Integrated Camper Shell Front-End Shape for Blind Spot and Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camping vehicles of the integrated type face issues with blind spots and increased drag coefficient due to the protrusion of the shell, limiting the driver's field of view and stability during travel.
Innovation Solution
The design integrates a pickup truck as a base vehicle with a shell serving as a living space, featuring a communication opening for direct movement between the inside of the base vehicle and the shell, a steeply angled protruding front end with concave shapes to reduce drag, and vortex generator forming members on lateral sides to manage air flow and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the shell protrudes forward to enlarge living space, then the living space volume is increased, but the blind spot for the driver is enlarged and the field of view is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the protruding front end by forming concave shapes on its surface. This modifies the shape parameters to reduce blind spots while maintaining the volume benefit, directly addressing the contradiction between living space enlargement and driver visibility.
2Volume of moving object
If the shell protrudes forward to enlarge living space, then the living space volume is increased, but the drag coefficient increases and fuel efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the surface parameters of the protruding front end by adding concave shapes. This parameter change optimizes the aerodynamic characteristics, reducing the drag coefficient caused by air flow separation while preserving the increased living space volume.
3Volume of moving object
If the shell width is increased to widen living space, then the living space width is enlarged, but the air drag increases and driving stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the width-related drag problem by introducing slope surfaces that extend from the outer lateral surfaces toward the window circumferences. This creates a gradual transition in the lateral dimension, reducing the rate of change in section and thereby decreasing air drag while maintaining the widened living space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the shell's lateral surfaces by adding slope surfaces. This parameter modification reduces the abruptness of the width transition, decreasing air drag and improving driving stability while preserving the enlarged living space width.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the driver's field of view by minimizing blind spots and reduces the drag coefficient, improving stability and ride comfort by managing air flow and turbulence.
Implementation Method 1
on a front-end surface of the protruding front end, concave shapes continuously arranged in a width direction are formed at a plurality of locations to produce small turbulent flows in air flowing around the protruding front end during traveling, and the turbulent flows are higher in viscosity than a laminar flow to reduce a loss of drag coefficient (Cd value)
Implementation Method 2
an external shape of a protruding front end provided on a front side of the shell is formed as a steep upslope surface that extends from a lower end toward an upper end of a front end of the shell at an angle close to vertical, and the protruding front end is formed such that a protrusion length of the protruding front end is within a front-rear length of a windshield surface of the base vehicle, so as to reduce a blind spot produced by protrusion of the protruding front end positioned above a driver's seat part for enlarging a field of view, and so as to reduce a loss of drag coefficient (Cd value) caused by a flow of air coming from front
Implementation Method 3
The design integrates a pickup truck as a base vehicle with a shell serving as a living space, featuring a communication opening for direct movement between the inside of the base vehicle and the shell, a steeply angled protruding front end with concave shapes to reduce drag, and vortex generator forming members on lateral sides to manage air flow and stability
Data Source
AI summary
[Problem] To provide a camping vehicle that is of a type termed an integrated type, and in which a blind spot produced by protrusion of a front end of the shell can be reduced, thus a field of view can be enlarged, and the entire shape of the camping vehicle can reduce a loss of drag coefficient (Cd value) caused by a flow of air coming from front or lateral sides during traveling.[Solution] The camping vehicle includes a pickup truck as a base vehicle 1 and a shell 2 that is carried and mounted on a bed 5 to serve as a living space. An inside of the shell 2 and an inside of the base vehicle 1 are made to communicate with each other so as to enable direct movement from the inside of the base vehicle 1 to the inside of the base, and wherein an external shape of a protruding front end 9 provided on a front side of the shell 2 is formed as a steep upslope surface that extends at an angle close to vertical, and the protruding front end 9 is formed such that a protrusion length of the protruding front end 9 is within a front-rear length of a windshield surface 10, so as to reduce protrusion of the protruding front end 9 positioned above a driver's seat part, enlarging a field of view, and so as to reduce a loss of drag coefficient.