Bus with integrated overhead pod

Abstract

The utility model provides a bus with an integrated overhead pod, and relates to the technical field of automobile structures. Comprising a vehicle body and further comprises a head top pod arranged above the front side of a driving position in the vehicle body, the head top pod comprises a shell, and an electrical element suitable for interacting with a driver is arranged outside the shell so that the driver in the driving position can interact on a seat; an air outlet is formed in the bottom of the shell and used for being communicated with an air conditioning device in a vehicle body. An access door is arranged on the side, close to an in-vehicle passageway, of the shell so that inspection and maintenance can be facilitated. According to the scheme, the space layout in the bus is optimized.

Description

A bus with an integrated overhead pod Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automotive structural technology, and more specifically, to a bus with an integrated overhead pod. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, buses all require an electrical control box within the passenger area to house the vehicle's controller and other electrical components. However, this traditional layout has several drawbacks: First, the electrical control box occupies a significant amount of valuable passenger area space, affecting not only the rational arrangement of passenger seats but also hindering the planning of installation locations for interior components such as handrails and guardrails, resulting in low utilization of the passenger compartment space. Second, conventional electrical control boxes typically employ a closed design, leading to low heat dissipation efficiency. During long-term bus operation, overheating can cause electronic component failures, affecting the normal operation of the vehicle. Third, the dispersed placement of electrical components increases the difficulty of maintenance, requiring maintenance personnel to frequently enter the passenger area for operation, which affects the passenger experience and poses safety hazards. Furthermore, existing buses lack integrated storage space for emergency equipment; emergency items such as first-aid kits are often placed haphazardly, affecting the aesthetics of the passenger compartment and hindering rapid retrieval in emergencies. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This utility model discloses a bus with an integrated overhead pod, which aims to solve the aforementioned problems.

[0004] The present invention adopts the following solution:

[0005] A bus with an integrated overhead pod includes a vehicle body and an overhead pod disposed above the driver's seat within the vehicle body. The overhead pod includes a housing, the exterior of which is provided with electrical components suitable for interaction with the driver, enabling the driver to interact from their seat. An air vent is provided at the bottom of the housing for connecting to an air conditioning unit within the vehicle body. An inspection door is provided on the side of the housing near the aisle inside the vehicle for inspection and maintenance.

[0006] Furthermore, the electrical components suitable for interaction with the driver include at least a dashcam, a music player, and an air conditioning controller.

[0007] Furthermore, the inspection door is mounted on the housing using a insert-type structure, and a mechanical support rod is provided on the inspection door to keep it open when it is opened.

[0008] Furthermore, a reinforcing bracket is provided around the inspection door, and the mechanical strut is riveted to the reinforcing bracket.

[0009] Furthermore, the inspection door is provided with a fiberglass reinforcement layer, and a safety hammer fixing position is provided on the fiberglass reinforcement layer for placing the safety hammer.

[0010] Furthermore, the housing is equipped with integrated electrical components that do not require interaction with the driver, and a life-saving pack storage cavity is formed within the housing for storing the life-saving pack.

[0011] Furthermore, the housing is mounted on the vehicle body using Phillips head countersunk self-tapping screws.

[0012] Furthermore, a gooseneck microphone device is also provided on the outside of the housing.

[0013] Beneficial effects:

[0014] This solution integrates electrical components into an overhead pod above the driver's seat and optimizes the design of the access door and auxiliary structures. This solves the problems of traditional electrical boxes occupying passenger space, having low heat dissipation efficiency, and being inconvenient for maintenance. It has the advantages of saving passenger area space, improving heat dissipation efficiency, facilitating equipment maintenance, and optimizing emergency equipment management. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a bus with an integrated overhead pod according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 is a top view of a bus with an integrated overhead pod according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of a bus with an integrated overhead pod according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 is a partially enlarged structural diagram of Figure 3;

