Double-Walled Floor Storage for Tractor Cabin Equipment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural vehicle designs, such as tractors, face challenges in maintaining equipment due to inaccessible locations under the cabin and high noise levels from electric, electronic, and hydraulic elements, which hinder operator comfort and maintenance efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A double-walled floor arrangement in the cabin with a suspension system and removable trap doors allows for better accessibility and noise reduction by insulating operating equipment within a storage space, separating it from the cabin interior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If operating equipment is installed under the cabin, then space utilization is improved, but maintenance accessibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The floor arrangement is segmented into a double-walled structure with separate compartments. The first wall forms a storage compartment underneath the cabin floor, while the second wall creates an insulating layer. This segmentation allows equipment to be stored in the first compartment with easy access through floor openings, while the second compartment provides noise insulation, thus resolving the contradiction between space utilization and maintenance accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If operating equipment is installed inside the cabin, then maintenance accessibility is improved, but noise level increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance accessibilityVSAvoidnoise level
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The noisy operating equipment is extracted from the cabin interior and relocated to the storage compartment formed between the first and second walls. The second wall acts as a noise barrier that extracts the harmful noise factor from the cabin environment while maintaining equipment accessibility through floor openings in the first wall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If equipment is insulated for noise reduction, then noise level decreases, but maintenance accessibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise levelVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The floor structure incorporates dynamic access mechanisms - openings in the first wall that can be opened or closed as needed. This allows the structure to transition between a closed state providing noise insulation and an open state providing maintenance accessibility, thus resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and ease of repair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enhances maintenance accessibility and reduces noise within the cabin, providing increased comfort and operational efficiency by isolating equipment within the double-walled structure.

Implementation Method 1

The lower floor portion may be secured to the main chassis by suspension means

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration isolation: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP2281733B1Agricultural vehicle with a cabin having a double-walled floor arrangement
Publication Date: 2016.01.06 CLAAS TRACTOR
  • EP2281733B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2281733B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Agricultural vehicle such as a tractor (1) having a main chassis (3) onto which is fixed a cabin structure (9) having a floor arrangement (10) for supporting at least a seat (13). At least a part of said floor arrangement (10) comprises a double-walled structure defining a storage space (100) adapted to receive operating equipments of the vehicle.