Hooking Unit for Industrial Vehicle Sideboard

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle body designs with openable side boards and hooking units suffer from high production costs due to precision requirements, noise issues during movement, and rapid deterioration of rotary connections, especially under vehicle deformations.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle body design featuring a hooking unit with a rotatable and slidably movable hooking element, elastic return means, and sealing components like shim rings or O-rings to accommodate construction tolerances and deformations, ensuring secure closure and reduced noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If high precision manufacturing and mounting are used to ensure correct closing of the side board, then the closing accuracy is improved, but the production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosing accuracyVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the hooking element by introducing a curved profile instead of a straight one. This curvature allows the element to accommodate variations in mounting positions and construction tolerances while maintaining proper engagement with the fixed contact element, thereby achieving accurate closing without requiring high precision manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The hooking element is designed to be elastically deformable, allowing it to dynamically adapt to position variations during the closing operation. This elasticity enables the element to compensate for mounting tolerances and maintain reliable engagement without requiring precise fixed positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If rigid connection is used between hooking element and supporting body, then the structural strength is improved, but the noise and vibration increase during vehicle movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidnoise and vibration
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the mechanical properties of the hooking element by introducing elastic deformability. This allows the element to absorb vibrations and reduce noise transmission while maintaining sufficient structural strength for the locking function, thereby resolving the contradiction between strength and noise generation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If rotary connection is used between hooking element and supporting body, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates rapidly due to connection deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation easeVSAvoidconnection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the connection function by introducing a separate bearing element that handles the rotary motion. This isolates the rotational wear from the main structural connection, allowing the hooking element to rotate smoothly while the supporting body maintains its structural integrity and reliability over time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of manufacture

If the hooking element is fixed rigidly to the supporting body, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the adaptability to vehicle deformations worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to deformations
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic characteristics to the hooking element through elastic deformability and curved geometry. This allows the element to adapt to vehicle body deformations during movement while maintaining its locking function, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and adaptability to deformations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 design allows for optimal side board closure with relaxed production tolerances, reduces noise and vibration, and enhances durability by compensating for vehicle deformations and maintaining contact between the hooking and fixed contact elements.

Implementation Method 1

elastic return means arranged to push the hooking element towards the retracted position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

sealing components like shim rings or O-rings to accommodate construction tolerances and deformations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Data Source

PatentEP2567882B1Hooking unit for an openable sideboard of an industrial vehicle
Publication Date: 2014.10.15 NATALI GIANFRANCO
  • EP2567882B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2567882B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP2567882B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A vehicle body comprises at least one openable side board (4) and at least one hooking unit (1) for locking the openable side board (3), comprising a supporting body (2) and a hooking element (3) rotatably connected to a pin (12) fixed to the supporting body (2) and able to rotate between a locking position and a releasing position. The hooking element (3) comprises a first, operating end (8), and a second end (9) which in use can be hooked to a fixed contact element (10). The hooking element (3) is also able to move, relative to the supporting body (2), orthogonally to the main axis of rotation, between an extended position and a retracted position; there being elastic return means (11) interposed between the supporting body (2) and the hooking element (3) for pushing the hooking element (3) towards the retracted position. The hooking element (3) comprises a housing (13) rotatably and slidably associated with the pin (12), sealed, and in which the elastic return means (11) are positioned.