Convertible Top Common Drive Coupling Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing convertible vehicle tops are complex and expensive, with long opening and closing times due to sequential movements of cover elements and roof parts requiring separate drives.
Innovation Solution
A convertible top design where the roof and cover elements are coupled by a common drive mechanism, allowing simultaneous movement and reducing the need for additional drives, with a coupling element connecting the kinematics of both to perform coordinated opening and closing paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate drives are used for roof parts and cover element, then each component can be controlled independently, but the device complexity increases and opening/closing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the separate drives for the roof parts and cover element into a single common drive mechanism. The coupling element synchronizes the movement of the roof parts and cover element, allowing them to be controlled together by one drive instead of requiring independent drives for each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coupling element as an intermediary mechanism between the common drive and the roof/cover system. This coupling element coordinates the kinematics of the roof parts and cover element, enabling synchronized movement while maintaining the functional relationship between the components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sequential movement of cover element and roof parts is used, then each component can move along its own path, but the opening and closing time becomes long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sequential movement sequences into a single coordinated movement operation. By coupling the kinematics of the roof parts and cover element through the coupling element, both components move simultaneously along their respective paths rather than sequentially, significantly reducing the total operation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic coordination of the movement paths through the coupling element. The coupling mechanism allows the roof parts and cover element to move with different trajectories and speeds while remaining synchronized, adapting their movement dynamically to achieve simultaneous completion of the opening or closing operation.
3Reliability
If multiple drives are used for roof and cover kinematics, then each drive can optimize its own movement, but the construction becomes more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple drives into a single common drive unit, reducing the total number of motors and control systems required. This merging of drive functions into one unit lowers manufacturing costs while the coupling element ensures that the roof and cover movements remain precisely coordinated.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A convertible top for a convertible vehicle, wherein the convertible top comprises at least a first roof part (1) and a cover element (2), wherein the first roof part (1) can be opened and closed by a roof control mechanism and the cover element (2) can be opened and closed by a cover control mechanism, wherein the roof control mechanism and the cover control mechanism are coupled to each other by a coupling element (3) so that the roof control mechanism and the cover control mechanism can be driven by a common drive (4).