The design of partial weight-support system for injured elephants

Abstract

This research aims to design a partial weight-support system for injured elephants, with the primary goal of providing preliminary care for elephants that have been injured and are unable to stand on their own before being transported to a hospital for further treatment. The process of assisting injured elephants must be rapid and safe for both the caretakers and the elephants. This weight-support system is designed to facilitate the assistance of injured elephants and can be towed by a standard pickup truck at speeds not exceeding 60 km/hr. The design takes into consideration the optimal weigh that the system can lift, which is approximately 14.7 kN, calculated as 30% of the average weigh of adult Thai elephants, which is 49.1 kN. The chest circumference and height of adult Thai elephants used in this design are on average of 400 and 300 cm, respectively. Testing the weight-lifting system in a laboratory setting showed that it can lift
a maximum weight of 19.6 kN at a height of 3.5 meters. When applied to an injured elephant weighing
49.1 kN, the stability factor (N) is 1.33.