Compact Power Running Board Assembly Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power running boards for automotive applications are bulky and heavy, making them unsuitable for smaller vehicles like sport utility vehicles (SUVs) due to high internal forces and stresses, which require larger housings and increased weight.
Innovation Solution
A compact running board assembly with a low height profile, featuring a pivot shaft within a housing and a linkage system with bushings and idler arms, which reduces reaction forces and allows for a smaller, lighter weight design by positioning the pivot shaft and bushings within the housing, and utilizing a linear actuator to move the running board between stowed and deployed positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If parallel swing arms are connected on the outside of housings to pivot shaft ends, then the running board can be moved to gain access to passenger cabs and cargo bed box, but the overall height of the assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot shaft is positioned inside the housing rather than outside, with the swing arm connected to the end of the pivot shaft that extends through the housing. This nesting arrangement allows the pivot mechanism to be contained within the housing volume, significantly reducing the overall height of the assembly while maintaining the full range of motion for accessing the cab and cargo bed.
2Strength
If a cantilever structure is used to avoid high internal forces and stresses, then the structure can support the running board, but a larger housing is required which increases the weight of the assembly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a traditional cantilever structure that extends horizontally requiring a large housing volume, the invention repositions the pivot shaft vertically within the housing. The swing arm connects to the end of the pivot shaft, creating a compact vertical arrangement that maintains structural strength while minimizing housing dimensions and weight.
Data Source
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AI summary
A compact deployable/retractable running board assembly (10, 100) for a motor vehicle including a running board (12, 106) linkage coupled to the running board, and a motor assembly (22, 150, 350) coupled to an actuator (20, 126), the running board moveable between at least one stowed position and at least one deployed position. The linkage includes a drive arm (16) connected to a pivot shaft (130) within a housing (14, 124, 194) at a location on the pivot shaft (130) between two bushings (132, 200) that are coupled to the pivot shaft (130) within the housing (14, 124, 194). The linkage also includes an idler arm (18) connected to a pivot shaft (198) within an idler (18) housing (14, 124, 194). The actuator (126, 126) is operably coupled to the linkage to cause rotation of the linkage to move the running board (12, 106) between the at least one stowed position generally under the motor vehicle and at least one deployed position to provide a step surface (120) for a user.