Low Floor Monocoque Bus Body With Deployable Ramp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light and medium duty shuttle and transit buses face instability and accessibility issues due to sloped floors, which can compromise safety and compliance with governmental regulations for handicapped passengers.
Innovation Solution
A monocoque body structure mounted to an OEM cab with a cut-off chassis, featuring a stepped-down, continuous, and non-sloped floor, along with an extendable and retractable ramp for improved accessibility and compliance with regulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional independent floor and body structure is mounted on top of chassis rails, then the bus structure is simple to manufacture, but the floor level becomes higher creating accessibility issues for handicapped passengers
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the vertical dimension of the floor by mounting it to the lower portion of the cab frame rather than to the top, thereby reducing the floor height and improving accessibility for handicapped passengers while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a ramp as an intermediary element between the lowered floor and the ground, enabling easy access for wheelchair users and other handicapped passengers without requiring changes to the fundamental bus structure
2Ease of operation
If a sloped floor is used to clear the rear wheel axle, then the floor can be continuous, but passengers experience instability when walking or sitting in wheelchairs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of sloping the floor upward to clear the rear axle, the invention inverts the approach by mounting the floor to the lower cab frame and using a ramp for elevation, thereby creating a stable horizontal walking surface while still clearing the rear wheel axle
3Strength
If the floor is mounted at a higher level to clear the rear wheel axle, then the bus meets structural requirements, but step heights and ramp heights increase reducing accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the vertical mounting position of the floor to the lower cab frame, reducing floor height and thereby reducing step and ramp heights to meet accessibility requirements while maintaining structural clearance through alternative geometric arrangements
Data Source
AI summary
A cutaway bus is provided with a monocoque body attached to an OEM cab frame having the chassis removed. The bus body includes a horizontal frame to which panels are attached to define a continuous, non-stepped floor for the passenger area of the bus. The floor resides at a lower level than the OEM cab frame. The bus entryway is sloped and includes a deployable ramp for wheelchair ingress and egress.