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Cover-up |
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Informations |
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Project:
Cover-up |
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Developed By:
Jean-Michel Surprenant |
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Type of Project:
Applied science and technology |
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Category:
Hardware or software design |
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Class:
Senior 1 |
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Age of Participant:
17 |
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School:
Polyvalente de l’Érablière |
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Teacher:
Suzanne Turcotte
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Has Won:
Esso scholarship |
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Project presented at the 1998 Outaouais regional
final of the Bell Science Fair
Selected for the 1998 Quebec final (Montreal) of the Bell Super Science
Fair, where the participant won an Esso scholarship.
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Presentation of the Problem |
Truckers transporting wood shavings used in pulp
and paper plants are required to perform various duties. They must, for
example, cover the trailer with a tarp when transporting the merchandise.
This requires that they climb onto the vehicle each time they have to
secure or remove the tarp. In addition to taking up valuable time, this
is a risky manoeuvre for truckers and has resulted in several accidents
in the past few years. This is one of the reasons that prompted us to
create an automated system that would make it possible to quickly and
effectively secure the tarp used to cover the wood shavings without threatening
the truckers’ safety.
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Aim |
To create a mechanism for covering wood shavings
that can be activated by a driver so that he or she can avoid climbing
onto the trailer.
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Hypothesis |
We think that we can successfully cover the trailer
using a system of rails, along which the tarp, activated by a motor and
cables, would slide.
To verify whether the system functions effectively, we plan to build
a model of the trailer and the system.
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Materials |
cedar plank
wood glue
sandpaper
string
screws
1/4-in. plywood
clamps
hot glue
building blocks (Lego)
I-shaped rails (and components)
vertical blind mechanism
soldering iron and tin
nails
paint |
cardboard
chain
electric wire
9-V battery connection
wooden dowels
copper wire
plastic wrap
screen
brush
cedar shavings
switches
9-V battery
wood shavings |
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Data Collection and Experimentation |
Jacques Gagnon, a forestry engineer, gave us the idea for this project.
He provided us with documents that illustrated systems currently used
to cover trailers and pointed out their respective weaknesses. We then
went to Avenor—a pulp and paper company—where François
Dumoulin, another forestry engineer, allowed us to observe the trucks.
Finally, we asked a trucker a series of questions.
This procedure enabled us to obtain the following relevant information:
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The drivers generally secure the tarp with elastics located on the sides of the trailer. In their opinion, it is the most practical system because it is light, inexpensive, easy to use and requires no maintenance.
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To install the tarp, drivers must climb onto their trailer (up to 4 m high), where they risk falling and injuring themselves.
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This installation method is lengthy, costing drivers precious time.
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Our main objective was to find a way of securing the tarp—preferably
from the ground—that would solve existing problems. We chose a
lever model. At first, we thought of using a motor that would automatically
power the system. We imagined using cables to activate a lever that would
cause the attached tarp to slide. When designing the mechanism, however,
we discovered that some of the components were complex and difficult
to design. We therefore developed another system based on a different
model, which nevertheless satisfied the previously established criteria:
quick to install, effective and relatively safe.
Our second prototype was designed so that the tarp, equipped with wheels,
would slide along a set of rails. This way, the cables, attached to a
motor, would pull the tarp and cover the trailer. To uncover the trailer,
the motor would simply turn in the opposite direction.
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Analysis |
Problem
1:
It is impossible to slide the tarp along the upper edge of the
trailer because the shavings create small, uneven mounds that block the
tarp’s movement.
Solution 1:
The tarp is attached to hoops that raise it slightly above the
level of the shavings.
Problem
2:
How can the hoops remain in a vertical position?
Solution 2:
The rail has two vertically overlapping grooves in which the pairs
of wheels (four wheels per hoop) are lodged, preventing the hoops from
rotating.
Problem
3:
How is the tarp folded when the hoops are piled up at the front
of the trailer?
Solution 3:
Each length of tarp between two hoops is folded in two and must
not drag on the shavings.
Problem
4:
What is the maximum height of the hoops with respect to the upper
edge of the trailer and how far apart must the hoops be to prevent the
tarp from obstructing the shavings?
Solution 4:
The hoops are at a maximum height of 30 cm and are 50 cm apart.
Consequently, 30 hoops are required for the entire system. The folds
in the tarp are 5 cm from the upper edge of the trailer.
Problem
5:
How can you ensure that the shavings do not block the rails?
Solution 5:
Decrease the opening of the rails and install flexible fibres will
prevent the shavings from blocking the rails.
Problem
6:
How can you ensure that the trailer is completely covered and well
sealed?
Solution 6:
The first and last hoops have been modified. At the back of the
trailer, the last hoop is rectangular and pivots in such a way as to
close over the sides of the trailer.
At the front, the first hoop has been replaced by a rod, which, when
in place, ensures that the front end is closed.
Problem
7:
How does the tarp move along the rails?
Solution 7:
The vehicle’s pneumatic system is used to power the motor.
Problem
8:
What materials are used to build the system?
Solution 8:
The rails and wheels are made of steel (inexpensive and strong).
The hoops are made of aluminum (light and strong). The tarps used are
compatible with our system.
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Conclusion |
According to the results we obtained with our model, our automated system
should work. Some companies may, however, hesitate to purchase the system
because of the changes that would need to be made to existing trailers
and the installation costs. Our knowledge, compared with that of engineers,
is limited. Our system does, however, have the characteristics of a good
model (simplicity, representativeness and perfectability). Moreover,
this invention could be useful and profitable if we consider the time
saved and the decrease in costs related to work accidents. |
© 2002, Conseil de développement du loisir scientifique (CDLS). This
document is distributed by the Conseil de développement du loisir scientifique.
For more information, visit our Web site at www.cdls.qc.ca. |
The opinions expressed
in this section are those of the authors and do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of Merck Frosst or its employees. |
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