Roof-Mounted Camera Stay Layout for Low-Height Work Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protection mechanisms for working vehicles often struggle to accommodate camera units below the peripheral portion of the roof, especially in storage spaces with limited height, making it difficult to store vehicles with these mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A protection mechanism for working vehicles that includes a roof, pillars supporting the roof, and a support stay connected to the pillars to orient and support a camera unit sideways below the peripheral portion of the roof, allowing for easy attachment and operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the camera unit is attached to the upper portion of the rear of the roof, then the camera has a good viewing direction, but the working vehicle cannot be stored in storage spaces with limited height

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewing directionVSAvoidvehicle height
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The camera unit is repositioned from the upper rear portion of the roof to the lower peripheral portion of the roof, changing the vertical dimension of installation. This dimensional shift reduces the vehicle's effective height while maintaining surveillance functionality through the support stay structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

A support stay is introduced as an intermediary component to connect the camera unit to the roof structure. The support stay enables the camera to be positioned below the peripheral portion of the roof, mediating between the roof structure and the camera unit to achieve both compact height and proper viewing orientation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If the camera is attached to a lower portion of the roof or between the peripheral portion of the roof and the frame, then the vehicle height is reduced, but the camera unit is difficult to attach due to limited space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle heightVSAvoidattachment ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The support stay serves multiple functions: it structurally supports the camera unit, provides a mounting interface for easy attachment, and maintains the camera's viewing orientation. This multi-functional design simplifies the attachment process while achieving the desired compact configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The support stay is pre-configured with attachment interfaces and routing units before installation. The routing unit is pre-designed to guide transmission lines from the pillar to the roof, making the overall attachment process easier and more systematic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the support stay is positioned to allow easy camera attachment, then the camera can be installed below the roof, but the transmission line routing becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera attachment easeVSAvoidtransmission line routing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The routing unit acts as an intermediary component specifically designed to manage transmission line routing. It provides a structured path for cables from the pillar to the roof, simplifying what would otherwise be a complex wiring task through the support stay structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission line routing is divided into segments: the routing unit handles the portion from the pillar to the roof, while other components manage their respective wiring. This segmentation of the routing system makes the overall installation more manageable and less complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3984824B1Protection mechanism for work vehicle, and work vehicle equipped with same
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP3984824B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3984824B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3984824B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A camera unit (39) is easily attached below a peripheral portion of a roof (16). A protection mechanism (9) for a working vehicle (1) comprises : a roof (16) provided above an operator's seat; a pillar (45) which extends upward from a vehicle body (5) and which supports the roof (16); a camera unit (39) with a predetermined viewing direction; and a support stay (130) which is connected to the pillar (45), which orients the viewing direction of the camera unit (39) sideways, and which supports the camera unit (39) below a peripheral portion of the roof (16). The protection mechanism (9) comprises a plurality of the pillars (45) including a front pillar (46) which supports a front portion of the roof (16) and a rear pillar (48) which supports a rear portion of the roof; and the support stay (130) is connected to the rear pillar (48).