Composite Floor Conduit for Cargo Vehicle Component Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cargo vehicles constructed with composite materials face challenges in routing vehicle components like air hoses and electrical cables internally to minimize exposure to weather and road debris, while maintaining structural integrity and maximizing interior storage space.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a conduit system within the composite floor assembly that adheres to the floor and sidewalls, featuring internal cavities to route vehicle components and receive fasteners, thereby securing the base rail and enhancing structural stability and maintenance accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vehicle components are routed externally on composite floor vehicles, then installation and maintenance are simpler, but components are exposed to weather and road debris causing reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit is integrated directly into the composite floor assembly, merging the routing function with the floor structure. This eliminates separate external routing while providing internal protection, thus improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The conduit acts as an intermediary structure that provides a protected pathway for vehicle components between the interior and exterior of the cargo vehicle, shielding components from environmental exposure while enabling necessary connections.
2Reliability
If conduit is integrated into composite floor assembly, then components are protected from environmental exposure, but manufacturing and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit is pre-formed with complementary shapes matching the composite floor assembly and base rail, allowing for simplified integration during assembly. The preliminary preparation of mating surfaces and attachment features reduces on-site manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The conduit features localized complementary shapes at specific interfaces (first wall with longitudinal end, second wall with transverse beam) that enable precise fitting and attachment without requiring complex modifications to the entire structure.
3Volume of moving object
If connection height between rear slide rail assembly and composite floor is minimized, then interior storage space is maximized, but routing vehicle components internally becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit utilizes the vertical dimension by integrating into the thickness of the composite floor assembly, allowing component routing to occur within the floor's depth rather than requiring additional horizontal clearance that would reduce storage space.
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 conduit system effectively routes critical vehicle components internally, reduces exposure to environmental factors, and enhances the structural integrity and maintenance ease of composite cargo vehicles by integrating with the composite floor and sidewalls.
Implementation Method 1
The conduit may be adhered to the composite floor assembly and assist in coupling the composite floor assembly to sidewalls of the cargo vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A cargo vehicle is disclosed having a composite floor assembly with at least one conduit extending along a length of the composite floor assembly. The at least one conduit may include a first internal cavity and a second internal cavity. The first internal cavity may be configured to route at least one vehicle component. The second internal cavity may be configured to receive at least one vehicle component or a plurality of mechanical fasteners. The mechanical fasteners may be used to couple a base rail to the composite floor assembly.