Articulated Vehicle Steering Housing with Segmented Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Articulated vehicles face reliability issues due to external impacts, such as fire, which can affect steering and other critical functions, and existing steering members are heavy and cumbersome, impairing accessibility in soft terrain.
Innovation Solution
A steering device with a housing configuration that forms a protected supply space between vehicle units, incorporating a heating system to remove snow and ice, and features movable protective elements for drainage, along with hydraulic steering elements and a tunnel configuration for easy upgrade and ballistic protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a self-supporting house configuration in the shape of a tunnel is used to protect the steering member, then protection against external impact is improved, but the steering member becomes relatively heavy and requires a lot of material
Solution Approach 1:
The housing configuration is divided into a front housing part and a rear housing part that can pivot relative to each other about the link shaft. This segmentation allows the housing to adapt to steering movements while maintaining protection, reducing the need for excessive material while preserving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing parts are made pivotable relative to each other, transforming the static protective structure into a dynamic one that follows the steering motion. This dynamic adaptation maintains protection effectiveness while reducing material requirements compared to a rigid, oversized housing.
2Reliability
If a large housing configuration is used to protect the steering member, then protection is improved, but accessibility is impaired among others in soft terrain due to weight and size
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the housing into pivotable front and rear parts reduces the overall size and weight while maintaining protection, improving accessibility in soft terrain without sacrificing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic pivotable housing adapts to terrain conditions and steering movements, providing necessary protection while minimizing the impact on mobility and accessibility in challenging environments.
3Ease of operation
If the steering member is exposed between the vehicle units, then accessibility and simplicity are improved, but it constitutes a weak point subjected to external impact such as fire
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs housing configurations (shells) that enclose and protect the steering member from external impacts including fire, while the pivotable design maintains accessibility and does not significantly increase complexity.
4Reliability
If snow and ice accumulate in the supply space, then the steering mechanism is affected, but removing stuff requires additional means and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The heating device utilizes phase transition (melting) to remove snow and ice from the supply space. By heating the air that streams through the housing configuration, snow and ice melt and can be drained away, maintaining steering reliability without requiring complex mechanical removal systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system uses air flow (pneumatics) to remove snow and ice. Heated air streams through the housing configuration, melting accumulated snow and ice, which then drain through drainage openings, providing a simple and effective solution for maintaining steering function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances reliability by protecting the steering mechanism from external damage, improving accessibility, and reducing the weight and energy required for propulsion while maintaining efficient steering and supply line management.
Implementation Method 1
said means comprises a heating device arranged to heat air intended to stream through the housing configuration
Implementation Method 2
said means comprises an air intake arranged in a vehicle unit, a radiator arranged downstream of the air intake, wherein air heated by means of heat exchange downstream of the radiator is arranged to stream through the housing configuration
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a steering device (I) comprising a steering member (10) for mutually steering a first vehicle unit (2) and a second vehicle unit (3) of an articulated vehicle (1) comprising means (30, 32) for mutually pivoting said vehicle units, wherein the steering device comprises a housing configuration (50) arranged to form a supply space between said vehicle units (2, 3), comprising means (5, 6, 8, S; 60, 62, A, O) arranged for removal of stuff in the supply space (S) incoming from the surrounding. The invention also relates to an articulated vehicle with a steering member.