Vehicle Ramp Plate Position Holding Against External Forces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle slope apparatuses face challenges in securely holding the slope plate against external forces during deployment and housing, especially when external forces such as user loads or centrifugal forces act on the plate, which can lead to instability and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle slope apparatus with a position holding device that includes a check mechanism using a slope side check and a vehicle body side check, which engages to hold the slope plate in place through an engagement force, and an actuator with a motor that executes electromagnetic brake control to maintain the plate's position, ensuring stability against external forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the slope plate is made movable to enable quick deployment and housing, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential movement under external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The slope plate is designed to be movable during deployment and housing operations, allowing quick formation and retraction of the ramp. The system transitions between static (housed) and dynamic (deployed) states to balance operational flexibility with positional stability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The position holding device applies preliminary counteracting force to external forces (such as centrifugal force or user load) before the slope plate can move unintentionally. This preventive mechanism ensures the slope plate remains stable during critical moments without compromising its mobility for deployment.
2Reliability
If the position holding device is added to prevent movement under external forces, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The position holding device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the slope plate and the external forces. It provides a simple engagement interface that holds the slope plate in place without requiring complex active control systems, maintaining reliability while minimizing added complexity.
3Reliability
If electromagnetic brake control is used to maintain position, then the reliability is improved, but the use of energy increases due to heat generation management
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnetic brake control operates periodically or intermittently rather than continuously, engaging only when position holding is required. This approach maintains reliability by activating the brake during critical phases while reducing overall energy consumption and heat generation during non-critical periods.
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 effectively stabilizes the slope plate during deployment and housing, preventing movement due to external forces and ensuring high reliability and safety by generating a strong engagement force and using electromagnetic brake control to restrict heat generation and maintain position.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator with a motor that executes electromagnetic brake control to maintain the plate's position
Implementation Method 2
a check mechanism using a slope side check and a vehicle body side check, which engages to hold the slope plate in place through an engagement force
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle slope apparatus includes a slope plate configured to be moved in a deployment direction so as to be deployed at a lower end of a door opening portion and configured to be moved in a housing direction so as to be housed in a housing portion provided in a vehicle body, and a position holding device configured to hold a position of the slope plate against an external force.