Movable Rain Canopy for Compact Excavator Cab
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compact excavators face challenges in maintaining a small front swivel radius due to the lack of space for a rain cover, which allows rain to enter the cab when the windshield is open, compromising visibility and ventilation.
Innovation Solution
A driver's cab design featuring a two-part front window that can shift into a rain roof position, where either the upper or lower window protrudes forward to form a rain canopy, preventing rain ingress while maintaining an open front opening for ventilation and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a rain canopy is bolted to the cab roof on conventional excavators, then rain protection is improved, but the front swing radius increases due to space occupation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the rain canopy movable rather than fixed. The canopy can be shifted between a retracted position (allowing minimal front swing radius) and an extended position (providing rain protection). This is achieved through a guiding mechanism that allows the canopy to move horizontally along the cab frame, enabling the excavator to adapt its configuration based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the rain canopy into a separate movable component that can be independently positioned. Instead of having the canopy permanently attached to the cab roof, it is divided into a modular structure that can be shifted along the cab frame. This segmentation allows the canopy to be positioned only when needed, freeing up space for arm retraction during normal operation.
2Ease of operation
If the front window is kept open for ventilation and visibility, then operator comfort is improved, but rain ingress occurs in adverse weather
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the movable rain canopy as an intermediary element between the open front window and the external rain. The canopy can be positioned to extend over the front opening, creating a protective barrier that allows the window to remain open for ventilation and visibility while blocking rain from entering the cab. This intermediary structure resolves the conflict between maintaining an open window and preventing rain ingress.
3Length of moving object
If the excavator arm is mounted close to the cab for compact design, then the front swing radius is minimized, but no space remains for a rain canopy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the space conflict by utilizing the longitudinal dimension along the cab frame. Instead of occupying horizontal space that would interfere with arm retraction, the rain canopy is designed to move along the length of the cab frame, utilizing the unused longitudinal space. This allows the canopy to be stored in a retracted position when not needed, maintaining the compact front swing radius, and extended when rain protection is required.
Data Source
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AI summary
A driver's cab for a vehicle has a cab frame (1) with a forward-facing front opening (2) and a roof area (3), as well as a two-part front window with an upper window (7) and a lower window (8). The upper window (7) and the lower window (8) are movable into different positions, namely a normal position in which the upper window (7) and the lower window (8) cover the front opening (2), a stowed position in which the upper window (7) and the lower window (8) are arranged in the roof area (3) and the front opening (2) is fully open, or a rain roof position in which the upper window (7) or the lower window (8) is shifted forward, essentially horizontally, relative to the stowed position by a certain distance to create an overhang (8a).