Load Carrier Foot with Self-Reorienting Force Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load carrier systems for vehicles without roof railings fail to meet higher safety standards due to inadequate support and susceptibility to damage from external forces.
Innovation Solution
A load carrier foot with a supporting member, coupling member, and tightening mechanism, featuring a force distribution member that reorients itself to maintain force equilibrium, preventing loosening and damage under external forces, and ensuring secure mounting on the vehicle roof.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tightening mechanism is used to clamp the load carrier foot to the vehicle roof, then the mounting security is improved, but the system becomes susceptible to damage and loosening under external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The force distribution member is divided into multiple force application sections (at least two), allowing the clamping force to be distributed across multiple contact points rather than concentrated at a single point. This segmentation enhances the system's ability to withstand external forces while maintaining mounting security.
Solution Approach 2:
The force distribution member is designed to be translatory movable with respect to each force application section, enabling it to dynamically adjust and reorient itself under external forces. This dynamic capability allows the tightening mechanism to maintain clamping force during collisions and external movements, preventing loosening and damage.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the tightening mechanism is rigidly fixed to maintain clamping force, then the stability is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to damage from external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The force distribution member incorporates translatory movement capability with respect to each force application section, allowing it to dynamically reorient itself when subjected to external forces. This dynamic adjustment maintains clamping force stability during collisions and movements while preventing damage by accommodating force variations through controlled movement.
3Device complexity
If the force distribution member is fixed in position, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the ability to maintain force equilibrium under external forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The force distribution member is designed with translatory movement capability relative to each force application section, enabling it to automatically reorient and maintain force equilibrium under external forces. This dynamic feature ensures reliable force distribution during collisions and movements while adding minimal structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a load carrier foot for supporting a load bar on a vehicle. The load carrier foot comprises a supporting member mountable to the load bar, a coupling member for coupling the load carrier foot to the vehicle and a tightening mechanism for tightening the coupling member. The tightening mechanism force transmittingly the couples the coupling member with the supporting member by a force distribution member. The force distribution member is configured to transfer a received input force on at least two force application sections while being translatory movably held with respect to each force application section.