of holes aligned with the defined pattern of holes in the beam. The wheel, beam and wheel bracket are attached by fasteners passing through one set of holes and traversing the gap.