Expandable Room Roof Debris Removal Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing expandable room systems in recreational vehicles face issues with debris and water accumulation on the roof, which can cause damage when the room is retracted, as conventional awnings are ineffective in preventing debris from being trapped or crushed between the vehicle body and the expandable room.

Innovation Solution

A protective assembly comprising an upper and lower member with a pivoting connection, a spring, and squeegee members that frictionally engage with the roof to push off debris and water, preventing accumulation and damage during retraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If awnings or cloth covers are used to prevent water and debris accumulation on the expandable room roof, then water and debris protection is improved, but device complexity increases and the awning structure may fail under high bending forces in high winds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater and debris accumulationVSAvoidawning structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the protective function from a complex awning structure and implements it through a simple removable cover that can be taken on or off as needed. The cover is a straightforward protective element without the complex roller support tube mechanism of traditional awnings, eliminating the bending force problem while maintaining debris and water protection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective cover is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed - it can be installed when protection is needed and removed when not needed. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to different conditions without requiring a permanent complex structure that would be subject to wind loads and bending forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional awnings are used to protect against debris, then some water and debris protection is achieved, but reliability decreases because debris can still accumulate on the roof when wind blows under the awning sides

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris protectionVSAvoiddebris prevention reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cover is installed beforehand to prevent debris accumulation before it occurs. By having the cover in place prior to debris being blown onto the roof, the system proactively prevents the problem rather than attempting to address it after debris has accumulated, ensuring reliable protection against wind-blown debris.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Length of moving object

If the expandable room is kept in retracted position during vehicle motion, then vehicle width limitations are satisfied, but internal space is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle widthVSAvoidinternal space

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The room is segmented into a fixed portion and an expandable portion. The fixed portion maintains the vehicle's standard width for road travel, while the expandable portion can be extended when additional space is needed and the vehicle is stationary. This segmentation allows the system to satisfy width limitations during motion while providing increased internal volume when parked.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 assembly effectively prevents debris and water from being trapped between the vehicle body and the expandable room, enhancing protection without the need for awnings and addressing the limitations of existing solutions.

Implementation Method 1

A spring combined with the lower member urges the lower member to remain in line with the upper member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring elastic force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

the spring urges a portion of the lower member to remain frictionally engaged with the roof of the expandable room so as to slide over the surface of the roof and push water and other debris off of the roof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

a portion of the squeegee members are frictionally engaged with the roof of the expandable room to squeegee the water and other debris from the roof as the room is retracted

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS7380854B1Device for removing water and other debris from the roof of an expandable room on a vehicle

Publication Date: 2008.06.03 HWH CORP

AI summary

An assembly adapted to protect a vehicle with an expandable room by preventing water and debris on the roof of an expanded expandable room from being trapped or crushed between the expandable room and the body of the vehicle as the room is retracted. The assembly comprises an upper member and a lower member that mate at a pivoting connection. The upper member is attached to the outside surface of the vehicle above the expandable room. The lower member is pivotally combined with the upper member so that it hangs below the upper member and rests against the top edge of the expandable room. As the room is retracted, a spring urges a portion of the lower member to remain frictionally engaged with the roof of the expandable room so as to slide over the surface of the roof and remove water and other debris from the roof.