Wheel Storage Frame With Rotatable Panel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for packaging and transporting vehicle wheels are inefficient, as they often require manual loading and unloading, risk injury, and violate regulations by stacking wheels flat, which can lead to deterioration and safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A wheel storage and transport frame with a rotatable front panel, adjustable corner pillars, and a securing strap system that allows for vertical storage and transport of wheels, accommodating different sizes and weights, and enabling easy stacking and movement using forklifts or pallet jacks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wheels are packed flat on wooden pallets for transport, then loading and unloading is simplified, but wheels deteriorate in storage and government regulations are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional flat packing method by storing and transporting wheels in a vertical orientation within a rack system. This inversion allows wheels to be stored upright rather than flat, preventing deterioration and meeting regulatory requirements while still enabling efficient loading and unloading through the rack design
2Manufacturing precision
If wheels are individually loaded and offloaded by people, then proper placement is ensured, but the process is time intensive and risks injury
Solution Approach 1:
The rack system is designed to be self-servicing during loading and unloading operations. The structure allows wheels to be placed into position through the rack's inherent design features (such as guide slots or positioning mechanisms) rather than requiring manual adjustment by workers, thus ensuring proper placement while reducing labor time and injury risk
3Reliability
If wheels are stored vertically to extend life, then wheel integrity is maintained, but space utilization in shipping containers must be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional flat stacking to three-dimensional vertical storage within the rack structure. By utilizing vertical space and organizing wheels in multiple levels or rows within the rack, the system maintains vertical wheel orientation for longevity while maximizing the use of available container volume through efficient spatial arrangement
4Strength
If a robust frame structure is used to support heavy wheel loads, then load bearing capacity is sufficient, but the frame complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rack system is divided into modular segments or standardized components that can be assembled in different configurations. This segmentation allows the frame to support heavy loads through distributed structural elements while keeping individual components manageable and the overall system adaptable to different wheel quantities and sizes, thus balancing strength requirements with structural simplicity
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel storage and transport frame comprising: a floor; a first corner pillar fixedly attached to the floor; a second corner pillar fixedly attached to the floor; a third corner pillar fixedly attached to the floor; a fourth corner pillar fixedly attached to the floor; a first end wall fixedly attached to the floor and the first and second corner pillars; a rear wall fixedly attached the floor and the second and third corner pillars; a second end wall fixedly attached to the floor and third and fourth corner pillars; a rotatable front panel rotatably attached to the floor via at least one hinged element, and adjacent to the first and fourth corner pillars, the bottom of the rotatable front panel remaining generally parallel to the floor, and the top of the rotatable front panel also remaining generally parallel to the floor and also moveable in generally a circular path. a first rear attachment means removeably attachable to the wheel storage and transport frame; a first strap attached to the first rear attachment means; a first front attachment means attached to the first strap, and removeably attachable to the rotatable front panel; and a first tensioning means in communication with the first strap, and attached to the wheel storage and transport frame.