Winch Mount Plate for UTV Bed Rail Strain Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Loading and unloading heavy objects on Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs) is a difficult task that poses a risk of injury due to the need for manual lifting and maneuvering, and existing solutions do not effectively distribute the strain along the vehicle's structure.
Innovation Solution
A winch system with a mount plate designed to fit over a vehicle's bed rail, featuring a winch assembly, power source, and controller, which allows for controlled, powered maneuvering of objects without manual lifting, with a cable guide and locking lip for secure attachment, and a bed stop to prevent tilting, enabling even strain distribution across the vehicle's structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual lifting and maneuvering is used to load heavy objects, then the task can be completed, but the risk of injury to individuals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical lifting system with an automated winch system that uses a motorized reel to wind and unwind a cable, thereby substituting human physical effort with mechanical automation to eliminate injury risk while performing the same loading function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cable as an intermediary element between the winch assembly and the object to be moved. This cable acts as a mediator that transfers the pulling force from the winch to the object, allowing controlled maneuvering without direct manual handling of heavy loads
2Device complexity
If strain is concentrated on a single point during object maneuvering, then the operation is simpler, but the vehicle structure may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the strain distribution by routing the cable through multiple contact points including the cable guide and along the bed rail structure. This divides the concentrated force into distributed loads across multiple structural elements, preventing any single point from bearing excessive stress
Solution Approach 2:
The patent distributes strain across multiple dimensions of the vehicle structure by utilizing both the longitudinal bed rail and the lateral side rails. The mount plate and cable guide create a multi-dimensional load path that spreads forces across the vehicle's structural framework rather than concentrating them in one location
Data Source
AI summary
A winch system and method includes a mount plate with a length and a width where the length of the mount plate includes a top, front and back and where the width of the mount plate is generally uniform and smaller at opposite ends and wider in between the opposite ends such that a support platform is provided and where the front and back of the length are conformed to fit over and attach with a bed rail in a vehicle. A winch assembly is connected with the mount plate at the support platform. A power source is connected with the winch assembly and a controller is connected with the winch assembly and the power source such that power to the winch assembly is controlled by operation of the controller.