Flexible Seal for Utility Bed Airflow Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicles with pivotable utility beds lack effective sealing mechanisms to prevent air, including dusty or heated air, from flowing from beneath the bed to the engine intake or passenger compartment, especially when the bed is in hauling positions.
Innovation Solution
A flexible seal is attached to the utility bed frame and forward wall, extending laterally between the sides and contacting the frame adjacent to the air intake system, blocking air flow when the bed is in the hauling position, and is designed to be resistant to wear and noise generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If no seal is provided between the utility bed and frame, then the structure remains simple and open, but air including dusty or heated air flows freely from beneath the bed to the engine intake or passenger compartment
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible seal made of wear-resistant material is attached to the forward wall of the utility bed, extending downwardly below the forward wall and laterally between the sides of the bed. This flexible membrane structure effectively blocks air flow from beneath the bed to the air intake opening or passenger compartment while maintaining simplicity and adaptability to the moving bed structure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid seal is used to block air flow, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but noise and vibration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible seal absorbs vibrations and reduces noise generation while maintaining effective air flow blocking. The flexible material allows the seal to conform to movements of the utility bed during hauling and dumping operations, preventing rigid contact and associated noise while continuing to block dusty and heated air from reaching the engine intake or passenger compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal is designed with specific material properties including flexibility and wear resistance that allow it to dynamically adapt to changing operational conditions. The flexible nature of the seal changes its physical state from rigid to compliant, enabling it to block air flow effectively while minimizing noise and vibration generation during bed movement.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the seal extends fully between both sides of the utility bed, then air flow blocking is maximized, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible seal extends downwardly below the forward wall of the utility bed and laterally between the sides of the bed, providing sufficient sealing coverage to block air flow effectively. The seal is attached to the forward wall and bed frame structure, positioning it to intercept air flow from beneath the bed without requiring complex full-perimeter sealing, thus balancing effectiveness with manufacturing simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a frame, a utility bed, and a flexible seal. The utility bed includes a left side, a right side, a bed frame, and a forward wall supported by the bed frame. The utility bed is pivotally coupled with the frame and pivotable between a hauling position and a dumping position. The flexible seal is attached to at least one of the bed frame and the forward wall of the utility bed. The flexible seal extends downwardly below the forward wall of the utility bed and laterally at least partially between the left side and the right side of the utility bed. When the utility bed is in the hauling position, the flexible seal contacts the frame.