Utility Vehicle Jacking System Lever Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing jacking systems for utility vehicles, particularly those with aerial lifting apparatuses, face issues with load transmission and cross forces when operating on sloped ground, leading to poor stability and increased wear due to shear and bending forces on the telescopic drive element and pivot support.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a lever arrangement between the support drive and telescopic beam to redirect and absorb horizontal shear forces, converting them into compressive forces that can be transmitted directly into the vehicle body, thereby reducing the load on the telescopic drive element and improving stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the telescopic drive element is attached at a relatively high position on the vehicle body, then the tilting mechanism can effectively lower the telescopic beam end to the ground, but cross forces acting perpendicular to the beam extension direction introduce shear and bending forces on the drive element leading to poor stability and increased wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to lower beam end to groundVSAvoidstability and wear of drive element
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A lever arrangement with first and second levers is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the telescopic drive element and the telescopic beam. The first lever connects the drive element to the vehicle body at a lower hinge point, while the second lever connects the first lever to the telescopic beam. This intermediary lever system redirects the forces, allowing the drive element to operate with reduced cross forces and shear forces while maintaining the ability to effectively lower the beam end to the ground.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Force

If the telescopic drive element has a relatively strong inclination with respect to the horizontal plane, then it can provide sufficient lifting force, but it cannot fully absorb horizontal cross forces acting along the telescopic beam, which are introduced mainly at the pivot support

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifting force of drive elementVSAvoidload on pivot support
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The lever arrangement acts as a force redistributing intermediary. The first lever, connected to the vehicle body at a lower hinge point, and the second lever, connected to the telescopic beam, work together to redirect horizontal cross forces. This allows the inclined drive element to maintain its lifting force capability while the lever system absorbs and redistributes the horizontal cross forces that would otherwise be introduced mainly at the pivot support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the attachment point of the drive element is lowered on the vehicle body, then cross forces are reduced, but the ability to effectively lower the beam end to the ground and jack the vehicle is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereduction of cross forcesVSAvoidability to jack vehicle
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lever arrangement introduces an additional dimensional aspect to the force transmission system. By using the mechanical advantage and geometric configuration of the first and second levers, the system transforms the force vectors in multiple directions. This allows the drive element to be positioned at an optimized height that reduces cross forces, while the lever system compensates to maintain the effective ability to lower the beam end and jack the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This solution enhances the stability and reduces wear on the moving parts of the jacking system by effectively managing cross forces and linear forces acting on the telescopic beam, ensuring better load transmission and reduced mechanical stress on the vehicle body.

Implementation Method 1

This lever arrangement comprises a first lever (36) and a second lever (38). The first end (40) of the first lever (36) is pivotably attached to the vehicle body (12) at a first hinge point (42) that is disposed below the attachment point (32) of the first end (30) of the drive element at the vehicle body (12).

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLever mechanism: Lever

Implementation Method 2

a support drive (26) with a telescopic drive element, which is a hydraulic cylinder (28) in the present embodiment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic cylinder: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 3

The first end (40) of the first lever (36) is pivotably attached to the vehicle body (12) at a first hinge point (42)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHinge mechanism: Hinge

Data Source

PatentEP3072758B1Jacking system for a utility vehicle
Publication Date: 2017.11.29 IVECO MAGIRUS AG
  • EP3072758B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3072758B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3072758B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A jacking system (10) for a utility vehicle comprises a telescopic beam (14) suspended under the vehicle body (12) which is extractable in a generally horizontal direction and tiltable by a tilting mechanism to lower the extracted outer support end (20) to the ground, said tilting mechanism comprising a pivot support (24) supporting the telescopic beam (14) at the vehicle body (12) pivotable around a horizontal axis and a support drive (26) comprising a telescopic drive element (28) of variable length, with a first end (30) of the drive element (28) being pivotably attached to the vehicle body (12) and its opposite second end (34) being supported at the telescopic beam (14) at a position between the pivot support (24) and the support end (20) of the telescopic beam (14). The tilting mechanism further comprises a lever arrangement for load transmission between the support drive (26) and the telescopic beam (14), said lever arrangement comprising a first lever (36) with a first end (40) pivotably attached to the vehicle body (12) at a first hinge point (42) below the attachment point (32) of the first end (30) of the drive element (28) at the vehicle body (12), and a second lever (38) with a first end (48) pivotably attached to a second end (44) of the first lever (36) at a second hinge point (46) and a second end (50) pivotably attached to the telescopic beam (14).