Inclined Rear Window Structure for Wheel Loader Cab Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
The space constraints in a wheel loader's cab, due to the placement of a hydraulic oil tank and engine compartment in the rear, limit the attachment space and hinder rear visual recognizability and operator living space.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pair of rear pillars, a pair of rear side face windows, and a rear face window that extends rearward and is inclined, with the upper portion located more rearward than the lower portion, made entirely of glass from one rear side face window to the other, enhancing visibility and living space without increasing the attachment space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the hydraulic oil tank and engine compartment are placed in the rear of the cab, then the mechanical components are properly positioned, but the space for attaching the cab to the vehicular body is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The rear face window is designed to extend in the depth dimension (front-rear direction) rather than only in the width dimension. By making the window extend rearward from the rear pillars, the design utilizes the third dimension to increase the glass area and improve rear visibility without increasing the lateral width or compromising the attachment space in the front-rear direction.
2Loss of information
If the rear face window is made entirely of glass to improve rear visual recognizability, then visibility is enhanced, but the structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The rear face window extends in the depth direction (front-rear axis) rather than only laterally. This dimensional extension allows the window to achieve sufficient structural rigidity through its extended form, while simultaneously providing comprehensive rear visibility. The extended depth creates a more robust glass structure that can maintain strength while being entirely glass.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear face window is designed with an asymmetric inclination where the upper portion is positioned more rearward than the lower portion. This asymmetric configuration optimizes both the structural distribution of the glass and the visibility characteristics, allowing the entire rear face to be glass while maintaining appropriate structural integrity.
3Loss of information
If the rear face window is inclined with the upper portion more rearward than the lower portion, then rear visual recognizability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rear face window employs a simple asymmetric inclination where the upper edge is positioned more rearward than the lower edge. This asymmetric design achieves superior rear visibility and ergonomic benefits for the operator without requiring complex multi-faceted geometries. The single-plane inclination is straightforward to manufacture while effectively addressing the visibility requirement.
Data Source
AI summary
Each of a pair of rear side face windows of a cab extends rearward from each of a pair of rearmost pillars. A rear face window is connected to each of the pair of rear side face windows and located in the rear of the rearmost pillars. The rear face window is inclined such that an upper portion thereof is located more rearward than a lower portion thereof, and it is entirely made of glass from a first rear side face window representing one of the pair of rear side face windows to a second rear side face window representing the other of the pair of rear side face windows.