Vehicle Ramp Plate Linkage to Cut Retraction Force and Noise

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle ramp devices experience increased driving force requirements and sliding noise due to the cam surface pressing the spring fence, leading to wear and noise issues during ramp plate deployment and retraction.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle ramp device design featuring a ramp plate with a support arm that lifts the rear end portion, a fall prevention member urged to stand by an urging member, and a pressing member that bends the fall prevention member on the ramp plate's top surface, eliminating the need for a cam surface and reducing wear and noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cam surface is used to press the spring fence during ramp plate movement, then the fall prevention member can be effectively pressed against the ramp plate, but the driving force required increases and sliding noise occurs leading to wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefall prevention effectivenessVSAvoiddriving force requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the cam surface component from the system and replaces it with a direct pressing mechanism where the moving body's weight and motion directly press the fall prevention member against the ramp plate, eliminating the intermediate cam surface that caused sliding noise and wear

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a pressing member as an intermediary component that mediates between the moving body and the fall prevention member, transferring the pressing force without requiring sliding contact between the cam surface and spring fence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a cam surface is used to press the spring fence during ramp plate movement, then the fall prevention member can be effectively pressed against the ramp plate, but sliding noise and wear occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefall prevention effectivenessVSAvoidsliding noise and wear

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the sliding mechanical contact system (cam surface) with a pressing mechanism that uses vertical force transmission, substituting the harmful sliding friction with a more efficient direct pressing action that eliminates noise and wear

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing member serves as an intermediary that transfers force without sliding contact, mediating between the moving body and fall prevention member to eliminate the harmful sliding noise and wear associated with direct cam surface contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the fall prevention member is pressed against the cam surface during retraction, then the ramp plate can be retracted, but the driving force required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveramp plate retractionVSAvoiddriving force requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the cam surface from the retraction mechanism, allowing the moving body to directly press the fall prevention member during retraction, thereby reducing the driving force requirement while maintaining effective fall prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The moving body's own weight and motion are utilized to press the fall prevention member during retraction, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for additional force that would be required to overcome cam surface friction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution allows for smoother deployment and retraction of the ramp plate by using the ramp plate's own weight to bend the fall prevention member, enhancing durability and quietness while avoiding increased external dimensions.

Implementation Method 1

an urging member that urges the fall prevention member to make the fall prevention member stand on a side end portion of the ramp plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a pressing member that abuts against the fall prevention member that moves downward together with the ramp plate having been lifted up based on a rotation of the support arm and presses the fall prevention member to bend the fall prevention member on a top surface of the ramp plate against an urging force of the urging member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS11912236B2Vehicle ramp device

Publication Date: 2024.02.27 AISIN CORP

AI summary

A vehicle ramp device includes a ramp plate deployed at a lower end of a door opening, a moving body moving in a deploying or retracting direction of the ramp plate, a support arm rotatably connected to the ramp plate and the moving body to allow a rear end portion of the ramp plate to be lifted up when the ramp plate is deployed, a fall prevention member rotatably connected to the ramp plate, an urging member urging the fall prevention member to make it stand on a side end portion of the ramp plate, and a pressing member abutting against the fall prevention member that moves downward together with the ramp plate having been lifted up based on a rotation of the support arm and pressing the fall prevention member to bend it on a top surface of the ramp plate against an urging force of the urging member.