Bellows Ceiling Cover for Sealed Vehicle Transition Ducts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transition devices require significant material and assembly effort for integrating a connecting channel, while maintaining tightness, especially in the ceiling area of movable vehicle connections.
Innovation Solution
A cover is mounted directly to the ceiling section of the bellows, forming a connecting channel bounded by side wall elements, reducing material usage and installation effort, and ensuring a tight seal through overlapping sealing sections and optional sealant application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an intermediate ceiling is installed connecting to side walls of the bellows, then the connecting channel is separated from the passage area, but the material usage and assembly effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into a ceiling element and two side wall elements that can be separately manufactured and then assembled together on the bellows, reducing the complexity of manufacturing a single large complex piece while maintaining the separation function
Solution Approach 2:
The cover acts as an intermediary structure mounted on the bellows ceiling section, creating the separating wall between passage area and connecting channel without requiring direct connection to side walls, thus simplifying the overall assembly process
2Reliability
If a continuous cover connecting to side sections of the bellows is used, then the connecting channel is sealed, but the passage area is reduced and material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is localized to specific areas where the side wall elements connect to the bellows ceiling section, rather than requiring a continuous cover across the entire width. This localized sealing approach maintains effectiveness while minimizing material usage and preserving passage area
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of extending the cover continuously from side to side, the invention inverts the approach by using discrete side wall elements that connect only where necessary to the ceiling section, achieving sealing through strategic placement rather than continuous coverage
3Area of moving object
If the cover connects to the top section of the bellows, then the passage area is maximized and assembly is simplified, but the connection must withstand dynamic stress
Solution Approach 1:
The cover and bellows are designed to move together as a unified structure, with the cover mounted on the moving ceiling section. This dynamic mounting approach allows the cover to accommodate the bellows' movements without compromising connection strength, while maximizing the passage area
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a transition device (1) for arrangement between two movably connected vehicles or vehicle parts, comprising a bellows (2) enclosing a passage area (3) and a connecting channel (9) for connecting supply channels of the vehicles or vehicle parts terminating at the transition device (1). The connecting channel (9) is arranged in the ceiling area (8) of the transition device (1) and separated from the passage area (3). For this purpose, the connecting channel (9) is bounded by a cover (10) comprising a ceiling element (12) and – viewed transversely to the passage direction (4) of the transition device (1) – side wall elements (13) projecting laterally therefrom, which extend to a ceiling section (11) of the bellows (2) and are connected to the ceiling section (11) of the bellows (2) in such a way that the connecting channel (9) is completely closed.