Mechanisms of a Loading Ramp

A loading ramp is an example of the simple machine system of an incline plane. The principle behind the inclined plane simple machine is that the flat surface of the ramp or the plane is inclined in a manner that one end is at a higher height than the other, which enables heavy objects to be raised to that height by simply moving or hauling these objects up along the inclined surface rather than trying to lift them straight up. By using this system, the amount of energy or force needed to do that work is reduced quite considerably; but at the cost of a longer distance that the objects now have to travel. A loading ramp is normally used to haul large or heavy objects onto a truck, lorry, pick-up or any other vehicle intended to transport the object from one place to another. Such ramps make it possible for even a single person to achieve moving really heavy objects onto a vehicle, all by themselves, which would normally be impossible to scale up there vertically. The loading ramp also does the reverse that is assist removing objects off the vehicle and down to the ground level easily and safely.

Loading ramps are especially handy in the loading and offloading of bicycles, motorcycles, racks, carriers, wheelchairs, lawnmowers, golf carts and a range of ATVs. Such objects are usually wheeled and self powered, and all that is needed to load them onto any vehicle is simply run them up a solid and well constructed loading ramp. The best types of loading ramps are strong, rigid, light and durable. Strong enough to sustain the weight of the objects being loaded without breaking or snapping; rigid and firm to resist bending and curving which will compromise the angle of incline and thus render the whole idea useless; light to reduce the load on the vehicle as the loading ramp has to go together with the load so as to facilitate offloading and finally durable, for longer use and economic sense. Aluminum stands out as one of the best material for the construction of a loading ramp. Being a metal, and the lightest metal for that matter, it provides all the desirable characteristics of good loading ramps, and can be made even stronger by the inclusion of steel grating. Steel grating can increase the ramps capacity tremendously, while remaining relatively light and easy to use.

The main purpose of the loading ramps is to facilitate the transportation of all types of loads by a vehicle. There are some makes of vehicle trailers that also double up as a loading ramp for themselves. These trailers feature a single wheel set that lets the trailer pivot one of its ends to the ground. In this position, the load or cargo to be hauled is moved up the incline just like on a normal loading ramp, but as soon as the whole object is on the ramp, it is pivoted back to a trailer level from where it is attached to a vehicle and pulled to the desired location.

Chris J is the author of this article on Loading Ramp. Find more information on Loading Ramp here.