Designing a lifting and lowering device to the storage market

Abstract

"The aim of this thesis is to design a lifting and lowering device for the storage market. The design is based on a patent, held by Dropracks, which is a collaborator in the thesis. Dropracks is a company developing a lowerable roof rack for cars. This rack is protected by their patent of a lifting and lowering device. This patent gives Dropracks an immaterial protection in all industry sectors, and has other potential areas of use. The Dropracks team has expressed a wish for this thesis to contain the design of the lowering and lifting device for the storage market. The design methodology of the thesis is based on the book Engineering Design Thinking by Nigel Cross [1]. The first part of the thesis covers an introduction to the market, an illustrated explanation of the mechanical principles of the Dropracks patent, as well as design variations adapted to the storage market. There has been developed a set of specifications and requirements for these design variations. It is concluded to design lifting and lowering device to tall shelves and closets. Finally, the product design phase is conducted, including the prototyping process and simulations. Based on the simulations and prototyping process, material assessments are made. The final product is a lifting and lowering system for tall shelves and closets, designed and animated with CAD."