Adjustable Canopy for Refuse Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refuse vehicles require different canopy configurations for various cab configurations, leading to increased production costs and potential inadequate protection or contact damage to the cab.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable canopy assembly for refuse vehicles, featuring a fixed cover, a pivotally coupled rotatable hood, and a slidably coupled adjustable lip, allowing for adjustment to maximize coverage while avoiding contact with the cab.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If different canopy configurations are used for various cab configurations, then optimal protection for each cab type is achieved, but production costs increase and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The canopy assembly incorporates movable and adjustable components including a rotatable hood that can pivot about a lateral axis and a slidable lip that can reposition along the hood. These dynamic elements allow a single canopy base structure to adapt to multiple cab configurations, eliminating the need for multiple fixed canopy designs while maintaining optimal protection for each configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy assembly is designed as a universal structure that can serve multiple functions across different cab types. The fixed cover provides base protection while the adjustable hood and lip components enable the same canopy to accommodate various cab heights, lengths, and positions, making one canopy design suitable for multiple vehicle configurations
2Ease of manufacture
If a fixed canopy design is used, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but protection effectiveness decreases and contact damage may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The hood is pivotally coupled to the cover allowing it to rotate to different angular positions, and the lip is slidably coupled to the hood allowing it to reposition along the hood's length. These dynamic adjustments enable the canopy to be customized for different cab configurations from a single base design, maintaining protection effectiveness while simplifying manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy assembly is divided into separate functional segments: a fixed cover attached to the chassis, a rotatable hood portion, and a slidable lip portion. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently and assembled in various configurations, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining adaptability
3Reliability
If the canopy is positioned to maximize coverage, then protection effectiveness is improved, but contact with the cab may occur causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable hood and slidable lip components allow the canopy to dynamically adjust its position and orientation. The hood can pivot to angle away from the cab, and the lip can slide to different longitudinal positions, enabling the canopy to maximize protective coverage while maintaining a safe distance from the cab surface to prevent contact damage
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a chassis, a cab coupled to the chassis, and a canopy assembly extending directly above the cab. The canopy assembly includes a main body coupled to the chassis and an adjustable panel pivotally coupled to the main body and selectively rotatable relative to the main body about a lateral axis. At least one of the main body or the adjustable panel defines a plurality of index apertures corresponding to one of a plurality of angular positions of the adjustable panel relative to the main body. The canopy assembly also includes a first pin selectively repositionable between the plurality of index apertures to secure the adjustable panel in one of the plurality of angular positions.