Cab Step Linkage With Variable Stair Angle and Retracted Profile
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cab step systems do not efficiently adapt to different operational conditions, compromising operator comfort and vehicle performance due to fixed inclinations and profiles that either prioritize ease of ingress/egress or reduce width, leading to potential collisions and reduced ground clearance.
Innovation Solution
A cab step system with a staircase that can transition between retracted and extended states, controlled by sensors and actuators, adjusting inclination angles and step angles based on vehicle conditions to optimize comfort and reduce profile during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the staircase is kept in an extended state with a less steep inclination angle to improve operator comfort during ingress/egress, then operator comfort is improved, but the vehicle width increases and ground clearance is reduced leading to potential collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The staircase system transitions from a fixed configuration to a dynamic one by enabling automatic adjustment between retracted and extended states based on vehicle operational conditions. The system uses sensors to detect vehicle state and automatically repositions the staircase, allowing it to adapt its inclination angle and extension status to balance operator comfort with safety requirements during different operational phases.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the staircase is retracted to reduce vehicle width and improve ground clearance during operation, then collision risk is reduced, but operator comfort during ingress/egress deteriorates due to a steeper path
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the staircase configuration based on real-time vehicle operational status. During stationary periods when ingress/egress is needed, the staircase extends to provide a comfortable, less steep path. During operational phases, it retracts to minimize vehicle width and improve ground clearance, thus resolving the contradiction between comfort and safety through time-based state transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor vehicle operational conditions and provide feedback to the control mechanism. This feedback loop enables the staircase to automatically transition between extended and retracted states based on detected vehicle status, ensuring optimal balance between operator comfort and collision prevention without manual intervention.
3Device complexity
If a fixed staircase configuration is used to simplify the system structure, then device complexity is reduced, but the system cannot adapt to different operational conditions compromising both comfort and performance
Solution Approach 1:
The staircase system incorporates movable components including the retractable step and adjustable support segments that enable dynamic reconfiguration. These mechanical dynamic elements allow the system to change its geometric parameters (inclination angle, horizontal run length, vertical rise height) based on operational requirements, providing adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The staircase system serves multiple functions by automatically adapting to different operational conditions. It provides a comfortable ingress/egress path during stationary periods and minimizes vehicle width during operation, effectively becoming a multi-functional component that addresses both comfort and safety requirements across different vehicle states without requiring separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A system may include a platform proximate to an operator cab of the vehicle. A system may include a staircase, the staircase selectively moveable between a retracted state and an extended state, the staircase including a plurality of steps including a retractable step, at least one support segment coupling together the steps of the plurality of steps, a first inclination angle and a first step angle in the retracted state, a second inclination angle and a second step angle in the extended state, wherein the first inclination angle is steeper than the second inclination angle and the first step angle is larger than the second step angle. A system may include a linkage system coupling the staircase to the platform, the linkage system including an actuator configured to selectively move the staircase from the retracted state to the extended state; and a moveable extension bracket coupling the staircase to the platform.