Commercial Cargo Raceway With Hinged Utility Access Cavities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cargo body designs face challenges in efficiently managing and accessing utility lines, such as electrical, air, and hydraulic lines, within the enclosed space of commercial trailers, as traditional raceways do not provide easy access or maintenance options once the floor is fully constructed.
Innovation Solution
The design introduces a utility raceway system with pivotable sides and interchangeable floor planks that create a load floor, allowing for access to internal utility cavities even after the floor is fully installed, and featuring a snap-in lock mechanism and elastic seals for secure closure, enabling easy installation and maintenance of utility lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional fixed raceways are used in cargo bodies, then structural integrity is maintained, but access to utility lines becomes difficult after floor installation
Solution Approach 1:
The raceway incorporates pivotable sides that can rotate between a closed position (providing structural integrity) and an open position (providing access to utility lines). This dynamic mechanism allows the same structure to fulfill both protective and accessible functions, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The raceway is divided into multiple sides that can independently pivot, with each side capable of opening to access different utility lines. This segmentation allows selective access to specific utilities without requiring complete disassembly, improving ease of operation while maintaining overall structural integrity.
2Ease of repair
If floor planks are permanently fixed, then structural stability is improved, but maintenance of utility lines requires complete floor disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The floor planks are designed with removable and reattachable connections that allow temporary disassembly for utility maintenance while maintaining stable fixed positioning during normal operation. This dynamic connection system enables easy repair access without permanently compromising floor structural stability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If raceways are sealed closed, then environmental protection of utility lines is improved, but installation and maintenance access becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The raceway employs sealable pivotable sides that can be closed to provide environmental protection and opened to provide access. The sealing mechanism maintains protection when closed while allowing easy opening for installation and maintenance operations, resolving the contradiction between environmental protection and ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A utility raceway for a commercial cargo body. The utility raceway includes an interior defined between a first side, a second side, a third side opposite the first side, and a fourth side opposite the second side. The utility raceway also includes a plurality of internal utility cavities separated by at least one vertically-oriented flange extending between the first and third sides, a first living hinge formed between the first side and the second side, and a second living hinge formed between the second side and the third side. The first side is pivotable relative to the second side about the first living hinge and the third side is pivotable relative to the second side about the second living hinge.