Hinge Design

To make the horizontal beam easier to set up and easier to transport it has been decided to integrate a hinge into the design. The hinge will be located on the underside of the beam and act as a connecting plate as well as a hinge. The hinge will be permanently connected to the beams and only on the top of the I-beam will a connecting plate be used.

Below are preliminary drawings as to how it will work and utilised into the final design. A good material choice for the hinge will be steel as it will be underneath the beam and hence have the load exerted directly on it. Steel is a cheap and convenient way of creating this part to the assembly as it will carry the loads exerted on it with ease as well as being easy to manufacture on a large scale.