Low-Floor Bus Support Structure for Rear-Drive Shaft Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing low-floor buses are typically front-wheel-drive vehicles, which lack the pavement traction of rear-wheel-drive vehicles, making them difficult to operate in challenging geographic conditions. Additionally, converting a rear-wheel-drive truck into a low-floor bus requires significant structural modifications to maintain a low floor height while ensuring performance, stability, and safety.
Innovation Solution
A support structure for a low-floor bus that includes a floor support structure with front and rear ends, cutouts for a ramp module, and a drive shaft system with support bearings and a slip joint, allowing the bus to maintain a low floor height while accommodating a rear-wheel-drive mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a front-wheel-drive mechanism is used in a low-floor bus, then the floor can be lowered to improve accessibility for wheelchair users, but the pavement traction and driving performance deteriorate in challenging geographic conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The drive shaft is divided into multiple shaft segments connected by universal joints, allowing the drivetrain to be separated into modular components that can accommodate the low-floor configuration while maintaining rear-wheel-drive functionality. This segmentation enables the rear axle to be positioned independently to achieve both low floor height and adequate ground clearance for traction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension consideration by using a transfer case to redirect power from the transmission to the rear differential, creating a three-dimensional power transmission path. This allows the floor to be lowered horizontally while the drivetrain components are arranged vertically to maintain proper mechanical alignment and ground clearance.
2Reliability
If a rear-wheel-drive truck is converted into a low-floor bus, then superior pavement traction is achieved, but significant structural modifications are required to maintain low floor height
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drive shaft system from the traditional truck configuration and removes interfering components from the floor area. By taking out the unnecessary structural elements and repositioning the drivetrain components, the floor can be lowered without requiring extensive structural modifications to the entire vehicle body.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer case serves as an intermediary component that mediates between the transmission and rear differential, enabling power transmission while accommodating the low-floor configuration. This intermediary element allows the drivetrain to be adapted to the bus conversion without requiring complete structural redesign.
3Ease of operation
If the floor is lowered to improve wheelchair accessibility, then ease of use increases, but ground clearance and structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing reinforced floor support specifically in areas where the drivetrain components are located, while maintaining a low floor in passenger areas. The floor structure has varying thickness and reinforcement levels, with stronger construction beneath the transfer case and drive shaft to maintain ground clearance and structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A support structure for a low-floor bus having front wheels and rear wheels, the support structure including a floor support structure having a front end and a read end, wherein the floor support structure configured to receive front side rails on the front end of the floor support structure and rear side rails on the rear end of the floor support structure, a cutout disposed on a lateral edge of the floor support structure, a plurality of support bearings each attached to a bottom surface of the floor support structure, and a drive shaft including a plurality of shaft segments and a slip joint, all at least partially supported on the plurality of support bearings, the plurality of shaft segments are configured to be disposed around the cutout.