Commercial Vehicle Cab Kit with Shared Front Wall

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing commercial vehicle driver's cab designs face challenges in maximizing interior space while minimizing the number of components and maintaining driving dynamics and fuel efficiency, particularly due to complex front walls and inefficient use of rear interior space.

Innovation Solution

A kit for commercial vehicle driver's cabs with two versions (narrow and wide) using a shared front wall, flat side walls perpendicular to the front and rear walls, and curved doors that adjust their angle to optimize interior space and reduce wind resistance, allowing for flexible dimensions and reduced component count.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If different components are used to meet varied requirements of commercial vehicle driver's cabs, then the requirements of different applications can be satisfied, but the number of parts increases and production complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different applicationsVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a front wall that can be used for both narrow and wide versions of driver's cabs. The front wall includes a curved door connection that can accommodate different door angles (smaller interior angle for narrow version, larger interior angle for wide version), allowing a single component to serve multiple configuration purposes and reducing the total number of parts needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the rear wall into different configurations - a narrow one-piece rear wall for the narrow version and a wide one-part or multi-part rear wall for the wide version. This selective segmentation allows the cab to be adapted to different space requirements while maintaining a shared front wall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If side walls are arranged at angles to maximize interior space, then interior space increases, but difficult-to-access areas are created and production complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterior spaceVSAvoidproduction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of arranging side walls at angles to the front wall (which creates complex geometry and hard-to-access areas), the patent inverts the approach by making the side walls perpendicular to both the front and rear walls. This creates a simpler, more accessible interior while still achieving space optimization through the curved door design and appropriate door angles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Volume of moving object

If curved doors are aligned at larger interior angles to the front wall, then interior space utilization improves, but wind resistance increases and fuel consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterior space utilizationVSAvoidwind resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the interior angle of the curved doors relative to the front wall. The curved doors are aligned at a smaller interior angle to optimize aerodynamics and reduce wind resistance, while the curved design itself maximizes interior space utilization. This parameter optimization balances interior space requirements with aerodynamic performance and fuel efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2952418B1Kit for commercial vehicle driver cabs of unequal dimensions

Publication Date: 2017.11.01 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE

Figure 1~2
Figure 3

AI summary

Kit (1) for a commercial vehicle cab with front steering, comprising at least a narrow version and a wide version, formed with at least the following components enclosing an interior (17): a front wall (2), a rear wall (7), two flat side walls (5, 6) adjacent to the rear wall (7), and two curved doors (3, 4) with a first connection (8, 10) towards the front wall (2) and a second connection (9, 11) towards the side walls (5, 6), wherein the narrow version has a narrow rear wall (7) and the wide version has a rear wall (7) that is wider than the narrow version, both versions have the same front wall (2), the two flat side walls (5, 6) are oriented perpendicular to the front wall (2) and rear wall (7), and the two curved doors (3, 4) in the narrow version are oriented at a smaller internal angle (15) to the front wall (2) than in the wide version. Wide version.Such a kit increases flexibility to meet the requirements of different applications for commercial vehicles and also reduces the number of different components.