Utility Vehicle Cabin Front Wall Guard Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional utility vehicles do not effectively prevent obstacles flown up from the road surface or taken in from entering the cabin through the cabin front wall, as existing guards do not cover the entire cabin front wall and may allow entry into the bonnet chamber.

Innovation Solution

A utility vehicle with a cabin guard covering the outer surface of the cabin front wall, providing a double wall structure to inhibit obstacle entry, and including a cross pipe and dash panel to extend the double wall structure vertically, along with wheel housing guards to absorb impact energy and prevent entry into the wheel housings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a cabin guard is added to cover the cabin front wall body, then obstacle entry to the cabin is prevented, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecabin obstacle entry preventionVSAvoidguard structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cabin guard is integrated with the existing cabin front wall body structure, forming a combined protective assembly. The guard covers the outer surface of the cabin front wall body and is positioned to work in conjunction with the wheel housing guards, merging multiple protective functions into a coordinated system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cabin guard serves multiple functions: it prevents obstacle entry to the cabin, reinforces the cabin front wall structure, and works in conjunction with the wheel housing guards to provide comprehensive protection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate protective components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the cabin guard extends vertically to cover the entire cabin front wall, then obstacle protection is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical obstacle protectionVSAvoidguard manufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cabin guard is designed to cover specific critical areas of the cabin front wall body rather than the entire surface. The vertical extent is optimized to provide adequate protection against obstacles while avoiding unnecessary coverage in areas where protection is less critical, thereby simplifying manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of providing full vertical coverage of the cabin front wall, the guard extends to a sufficient level that provides effective protection against typical obstacles. This partial coverage approach achieves adequate protection while maintaining manufacturing simplicity and cost-effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9731672B1Front wall structure for a utility vehicle

Publication Date: 2017.08.15 KAWASAKI MOTORS LTD

AI summary

A utility vehicle includes a pair of right and left front wheels, a pair of right and left rear wheels, a main frame positioned between the front wheels and the rear wheels and defining a cabin in the main frame, and a cabin front wall defining a front end of the cabin. The cabin front wall includes a cabin front wall body separating the cabin and a bonnet chamber provided ahead of the cabin, and includes a wheel housing wall separating between the cabin and each of right and left front wheel housings. The utility vehicle further includes a cabin guard covering an outer surface of the cabin front wall body.