Cranked Support Bars for Articulated Vehicle Bellows Floor
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Solution Overview
Problem
In articulated vehicles, the downward sagging beading folds of the fabric floor can come into contact with the road surface, leading to damage during cornering and driving over obstacles.
Innovation Solution
The fabric floor design incorporates portal-like cranked support sections for the floor cloth, which are connected to the bellows at their assembly ends, allowing the beading folds to be raised and maintaining flexibility, thus protecting them from damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the support rods run in a straight line between the holding sections of the profile strips, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the beading folds sag downward and can contact the road surface causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The support rod is designed with a curved or angled configuration instead of a straight line, creating a portal-like cranked support section that raises the beading folds upward. This curvature changes the geometric path of the support rod, allowing it to clear the road surface while maintaining structural integrity and supporting the floor cloth at an elevated position.
Solution Approach 2:
The support rod configuration transitions from a two-dimensional straight line to a three-dimensional cranked structure with vertical and horizontal components. This dimensional change allows the support rod to simultaneously provide horizontal support between holding sections and vertical clearance for the beading folds, preventing road contact while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the beading folds are raised to prevent road contact, then the floor cloth is protected from damage, but the flexibility and beading arc size may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cranked support section is implemented locally at specific positions where road contact risk exists, rather than changing the entire support rod structure. This localized modification raises only the critical beading fold areas to prevent damage while leaving other portions of the floor cloth free to maintain their natural flexibility and movement characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The support rod provides more than minimal support by creating a portal-like cranked section that exceeds the basic straight-line support function. This partial exaggeration of the support structure locally raises the beading folds higher than absolutely necessary, ensuring complete protection from road contact while the overall floor system retains sufficient flexibility for vehicle movements.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The assembly (1) has bellows (2) enclosing a vehicle inner space (6) to a lower base opening (10). A solid base (4) covers the base opening and includes a flexible base cloth and support bars (14) that are spaced from each other and connected on both ends with the bellows. The support bars is over laid on the base cloth under formation of flaring folds sagging between the bars. A partial portion of the bars of the solid base between mounting ends (14a) to be connected with the bellows includes a support section (14b) cranked upwards along a direction of the inner space.