[0019] Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of the pod shell of a bus with an integrated overhead pod according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the pod shell of a bus with an integrated overhead pod according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the cabin distribution structure of a bus with an integrated overhead cabin according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Reference numerals: 1. Vehicle body; 2. Driver's seat; 3. Pod; 31. Shell; 32. Inspection door; 33. Air vent; 34. Driving recorder; 35. Music playback device; 36. Air conditioning controller; 37. Mechanical strut; 38. Reinforcing bracket; 4. Safety hammer; 5. Life-saving pack storage cavity; 6. Phillips head countersunk self-tapping screw; 7. Gooseneck microphone device. Detailed Implementation

[0023] Referring to Figures 1 to 7, this embodiment proposes a bus with an integrated overhead pod, including a vehicle body 1 and an overhead pod 3 located above the driver's seat 2 inside the vehicle body 1. The overhead pod 3 includes a housing 31, with electrical components for driver interaction installed on the outside of the housing 31. An air vent 33 is provided at the bottom of the housing 31 to connect to the air conditioning unit of the vehicle body 1, and an inspection door 32 is provided on the side of the housing 31 near the aisle inside the vehicle.

[0024] The overhead pod 3 refers to an integrated device installed directly above the driver's seat, typically using a sheet metal frame and injection-molded housing 31, for centrally housing various electrical components. Interactive electrical components are devices requiring direct driver operation, typically using a combination of touchscreen control panels, physical buttons, and voice control, ensuring the interface is within easy reach of the driver, or a display screen for convenient viewing. The air vent 33 is an opening connecting to the air conditioning duct, such as a grille-type deflector, allowing cool air to flow directionally to the area with concentrated electrical components. The access door 32 is an openable maintenance passage, typically using a hinged or sliding door structure, with the door opening angle stabilized by a support mechanism.

[0025] This embodiment frees up passenger area space by transferring the electrical box functions of the traditional passenger area to above the driver's seat 2. The pod 3's casing 31 houses devices requiring direct driver operation, such as a dashcam 34, air vent 33 control panel, and music playback device 35, allowing for interaction while seated. The bottom of the casing 31 forms a continuous air duct with the vehicle's air conditioning system, continuously cooling internal electrical components and directing cool air to the driver's seat 2. The access door 32 near the aisle is kept open by a mechanical strut 37, allowing maintenance personnel to perform equipment maintenance without entering the driver's operating area. The pod 3's installation position is calculated to ensure a safe distance between the driver's head and the bottom of the pod 3, while also ensuring the operating interface is within the optimal human-machine interface range. By reconfiguring the space, the equipment is centrally located at the top of the driver's cabin, without affecting the passenger area layout, and allowing the air conditioning system to directly target key heat dissipation areas. Traditionally, maintenance doors 32 are mostly located at the back or bottom of equipment. This solution adjusts the maintenance passage to the side of the aisle, significantly improving the accessibility of maintenance work; it also effectively frees up usable space in the bus passenger area, allowing for more flexible arrangement of seats and guardrails. The through-type connection between the air conditioning system and the pod 3 improves the heat dissipation efficiency of electrical components, reducing the probability of equipment overheating failure. The optimized position of the maintenance door 32 reduces the impact of maintenance work on normal vehicle operation, allowing the driver to complete the main equipment operation in a fixed seated position, ensuring driving safety.

[0026] As shown in Figures 4 to 7, in this embodiment, a dashcam 34 and a music playback device 35 are installed on the outside of the housing 31. Electrical components such as electrical modules and fuse boxes that do not require interaction are integrated inside the housing 31, forming a life-saving pack storage cavity 5. A gooseneck microphone device 7 is installed outside the housing 31.

[0027] Among them, the dashcam 34 refers to a device that records vehicle driving data, which can be implemented by combining an in-vehicle camera with a storage module, and is integrated on the outside of the housing 31 for easy driver operation. The music playback device 35 refers to an audio playback device, which can be implemented by a playback module with control buttons, and is arranged on the outside of the housing 31 for easy driver access. The life-saving pack storage cavity 5 refers to a specific space formed inside the housing 31, which can be implemented by creating an independent compartment through injection molding, and is used to centrally store emergency supplies. The gooseneck microphone device 7 refers to an adjustable-angle pickup device, which can be implemented by combining a flexible metal tube with a directional microphone, and is installed on the side of the housing 31 for driver voice input.

