Elastic Sidestep Assembly for Obstacle-Impact Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial vehicle side-steps, especially those on off-road vehicles like mining trucks, are prone to damage from obstacles on rough surfaces, leading to frequent maintenance and safety hazards for short drivers or passengers due to their placement within the vehicle's approach angle.
Innovation Solution
A sidestep assembly with an elastic frame that can deflect upon impact by obstacles, utilizing helical springs for elastic displacement and a guiding system to maintain position, ensuring the frame returns to its original position after clearing obstacles, thus preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a second side-step is located within the area included in the approach angle of the vehicle to help short drivers or passengers, then accessibility is improved, but the step can easily be damaged by stones or various obstacles when the vehicle is driven on rough surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The side-step assembly is designed with elastic members (springs) that allow the frame to move dynamically relative to the vehicle body. When obstacles impact the step, the elastic members absorb the impact energy and allow the frame to deflect, preventing damage while maintaining the step's protective function in the approach angle area
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic members (springs) are pre-installed in the side-step assembly to provide cushioning before impact occurs. This beforehand cushioning mechanism allows the frame to absorb impact energy from stones and obstacles, preventing damage to the step structure while maintaining its position in the vulnerable approach angle area
2Strength
If a rigid frame is used for the sidestep assembly, then structural strength is improved, but the frame cannot absorb impacts from obstacles on rough terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is designed with a combination of rigid structural elements and elastic members. The rigid frame provides structural strength and maintains geometric stability, while the elastic members (springs) connected to the frame allow it to move and absorb impacts dynamically, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and impact resistance
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the frame is allowed to move freely to absorb impacts, then impact resistance is improved, but the frame may not return to its original position
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic members (springs) provide a feedback mechanism that continuously pushes the frame back toward its original position after impact. The springs store energy during deflection and release it to restore the frame, ensuring position stability while maintaining impact resistance capability
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-installed elastic members provide a restoring force that automatically returns the frame to its original position after impact, ensuring stability is restored without requiring manual intervention or additional active control mechanisms
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
The sidestep assembly effectively absorbs impacts from rough terrain without sustaining damage, ensuring continuous functionality and enhanced safety by maintaining a stable access point for users.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member, in which the upper member is configured to be fixed to the industrial vehicle by the elastic member so that the frame can be elastically displaced relatively to the cabin when the frame is impacted by an obstacle
Implementation Method 2
utilizing helical springs for elastic displacement
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a sidestep assembly (20) for helping a user entering a cabin (50) of an industrial vehicle (100), the sidestep assembly (20) comprising: - a frame (1) comprising : -- an upper member (2), -- a lower member (3) on which the user can step for accessing and exiting the cabin, - an elastic member (4), in which the upper member (2) is configured to be fixed to the industrial vehicle (100) by the elastic member (4) so that the frame (1) can be elastically displaced relatively to the cabin (50) when the frame (1) is impacted by an obstacle.