Asymmetric Cockpit Door Layout for Smaller Vehicle Cabins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicles with symmetrical door arrangements face challenges in reducing cockpit size without compromising accessibility and safety, as both doors must meet minimum size requirements for comfortable entry and exit, limiting the extent of size reduction.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle design featuring a cockpit with a single file seat arrangement and two asymmetrical doors, where one door is larger for everyday access and the other is smaller for emergency use, allowing for reduced cockpit size while maintaining accessibility and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If symmetrical door arrangements are used in conventional vehicles, then both doors can provide adequate access, but the cockpit size cannot be reduced further
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by configuring the first door on one side of the cockpit to be larger than the second door on the opposite side. The first door has dimensions that facilitate easy entry and exit, while the second door has reduced dimensions. This asymmetric arrangement allows the cockpit size to be minimized while maintaining adequate accessibility through the larger first door.
2Volume of moving object
If door size is reduced to minimize cockpit dimensions, then vehicle size decreases, but safety in emergency situations is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the functional properties of doors at different locations. The first door is designed with larger dimensions and optimized for both everyday use and emergency evacuation, while the second door has reduced dimensions suitable for its specific location and purpose. This localized optimization allows overall vehicle size reduction while maintaining emergency safety through the capable first door.
3Ease of operation
If larger doors are provided for easy access, then accessibility improves, but vehicle mass and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by providing a larger first door for easy access while making the second door smaller. This asymmetric configuration ensures that the vehicle maintains adequate accessibility through the larger first door without requiring both doors to be large, thereby reducing the overall vehicle mass and size compared to symmetric door arrangements.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a vehicle with a body having a cockpit therein, wherein: the cockpit contains one or more seats disposed in a single file arrangement; the body has first and second doors for accessing the cockpit, the first and second doors being arranged on opposite sides of the cockpit; when the first door is closed, an upper portion of the first door is arranged to form a first part of a roof of the cockpit; and the first part of the roof of the cockpit is larger than any part of the roof of the cockpit formed by the second door when the second door is closed. By providing two doors which are asymmetrical, it is possible to reduce a size of the cockpit without compromising accessibility or safety of the vehicle. Reducing a size of the cockpit may contribute to reducing an overall mass and size of the vehicle.