Small business Innovation - Truck Trailer Snow Removal Prototype Engineering Tips Case Study

Solving problems and innovation go together, and nobody knows that more than Tom Dravis, the inventor of a idea to eliminate snow from the major of a truck trailer though it really is nevertheless within the truck yard so when it goes down the road that snow will not come off the major and kill a person or bring about an automobile accident or death. Especially, this has occurred and there happen to be wicked accidents and deaths inside the state of Ohio through the winter time.

That's fairly unfortunate thinking about the truck speed in Ohio is only 55-mph and also the enforcement for truck drivers is so intensive, many very simple prevent the state all with each other as they haul freight coast to coast. Now, then when I talked with Tom Dravis, and he told me of his notion, neither of us knew there was already a patent for such a device. Nevertheless, soon after we re-configured his innovation after which located that patent, we noted that the previous inventor's notion wasn't practically as robust or capable as the a single we engineered.

When Tom Dravis very first pointed out the idea, and asked me what I thought getting as I was previously inside the fleet truck washing business, and knew a point or two about small business innovation, I said confident; "it's a superb concept Tom, great pondering there." Then, I explained how I would engineer such an invention. I'd engineer it and design and style it as a fixed unit would perform exactly where the truck drove below it, let's say at 1-2 mph, as well as the snow will be pushed off the top. The technique scraper could possibly be hinged so that distinctive truck heights may be accommodated considering that most all more than the road standard trailers are extremely related in height [speaking of USA] and within actually a foot in distinction is all.

The issue I see is with ice, it could genuinely freeze on there rather hard and truck trailers aren't so sturdy between the frame pieces up there frequently adequate. Not all of them are built like brick outhouses, as the piggy back logistical cargo containers are. I'd feel within the UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, cars are smaller so an ice sheet could destroy a vehicle and kill the passengers, whereas in the US the car could take the hit, nevertheless it would sustain mild to extreme cosmetic damage [thinking of insurance coverage organizations, as Tom did].

Tom stated that; "I am with you on the scraper and different heights of equipment," after which he explained his design and style to me. Then I said; "Okay, but possibly, you'd will need several rollers in advance to crush and break up the ice somewhat, then it would come off, simply because when the ice is on there so really hard in some cases it's as tough because the shell itself, it's incredible really. Vibrating rollers ahead of time visit this link do this, then your idea follows?" You see, it will be my contention that this whole program ought to be inside a cradle, exactly where the cradle was held by six to eight dual bars, and also the cradle held the implements,

The dowels holding the cradle will be big two inch in diameter equivalent to the giant pins employed for farm implements in tow. The rubber coated scraper would come initially within the series as well as the robber would prevent it from damaging the fiberglass air dam on the front with the trailers or the refrigeration unit housing and assembly for reefer trailers. The rollers would move along and roll on their own bouncing and vibrating breaking up the eyes and as they move they could be connected for the brushes with tears that would turn them inside a counter rotating fashion, hence you would want no motors, hydraulics or anything that could break and cause Murphyism.

Considering the fact that snow buildup is usually quite heavy the assembly would must weigh very a little, and its weight would support inside the approach of removing the snow and ice. This suggests the method holding it up would must be built using a heavy steel structure in mind. Hence the concept of bolting it on to an existing truck wash tunnel assembly may possibly not normally be possible based upon the brand.

For that reason it might should be a standalone unit but to save space it will be put in the front of a truck wash. Should you wanted to wash the truck once you are accomplished removing the ice and snow off the top rated in the trailer you can, or the truck wash assembly may be idle and you merely drive a truck through after you eliminate the snow.

The very first blade would have to be an angle otherwise you'd place all the snow on major from the trailer behind the trailer itself and as a result it would block the entrance for the next trailer that came by means of. The last blade need to be slightly angled the opposite way to ensure that you do not have as well much snow constructed up on any 1 side.

We will have to keep in mind that this snow may perhaps not melt for several weeks during the harsh winter season and there will be snow all more than the parking lot. it may well make sense to possess motes on every single side from the unit, while it could not manage all the ice and snow, if it were heated it could melted promptly and heights from these motes may be funneled in to the reclaim method with the truck wash.this would mean it would comply with the NPDES permits for the region.