[0028] The dashcam 34 and music playback device 35 are centrally located on the exterior of the housing 31 above the driver's seat 2, allowing the driver to operate the devices from their seat, avoiding the space occupied by traditional electrical boxes in the passenger area. Non-interactive electrical components are integrated into a separate area inside the housing 31, physically isolated from external devices, reducing the risk of accidental activation and optimizing wiring layout. The emergency kit storage cavity 5 uses a standardized space to enable rapid location of emergency supplies, shortening retrieval time compared to a dispersed arrangement. The flexible structure of the gooseneck microphone device 7 can adapt to different driver postures, and the angle adjustment improves sound pickup accuracy. By integrating interactive devices into the pod 3 above the driver's seat 2, the problem of equipment occupation in the passenger area is eliminated, and non-interactive devices and emergency supplies are integrated into the same structure through a partitioned design. Traditional emergency kits are mostly fixed to the side wall of the carriage or under the seat; this solution uses a dedicated cavity to achieve centralized management of emergency equipment, shortening the response time to emergencies. Existing vehicle microphones are usually fixed to the dashboard; the gooseneck structure of this solution provides more flexible operating space.

[0029] Referring to Figures 3 to 7, in this embodiment, the housing 31 is mounted on the vehicle body 1 by cross-slot countersunk self-tapping screws 6, and the inspection door 32 is mounted on the housing 31 using a insert-type structure. A mechanical support rod 37 is provided on the inspection door 32 to keep it in the open state when it is opened.

[0030] The insert-type structure refers to a door edge with protruding inserts and a corresponding guide groove on the housing 31. This can be achieved by machining the inserts and grooves from aluminum alloy profiles, with the inserts sliding along the guide grooves for installation and positioning. The mechanical support rod 37 is a rod-shaped device with a supporting function, specifically a stainless steel telescopic rod with an internal spring. When the access door 32 is opened to a designated position, it can be held in place by the mechanical support rod 37. It should be noted that in another embodiment, the access door 32 can also be hinged to the housing 31, rotating at a predetermined angle to open the access door 32, and supported below the access door 32 by the mechanical support rod 37.

[0031] When installing the housing 31, the Phillips head countersunk self-tapping screws 6 are directly screwed into the metal frame of the roof of the vehicle body 1, with the screw heads completely recessed into the mounting holes of the housing 31, forming a flat mounting surface. When the inspection door 32 is closed, the protruding inserts of the insert-type structure are fully embedded in the guide groove of the housing 31, keeping the door flush with the housing 31; when open, it slides outward along the guide groove. The mechanical strut 37 can be used to support the inspection door 32 when it is open, counteracting the weight of the door and keeping it stably in the open position. The self-tapping screws directly drive into the structure of the vehicle body 1, eliminating the need for pre-embedded nuts, and the insert-type structure reduces lateral space occupation compared to hinges; the mechanical strut 37 replaces manual support, significantly improving the efficiency of single-person operation. This achieves rapid installation and stable fixation of the bus roof pod 3, allows the inspection door 32 to be disassembled and reassembled along a straight trajectory to avoid lateral interference, and the mechanical strut 37 automatically maintains the door in the open state, effectively solving the problem of inconvenient equipment maintenance in narrow spaces, while reducing the complexity of the installation process.

[0032] Referring to Figures 5 to 7, in a preferred embodiment, a reinforcing bracket 38 is provided around the perimeter of the inspection door 32, and mechanical support rods are riveted to the reinforcing bracket 38. The reinforcing bracket 38 refers to a metal support frame installed on the edge of the inspection door 32. Specifically, it can be made of aluminum alloy profiles and connected to the door frame by welding or bolting, used to distribute the load transmitted by the mechanical support rods 37 and improve the deformation resistance of the door edge. Riveting refers to forming a non-removable permanent connection using rivets. Specifically, solid rivets or blind rivets can be used for pressing, used to eliminate the risk of thread loosening and enhance the shear strength of the connection node. In one embodiment, a fiberglass reinforcing layer is provided on the inspection door 32, and a safety hammer 4 fixing position is provided on the fiberglass reinforcing layer for placing the safety hammer 4.

