Dock Bumper Lamp Clearance for Rear Edge Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dock bumpers on commercial cargo vehicles have solid surfaces with mounting holes that obstruct the placement of rear clearance lamps, violating regulatory requirements and limiting space for additional lighting due to competing design demands.
Innovation Solution
Integrate rear clearance lamps within the dock bumpers by creating a through-hole that accommodates the lamps, allowing them to be positioned close to the vehicle's outboard edge while maintaining the structural integrity and functionality of the dock bumpers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If dock bumpers are made with solid surfaces and mounting holes, then structural integrity and ease of manufacture are improved, but the ability to accommodate rear clearance lamps is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The dock bumper is segmented by incorporating a through-hole that divides the solid surface into distinct regions, allowing the bumper to simultaneously maintain its structural integrity and accommodate the rear clearance lamp. The through-hole creates separate functional zones within the single bumper component.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear clearance lamp is nested within the dock bumper structure by positioning it through the through-hole, allowing the lamp to be integrated into the bumper's outer profile while the bumper maintains its protective function. This nesting eliminates the need for separate mounting structures.
2Ease of manufacture
If dock bumpers use solid surfaces with mounting holes, then ease of manufacture is improved, but compliance with regulatory lighting requirements is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The through-hole segments the bumper surface to create a dedicated opening for the rear clearance lamp, ensuring regulatory compliance is built into the manufacturing process rather than requiring post-manufacturing modifications or complex multi-piece assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The dock bumper is designed with multi-functionality by integrating both the impact absorption function and the lamp mounting function into a single component. The through-hole serves dual purposes: maintaining structural integrity while enabling regulatory-compliant lighting placement.
3Strength
If dock bumpers are designed with solid surfaces, then structural integrity is improved, but space utilization for lighting components is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting component (rear clearance lamp) is nested within the existing bumper volume by positioning it through the through-hole, allowing the lamp to occupy space within the bumper's outer profile without requiring additional volume or increasing the vehicle's overall dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The through-hole introduces a new dimensional pathway through the bumper thickness, allowing the lamp to be positioned in a location that would otherwise be occupied by the solid bumper material, effectively utilizing the third dimension for lighting component placement.
Data Source
AI summary
A cargo vehicle includes a cargo area configured to receive a load of cargo for transport, and a plurality of wheels configured to support the cargo area above a road surface while the plurality of wheels roll along the road surface. A rear structure of the cargo vehicle includes a rear cross member located at a rear edge of the cargo area, and a first light array is located in the rear cross member. A first dock bumper is placed directly over a first lamp of the first light array on a first lateral side of the rear cross member, the first dock bumper including a through hole accommodating the first lamp to visually mark a first outboard edge of the cargo vehicle.