Awning Traverse Merged With Central Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing awnings for camping vehicles are complex to manufacture due to their design, which includes separate joints for traverses and awning arms, leading to increased dimensions and potential bending loads on the segments.
Innovation Solution
The traverses are pivotally arranged at the central joint of the articulated arms, allowing them to pivot about the same axis as the segments, eliminating the need for additional joints and reducing bending loads, while being telescopic to adjust length and fixedly attached to the drop profile for enhanced tension and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate joints are provided for traverses and awning arms, then the awning structure is more robust, but the manufacturing complexity increases and dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the traverse joint with the central joint of the articulated arm by providing a receptacle at the central joint that receives the traverse. This merging eliminates the need for separate joints, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining structural robustness through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The central joint is designed to serve multiple functions: it connects the two segments of the articulated arm and simultaneously provides a receptacle for the traverse. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed while maintaining the robustness of the structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate joints are provided for traverses, then the traverses can be independently positioned, but the awning dimensions in dismantled state increase
Solution Approach 1:
The traverse is nested within the receptacle at the central joint when not in use. This nesting arrangement allows the traverse to be stored compactly within the existing joint structure, preventing an increase in the overall dimensions of the awning in its dismantled state while still allowing independent positioning when deployed.
3Volume of moving object
If traverses are fixed closer to the drop profile, then space is saved, but bending loads on awning arm segments increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the traverse attachment with the central joint, the traverse introduces forces at the joint rather than creating bending moments on the segments. This eliminates the bending load issue while the compact receptacle design maintains space efficiency.
4Reliability
If additional joints are provided for traverses, then the traverses can be robustly arranged, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The central joint is designed to incorporate both the articulation function and the traverse support function. This merging reduces the total number of joints and components that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining a robust arrangement of the traverses through the integrated receptacle design.
Data Source
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AI summary
Awning (100) for a camping vehicle with an awning fabric (1), with a drop profile (2) to which the awning fabric (1) is attached, with awning arms (3, 3') each having a drop end (4, 4') attached to the drop profile (2), wherein the awning arms (3, 3') are each designed as an articulated arm (9, 9') with two segments (10, 10', 11, 11'), and the segments (10, 10', 11, 11') of an articulated arm (9, 9') are pivotably connected to each other by a central joint (12, 12'), wherein crossbars (5, 5') are provided which can each be arranged between an awning arm (3, 3') and the drop profile (2), wherein the crossbars (5, 5') are each connected by means of the central joint (12, 12') are arranged in a pivotable manner on an awning arm (3, 3').