Motorhome Cab Cooling Layout for Lower Sightline Obstruction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current motorhome designs often compromise on field of vision and maneuverability due to the placement and height of cooling units and module carriers, which can obstruct the driver's view and increase the vehicle's profile, affecting safety and comfort.

Innovation Solution

The cooling unit is positioned below the module carrier, with both units optimized to reduce their vertical height above the vehicle contact area, allowing for a lower windshield and improved viewing angles, enhancing driver visibility and vehicle compactness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cooling unit is positioned higher above the vehicle contact surface, then the cooling unit has sufficient space for operation and maintenance, but the driver's field of vision is obstructed and the vehicle's profile increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling unit operational spaceVSAvoiddriver's field of vision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the cooling unit in the horizontal dimension (extending laterally beyond the module carrier) rather than vertically, allowing the upper edge to be below 118.5 cm while maintaining adequate cooling unit volume and operational space through lateral extension

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the module carrier is positioned lower above the vehicle contact area, then the driver's field of vision is improved, but the structural support and stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver's field of visionVSAvoidmodule carrier structural support
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The module carrier is extended in the horizontal direction beyond the vertical projection of the cooling unit, providing lateral structural support and stability while maintaining a low vertical position (upper edge below 118.5 cm) for improved driver visibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The module carrier is designed with extended lateral support structures in advance, providing preemptive structural reinforcement that ensures stability is not compromised when the carrier is positioned low for better driver field of vision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the cooling unit and module carrier occupy more vertical space, then adequate space for components and maintenance is ensured, but the vehicle's profile and maneuverability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent space and maintenance accessVSAvoidvehicle profile height
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling unit and module carrier are designed to extend horizontally rather than vertically, with the cooling unit's upper edge positioned below 118.5 cm, while maintaining adequate operational space through lateral extension beyond the module carrier's vertical projection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The design allows the vehicle profile to be dynamically optimized by positioning the cooling unit and module carrier to extend laterally, creating a compact vertical profile for improved maneuverability while maintaining adequate horizontal space for component operation and maintenance access

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3785966B1Travel vehicle device
Publication Date: 2025.01.15 CARTHAGO REISEMOBILBAU
  • EP3785966B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3785966B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3785966B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a recreational vehicle device, in particular a motorhome device, with at least one driver's cab unit (12) comprising at least one module carrier (14) for receiving components of the driver's cab unit (12) and at least one cooling unit (16), wherein the cooling unit (16) is arranged at least partially below the module carrier (14) when viewed parallel to a vehicle vertical direction (18), and wherein, in a ready-to-drive and unloaded state, at least one upper edge (20) of the cooling unit (16) is arranged more than 95 cm above a vehicle contact surface (22) when viewed parallel to the vehicle vertical direction (18). It is proposed that, in the ready-to-drive and unloaded state, at least one upper edge (24) of the module carrier (14) is arranged less than 118.5 cm above the vehicle contact surface (22) when viewed parallel to the vehicle vertical direction (18).