Exterior-Access Gear Tunnel Drawer Layout for Vehicle Tool Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles, particularly electric vehicles, face challenges in efficiently storing and organizing tools, equipment, and vehicle parts for servicing, leading to increased power consumption and time spent on service jobs due to inadequate storage space and disorganization.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a gear tunnel with a drawer unit that extends from one side of the vehicle into the other, allowing for organized storage of components, along with additional storage solutions like stackable layers in the front trunk, a rear passenger storage area with a rack, and a compartment in the truck bed, all accessible via actuators controlled by a data processing system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional storage compartments are used in vehicles, then storage space is provided, but organization and accessibility of tools and equipment are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is divided into multiple drawers within the gear tunnel, each drawer capable of independent access. This segmentation allows tools and equipment to be organized in separate compartments, improving accessibility and organization without requiring the entire storage system to be opened or accessed at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The gear tunnel extends laterally through the vehicle interior, utilizing the horizontal dimension rather than only vertical or longitudinal space. This dimensional approach creates accessible storage space that does not interfere with the driver's field of view or require complex vertical stacking, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining relatively simple structure.
2Productivity
If multiple trips are made to access stored components, then all components can be retrieved, but time and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Tools and equipment are pre-organized in specific drawers based on their frequency of use and functional relationships. This preliminary organization allows the service technician to access multiple needed components in a single trip to the gear tunnel, eliminating the need for multiple trips and reducing time loss during service jobs.
Solution Approach 2:
The gear tunnel with multiple drawers serves as a universal storage solution for various types of tools, equipment, and vehicle parts. This multi-functional storage system consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate storage locations, allowing all components to be accessed from one centralized location, thereby improving productivity and reducing time loss.
3Loss of time
If tools and equipment are stored in disorganized manner, then storage capacity is maximized, but time to locate specific components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is divided into multiple drawers, each serving as a separate organizational unit. This segmentation allows for systematic arrangement of tools and equipment by category, frequency of use, or function, enabling quick location of specific components without requiring a complex overall structure. Each drawer can be independently organized and accessed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different drawers can be dedicated to specific types of tools or equipment based on their usage patterns. This local quality approach assigns specific organizational characteristics to specific drawers (e.g., frequently used tools in easily accessible drawers), reducing the time to locate components without requiring the entire storage system to be overly complex.
4Ease of operation
If gear tunnel extends through the vehicle, then storage accessibility is improved, but structural complexity of the vehicle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gear tunnel serves multiple functions: it provides storage space, creates accessible openings on vehicle sides for drawer access, and utilizes otherwise unused interior space. This multi-functional approach improves ease of operation by allowing access from the exterior while the tunnel structure itself remains a relatively simple passageway that does not significantly increase overall vehicle structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The gear tunnel utilizes the lateral dimension of the vehicle interior, extending from one side to the other. This dimensional approach creates accessibility without requiring complex vertical or longitudinal structural modifications. The tunnel simply occupies the horizontal space available in the vehicle interior, thereby improving access while maintaining relatively simple vehicle structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle can include a compartment. The compartment can include a door. The door can provide access to one or more components stowed within the compartment. The vehicle can include an apparatus. The apparatus can be disposed within the compartment. The apparatus can include a drawer. The drawer can move from the compartment.