Conical Cargo Space Side Walls for Easier Bulk Unloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conical loading spaces in vehicles present challenges in manufacturing and assembly due to varying dimensions, leading to increased costs and logistical complexities, especially when using rotating conveyor devices that cannot be adapted to conical shapes, resulting in wedge-shaped areas that are not reached during unloading.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle design incorporates side walls with both horizontal and vertical conicity, where at least one edge runs parallel to the center line, allowing for a conical expansion that reduces friction and enables the use of uniform-length components, facilitating easier assembly and unloading processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the loading space is designed conically to reduce friction during unloading, then unloading efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to varying dimensions requiring different lengths of cross members and other components
Solution Approach 1:
The side walls are designed with a conical section only in the lower region where friction reduction is most beneficial for unloading, while the upper region maintains a parallel configuration. This local application of conicity provides the friction-reducing effect where needed without requiring all components throughout the structure to be custom-fit to varying dimensions, thus improving unloading efficiency while limiting manufacturing complexity to specific areas.
2Productivity
If a revolving conveyor system is used in a conically shaped cargo space, then bulk material transport is improved, but wedge-shaped corner areas are created that cannot be reached by the conveyor system
Solution Approach 1:
The conical shape is applied locally to the lower section of the cargo space where it most effectively reduces friction and facilitates material flow toward the discharge opening. The upper section maintains parallel side walls that provide sufficient width for the revolving conveyor system to operate effectively across the entire cargo area, ensuring no wedge-shaped unreachable zones are created while still achieving improved bulk material transport in the critical lower region.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If side walls are slanted to create conical expansion for easier unloading, then friction is reduced, but the number of identical parts decreases requiring custom adaptation of components
Solution Approach 1:
The conical configuration is implemented only in the lower section of the side walls where friction reduction provides the greatest benefit for material flow. The upper section maintains parallel side walls with constant width, allowing standardization of components such as cross members, support structures, and conveyor system elements. This localized approach reduces friction during unloading while preserving the ability to use identical standardized parts throughout the structure.
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
This design reduces frictional resistance during unloading, improves the entrainment effect of transport devices, and allows for the use of standardized parts, thereby lowering manufacturing and storage costs while maintaining cargo capacity.
Implementation Method 1
To reduce the friction exerted by the cargo on the side walls during unloading, it is known to make the loading space conical in the unloading direction by slanting the side walls.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle (100) with a cargo space (10), wherein the cargo space (10) is designed for receiving bulk material or biomass, comprising: - a floor (14), a front wall (13), two side walls (11, 12) conical in a horizontal direction (RH), and a rear opening (16), and - a flap or functional unit (20) attached to the rear opening (16) for discharging the bulk material or biomass. Prior art includes vehicles (100) with a conical cargo space in which the side walls (11, 12) are inclined in a horizontal direction (RH), thus forming the aforementioned conicity. A disadvantage of such conical cargo spaces is that the components adjoining the cargo space must be adapted to the conicity of the cargo space.To facilitate unloading and simplify manufacturing, assembly and storage, it is proposed that - at least one side wall (11, 12) includes a conically shaped area (24) - and the side wall (11, 12) has a lower edge (21) and/or an upper edge (22, 30), wherein at least one of the edges (21, 22, 30) runs parallel to a center line (23) of the cargo space (10).