Coupler-Head Cover Design for Snow Accumulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coupler-head designs for multi-car vehicles face challenges in preventing snow, ice, and sand accumulation, which can hinder the operation of retractable covers and increase complexity and weight.

Innovation Solution

A device with a front face cover that can be selectively attached or detached and rotated, featuring a front window with top and side cover sections that swing to the side, reducing snow accumulation through sloping surfaces and vibrations, and allowing easy handling and storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If retractable covers are provided to prevent snow accumulation, then snow protection is improved, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesnow accumulationVSAvoidcover mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the complex drive mechanism and retractable cover system from the coupler-head design. Instead of using active mechanical covers, the invention extracts only the essential protective function by providing a simple, fixed cover that can be manually positioned, thereby eliminating the harmful factors (snow accumulation) without the associated complexity and weight of automated retractable systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than using a complex retractable cover that moves to protect the coupler-head, the invention inverts the approach by using a simple fixed cover that remains in place. The cover is designed to be static rather than dynamic, reversing the conventional wisdom that protection requires movement, and achieving snow protection through simplicity rather than mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If retractable covers with drive mechanisms are used, then snow protection is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesnow accumulationVSAvoidcover system weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential protective function from the cover system, removing the drive mechanism and retractable components that contribute to weight. The resulting design uses a lightweight, simple cover structure that provides snow protection without the additional weight of motors, actuators, and complex mounting mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If fixed covers are used to prevent snow accumulation, then snow protection is improved, but access to coupler-head surfaces is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesnow accumulationVSAvoidaccess to coupler-head

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by designing a cover that can be manually positioned between protected and accessible states. The cover is not permanently fixed but can be easily moved by hand to expose the coupler-head surface when access is needed, and then replaced to provide snow protection during operation, combining protection with operational accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3492334B1Device adapted to at least partially cover a coupler-head

Publication Date: 2022.03.02 DELLNER COUPLERS AB

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AI summary

The invention relates to a device adapted to at least partially cover a coupler-head of a multi-car vehicle, wherein the device comprises a front window and a front face cover, wherein a top cover section and side cover sections are connected to the front window, and the front face cover is adapted to be (a) selectively attached to or detached from the front window and/or the cover sections and/or (b) rotatable such that the front face cover can be swung towards a side cover section.