Modular Truck Chassis Segmentation for Fleet Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and complexity of maintaining multiple trucks with different body types and lengths for varying transport needs, as well as the inflexibility of traditional truck body designs, lead to excessive operational expenses and inefficiencies in the trucking industry.
Innovation Solution
A modular support system for industrial vehicle bodies that allows for easy extension and adaptation of truck chassis to accommodate different body types and lengths, utilizing interchangeable modules with various axle configurations and coupling mechanisms, enabling quick changes between bodies and trailers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If companies purchase multiple trucks with different body types and lengths to meet varying transport needs, then they can satisfy diverse customer requirements, but operational costs and fleet complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The truck chassis is divided into modular segments including interchangeable bodies (tank, concrete mixer, flatbed, etc.) and extendable flatbed modules that can be added or removed. This segmentation allows companies to configure different truck lengths and body types from a single base vehicle, eliminating the need to maintain multiple specialized trucks.
Solution Approach 2:
The base truck chassis is designed with universal coupling mechanisms and standardized interfaces that can accommodate various body types and lengths. The extendable flatbed system provides multi-functionality by allowing the same chassis to serve both short and long transport requirements through modular extension modules.
2Reliability
If traditional fixed body designs are used, then vehicle structure is simple and reliable, but the vehicle cannot be modified to accommodate different body types once manufactured
Solution Approach 1:
The truck system transitions from a static fixed-body design to a dynamic reconfigurable system. The coupling mechanisms between the base chassis and bodies are designed to be easily connected and disconnected, allowing the vehicle configuration to change dynamically based on transport needs while maintaining structural integrity during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle is segmented into separable components (base chassis, extendable flatbed modules, and interchangeable bodies) with standardized coupling interfaces. This segmentation enables reliable connections that can be quickly assembled and disassembled, providing both structural reliability during use and adaptability for reconfiguration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If quick coupling systems are implemented to allow body changes, then body interchangeability improves, but the system complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A universal coupling mechanism is designed that can accommodate multiple body types and configurations through standardized interfaces. This single multi-functional coupling system replaces the need for multiple specialized coupling mechanisms, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining high body interchangeability across different vehicle configurations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If extendable flatbed modules are added to accommodate long bodies, then vehicle length flexibility increases, but the base vehicle complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flatbed is segmented into a base flatbed and extendable modules that can be independently connected or disconnected. Each module is a self-contained unit with standardized coupling interfaces, allowing the chassis structure to remain relatively simple while providing length flexibility through modular addition rather than complex integrated design.
Data Source
Figure 1a~11b
Figure 12a~14b
Figure 15~19
AI summary
The present invention concerns a modular support system for industrial vehicle bodies, in particular trucks, comprising a basic modular element consisting of a flatbed, particularly, a short flatbed (10), which can be without wheels or alternatively have an axle with steering wheels (12) or an axle with dual wheels (13; or a long flatbed (11) having two axles, chosen between the axles with steering wheels (12) and the axles with dual wheels (13), each basic modular element having coupling means with two adjacent basic modular elements, in front and rear position respectively.