[0033] The fiberglass reinforcement layer is a structural layer made of glass fiber reinforced plastic material, used to improve the deformation resistance of the access door 32. The safety hammer 4 fixing position is a positioning structure used to restrain the displacement of the safety hammer 4, which can be implemented by embedding it into the surface of the fiberglass reinforcement layer using a slot or elastic strap. This structure achieves the fixing function of the safety hammer 4 by reusing the space of the access door 32, avoiding the need for a separate mounting position on the interior trim. The fiberglass reinforcement layer is integrated into the surface of the access door 32 in an integrated manner. Its material properties give the access door 32 self-supporting strength, eliminating the need for additional mounting brackets and reducing the space occupied by the structural components in the vehicle interior. The safety hammer 4 fixing position is directly set on the surface of the fiberglass layer, utilizing the load-bearing capacity of this layer to achieve stable fixing of the safety hammer 4. This allows the storage function of the safety equipment to be reused with the structure of the access door 32, avoiding interference with the interior layout by setting up a separate mounting bracket in the passenger area. The fiberglass layer achieves structural self-strengthening, integrating the fixing function of the safety hammer 4 into the surface of the access door 32, reducing the space occupied in the vehicle interior, and avoiding installation conflicts between the metal frame and interior trim.

[0034] This embodiment eliminates the traditional electrical box, increasing the passenger compartment space and allowing for better arrangement of passenger seats and guardrails, thus improving space utilization in the passenger area. By placing the electrical components within the housing 31 in the air duct, the air conditioning can cool them, reducing the possibility of malfunctions due to overheating from prolonged operation. The driver can use interactive electrical devices from their seat, reducing driver movement, improving driving focus, and preventing accidents.

[0035] It should be understood that the above are only preferred embodiments of the present utility model, and the protection scope of the present utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions that fall within the scope of the present utility model are protected by the present utility model.

[0036] The accompanying drawings used in the above description of the embodiments only show some embodiments of the present invention and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

Claims

1. A bus with an integrated overhead pod, comprising a vehicle body, characterized in that, Also includes: An overhead pod is located above the driver's seat inside the vehicle. The overhead pod includes a housing. The exterior of the housing is equipped with electrical components suitable for interaction with the driver, allowing the driver to interact from the seat. An air vent is located at the bottom of the housing for connecting to the air conditioning unit inside the vehicle. An inspection door is located on the side of the housing near the aisle inside the vehicle for easy inspection and maintenance.

2. The bus with integrated overhead pod of claim 1, wherein, The electrical components suitable for interaction with the driver include at least a dashcam, a music player, and an air conditioning controller.

3. The bus with integrated overhead pod of claim 1, wherein, The inspection door is mounted on the housing using a insert-type structure, and a mechanical support rod is provided on the inspection door to keep it open when it is opened.

4. The bus with an integrated overhead pod according to claim 3, characterized in that, The inspection door is surrounded by a reinforcing bracket, and the mechanical strut is riveted to the reinforcing bracket.

5. The bus with an integrated overhead pod according to claim 3, characterized in that, The inspection door is equipped with a fiberglass reinforcement layer, and a safety hammer fixing position is provided on the fiberglass reinforcement layer for placing the safety hammer.

6. The bus with integrated overhead pod of claim 1, wherein, The housing is equipped with integrated electrical components that do not require interaction with the driver, and a life-saving pack storage cavity is formed within the housing for storing the life-saving pack.

7. The bus with integrated overhead pod of claim 1, wherein, The housing is mounted on the vehicle body using Phillips head countersunk self-tapping screws.

8. The bus with an integrated overhead pod according to claim 1, characterized in that, A gooseneck microphone device is also provided on the outside of the housing.

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