Adjustable Panhard Bar for Reducing Vehicle Cab Wind Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles face significant wind resistance on their lateral sides, which increases energy consumption and environmental emissions, despite the use of wind deflectors on the roof, necessitating a more comprehensive reduction in wind force resistance.
Innovation Solution
A system that adjusts the length of an adjustable panhard bar connecting the vehicle cab to the chassis, using sensor data to rotate the cab relative to the wind direction, reducing wind resistance by controlling an actuator to optimize the cab's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If wind deflectors are arranged on the roof of the vehicle cab, then wind force resistance from the front is reduced, but wind force resistance from lateral sides remains significant
Solution Approach 1:
The panhard bar is made adjustable in length to dynamically change the cab's lateral position relative to the chassis. This allows the cab to be rotated around its vertical axis to different orientations, enabling the vehicle to adapt to wind coming from different directions, thereby reducing wind force resistance from lateral sides while maintaining the benefit of roof deflectors
Solution Approach 2:
The length of the panhard bar is changed as a controllable parameter to achieve cab rotation. By adjusting the panhard bar length, the cab's lateral offset from the chassis is modified, which changes the cab's orientation relative to the wind direction, thus adapting to varying wind conditions and reducing overall wind force resistance
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the vehicle cab is made stationary relative to the chassis, then structural simplicity is maintained, but wind force resistance increases due to inability to rotate
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable panhard bar serves as an intermediary mechanism between the fixed chassis and the rotatable cab. It provides a controlled connection that enables cab rotation while maintaining structural integrity, thus adding minimal complexity to achieve the benefit of reduced wind force resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between the chassis and cab is segmented into two functional parts: the adjustable panhard bar that controls lateral position and enables rotation, and the cab itself that can rotate independently. This segmentation allows the cab to be positioned optimally relative to wind direction without requiring complete redesign of the entire vehicle structure
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the panhard bar length is continuously adjusted, then wind force resistance is minimized, but energy consumption and component wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The panhard bar length is adjusted periodically or in discrete steps rather than continuously, based on wind direction sensors and control logic. This approach minimizes wind force resistance by positioning the cab optimally while reducing the frequency of actuator operations, thereby lowering energy consumption and component wear
Solution Approach 2:
A control system with feedback from wind direction sensors monitors the actual wind conditions and adjusts the panhard bar length accordingly. The system compares the current cab orientation with the optimal orientation and makes adjustments only when necessary, minimizing energy consumption while maintaining reduced wind force resistance
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a computer system comprising processing circuitry configured to receive sensor data during propulsion of a vehicle, the sensor data comprising a first force value representing a first wind force acting on a first lateral side of a vehicle cab, and a second force value representing a second wind force acting on a second lateral side of the vehicle cab, determine a difference between the first force value and the second force value, and control an actuator to adjust a length of an adjustable panhard bar connected between the vehicle cab and a chassis of the vehicle to rotate the vehicle cab, around a geometric axis of the vehicle, in response to the determined difference between the first and second force values to reduce a wind force resistance of the vehicle cab caused by the first and second wind forces.