Moveable Underride System for Lift Gate Clearance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fixed underrides are incompatible with lift gates, particularly stow lifts, as they interfere with the stowing and unstowing processes due to their fixed position, and cannot be adjusted to accommodate different vehicle bed heights or dock lock configurations.

Innovation Solution

A moveable underride system with a mounting mechanism featuring clamping jaws and adjustable brackets that allow for remounting on a structure, enabling the underride to be rotated and adjusted in position, and a linkage mechanism that moves the underride between extended and retracted positions to avoid interference with lift gate operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed underride is installed on the vehicle, then the underride can prevent vehicle push-away and seesawing at docks, but it interferes with the stowing and unstowing of lift gates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedock lock stabilityVSAvoidlift gate operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The underride is transformed from a fixed structure to a movable one through the mounting mechanism with clamping jaws that allow the underride to be positioned at different locations along the vehicle frame, enabling it to clear the lift gate path when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting mechanism is divided into separate components including the underride, mounting brackets, and clamping jaws, allowing independent adjustment and positioning of the underride relative to the vehicle frame and lift gate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a fixed underride is positioned at a predefined distance from the ground, then it reduces the chance of following vehicles traveling underneath the bed, but it cannot accommodate different vehicle bed heights

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunderride safety functionVSAvoidvehicle bed height accommodation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting mechanism allows the underride to be dynamically repositioned vertically along the vehicle frame, accommodating different bed heights while maintaining the required clearance distance from the ground for safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting mechanism with adjustable brackets and clamping jaws provides universal compatibility across different vehicle configurations and bed heights, allowing the same underride system to be adapted to various vehicle types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a fixed underride is positioned flush with the rear end of the vehicle, then it provides consistent docking alignment, but it cannot be adjusted for different dock lock configurations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocking alignmentVSAvoiddock lock configuration compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The underride mounting position can be dynamically adjusted horizontally along the vehicle frame using the bracket and clamping jaw mechanism, allowing adaptation to different dock lock positions while maintaining proper docking alignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting mechanism is pre-configured with adjustable brackets and clamping jaws that can be positioned beforehand to accommodate specific dock lock configurations before the vehicle is docked

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10220759B2Mounting system for vehicle underride

Publication Date: 2019.03.05 MAXON IND INC

AI summary

A mounting mechanism for mounting an underride system on a structure, comprises a pair of clamping jaws, and a first bracket including a first edge for coupling the underride system thereto. The first bracket further includes a second edge for coupling the pair of clamping jaws thereto. Wherein, the first bracket and the pair of clamping jaws define a jaw opening therebetween configured to receive at least a portion of the structure for removably mounting the underride system on the structure using the mounting mechanism.