Junction Box with Fluid Ejectors for Rescue Vehicle Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rescue vehicles face challenges in ensuring a constant supply of electricity and air due to incompatible couplings, making it difficult for backup vehicles to receive power and air when standard connections are not available, and existing solutions are not cost-effective, easy to manufacture, or robust enough for widespread use.
Innovation Solution
A junction box and connector system that includes a disk-shaped housing with integrated fluid ejectors, electric and fluid couplings, indicators, and a hall sensor, allowing for easy installation and use in various vehicles and stations, with the option to connect using standard DEFA or Calix sockets and quick fit couplings, enabling reliable ejection and connection of the connector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a specific junction box with special connector is used for a rescue vehicle, then the vehicle can receive electricity and air supply, but other rescue vehicles with different couplings cannot be supplied from the same fire station
Solution Approach 1:
The junction box is designed with multiple couplings (electric coupling and fluid coupling) that can accommodate different connector types. This allows a single fire station to serve multiple rescue vehicles with different coupling standards, making the system universal and multi-functional rather than dedicated to a single vehicle type
2Ease of operation
If fluid ejectors are integrated into the junction box, then the connector can be automatically ejected from the junction box, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid ejectors are integrated directly into the junction box housing, combining the ejection function with the existing power and fluid supply structure. This merging approach automates the connector ejection process while minimizing additional complexity by reusing the existing fluid supply system already present in rescue vehicles
Solution Approach 2:
A hall sensor is integrated to detect the position of the connector and provide feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables automatic control of the fluid ejectors to eject the connector at the appropriate time, such as when the rescue vehicle departs from the fire station
3Ease of manufacture
If standard electric and fluid couplings are used in the junction box, then the manufacturing cost is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the device must accommodate multiple coupling types increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The junction box incorporates both electric couplings (such as DEFA or Calix sockets) and fluid couplings (nipples for quick fit couplings) as standard components. This allows the system to work with standard connectors rather than requiring custom-manufactured parts, significantly improving ease of manufacture and reducing costs
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 system provides a compact, robust, and cost-effective solution for ensuring consistent electricity and fluid supply to rescue vehicles, allowing for easy installation and use of standard connections, ensuring vehicles are always ready for operation.
Implementation Method 1
The junction box further comprises a hall sensor, the hall sensor being arranged within the disk shaped front face of the housing
Implementation Method 2
one or more fluid ejectors, the one or more fluid ejectors being able to be activated by an electric circuit of the vehicle
Data Source
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AI summary
A junction box, for electricity and fluid, mountable on a vehicle is disclosed. The junction box (100) comprises a housing (110), the housing having a disk shaped front face (112); one or more fluid ejectors (120), the one or more fluid ejectors being able to be activated by an electric circuit of the vehicle; one electric coupling (130); one fluid coupling (140); one indicator for indicating electric power supply (150); and one indicator for indicating fluid pressure (160). The one or more fluid ejectors, the electric coupling, the fluid coupling, and the two indicators are all arranged within the disk shaped front face of the housing. Further, a connector, for electricity and fluid, connectable to the junction box is disclosed. The connector comprises a body (210), the body having a disk shaped front face (212); a handle (220) attached to the body; a first opening for one electric coupling (230); a second opening for one fluid coupling (240); one indicator for indicating electric power supply (250); and one indicator for indicating fluid pressure (260). The first and second openings, and the two indicators are all arranged within the disk shaped front face of the body. Furthermore, a method for ejecting the connector from the junction box is disclosed.