Grid Frame Vehicle Structure With Load-Bearing Interior Components

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle designs with grid frames do not effectively integrate interior components as load-bearing sections, leading to inefficiencies in structural support and additional weight.

Innovation Solution

Integrating equipment components such as handrails, partitions, seating devices, and luggage racks directly into the grid frame as load-bearing sections, creating new load paths and enhancing structural support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If equipment components are separately mounted in the passenger compartment without load-bearing function, then installation flexibility is improved, but vehicle weight increases and structural efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidvehicle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines equipment components with load-bearing lattice frame sections, merging previously separate functional elements into integrated structures that simultaneously provide equipment support and structural strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates multi-functional lattice frame sections that serve both as structural support elements and as mounting structures for equipment components, allowing single elements to perform multiple functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If equipment components are separately mounted in the passenger compartment, then installation flexibility is improved, but structural support efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidstructural support efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges equipment components with load-bearing lattice frame sections to create integrated structures that provide both equipment support and structural strength simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the lattice frame into modular load-bearing sections that can be independently designed and manufactured with specific equipment integration, allowing flexible assembly while maintaining structural efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional separate mounting of equipment components is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but vehicle complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidvehicle complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges previously separate equipment components and lattice frame sections into integrated load-bearing sections, reducing the total number of discrete parts and simplifying the overall vehicle structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4140861B1Vehicle, preferably commercial vehicle, with a grid frame

Publication Date: 2025.04.02 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE

Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a vehicle, preferably a commercial vehicle (12), for example a bus, comprising a lattice frame (10) that forms a skeletal support structure of the vehicle and defines a passenger compartment (14) of the vehicle. At least one equipment component (16, 18, 20, 22), preferably an interior equipment component, is arranged in the passenger compartment (14) and is at least partially integrated into the lattice frame (10) as a load-bearing section. It is thus possible to incorporate the equipment components (16, 18, 20, 22) for force transmission within the lattice frame (10). In this way, they perform additional functions in the vehicle.