Vehicle Loading Flap Linkage for Compact Quiet Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing displacement mechanisms for vehicle tank flaps are complex, require significant assembly effort, and have high space and operational noise issues, with riser cables increasing sealing requirements and actuation forces in wet environments.
Innovation Solution
A covering device with a pivotable control element connected to rotatable control levers and a link guide system, allowing for efficient movement of the cover component between closed and open positions with reduced actuation forces and noise, and suitable for use in wet areas without complex sealing measures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If riser cables or push-pull cables are used to displace the tank flap, then the installation space is reduced, but sealing requirements increase and operating noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the cable-based mechanical system with a guide rail and carriage system. The carriage moves along fixed guide rails to displacement the cover component, eliminating the need for flexible cables and their associated sealing requirements. This substitution maintains the space efficiency while removing the sealing vulnerability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent eliminates the need for flexible cables (which require flocking for noise reduction) by using a rigid guide rail system with a sliding carriage. This removes the source of operating noise associated with flocked cables while maintaining smooth operation.
2Volume of moving object
If riser cables or push-pull cables are used to displace the tank flap, then the installation space is reduced, but operating noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the cable-based mechanical system with a guide rail and carriage system. The carriage moves along fixed guide rails to displacement the cover component, eliminating the need for flexible cables and their associated sealing requirements. This substitution maintains the space efficiency while removing the sealing vulnerability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent eliminates the need for flexible cables (which require flocking for noise reduction) by using a rigid guide rail system with a sliding carriage. This removes the source of operating noise associated with flocked cables while maintaining smooth operation.
3Reliability
If guide elements with guide pins and curved guide sections are used, then the cover component can be properly guided, but the installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of guiding the cover component directly through curved guide sections, the patent inverts the approach by using a carriage that moves along straight guide rails. The carriage's movement path is constrained by the rails, and this constraint is transferred to the cover component through the coupling mechanism, achieving accurate guidance with simpler geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a carriage as an intermediary element between the guide rails and the cover component. The carriage translates its movement along the guide rails into the desired displacement of the cover component, allowing the use of simple straight guide rails instead of complex curved guides.
4Reliability
If a double guide rail with control carriage is used, then the cover component can be displaced properly, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the guidance function and the displacement function into a single integrated system. The carriage serves both as the moving element that travels along the guide rails and as the direct connector to the cover component, eliminating the need for separate coupling mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity.
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 solution simplifies the mechanism, reduces installation space, and lowers operational noise and actuation forces, ensuring effective sealing and reliability while being compact and easy to assemble, with improved resistance to environmental influences.
Implementation Method 1
at least one control element (12) is provided which is pivotable about a preferably stationary axis of rotation (13)
Implementation Method 2
Coupling elements (16, 17, 18, 19) rotatably connect the control levers (14, 15) to the cover component (5)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A cover device (4) with a cover component (5) and a displacement mechanism (11) for the cover component (5) for closing and opening an opening (6) in a vehicle body (2) is described. The cover component (5) can be displaced under an adjacent area of the vehicle body (2). For this purpose, a cam guide system (22) is provided, by means of which the cover component (5) is adjustable between a position closing the opening (6) and a position releasing the opening (6). At least one control element (12) pivotable about a pivot axis (13), which is stationary, is provided. This control element (12) is rotatably connected to at least two control levers (14, 15) in coupling areas (12B1, 12C) that are spaced apart from the pivot axis (13) and from each other. The control levers (14, 15) are rotatably connected to the cover component (5) via coupling elements (18, 19).The coupling elements (18, 19) each engage in a body-fixed control track (20, 21) of the cam guide system (22). The control levers (14, 15) are adjusted along the control tracks (20, 21) during a pivoting of the control element (12) towards a position corresponding to the releasing position of the cover component (5), and during a further pivoting of the control element (12) towards a position corresponding to the closing position of the cover component (5), thereby actuating the cover component (5) in the opening direction or in the closing direction of the opening (6).