Refrigerated Vehicle Insulating Floor With Profiled Fiber-Reinforced Cover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insulating floors for refrigerated vehicles are heavy due to metal or wooden layers, which compromise insulation properties and increase overall thickness, and they do not effectively accommodate chassis components, leading to reduced stability and increased energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle body with an insulating floor featuring a profiled, fiber-reinforced plastic lower cover layer and a wooden upper loading floor element, where the gap between them is filled with thermally insulating foam, allowing for customizable insulation thickness and accommodation of chassis components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If metal or wooden layers are used in insulating floors, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but weight increases and insulation properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-bearing capacityVSAvoidweight of insulating floor
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite structure consisting of a foam core layer (insulation material) sandwiched between two fiber-reinforced plastic cover layers. This composite material approach provides both the required load-bearing capacity through the reinforced plastic layers and excellent insulation properties through the foam core, while significantly reducing weight compared to traditional metal or wood constructions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The lower cover layer is designed as a profiled molded part with a specific geometry that provides structural strength. The profiled design with recesses and protrusions creates a shell structure that efficiently distributes loads while using minimal material, thereby reducing weight while maintaining load-bearing capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Stability of the object's composition

If metal or wooden layers are used in insulating floors, then structural stability is improved, but insulation thickness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidinsulation thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The sandwich construction with foam core and fiber-reinforced plastic cover layers creates a structurally stable composite panel. The foam core provides dimensional stability and prevents deformation, while the thin cover layers provide structural integrity. This allows for maximum insulation thickness within the available space while maintaining structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The profiled lower cover layer acts as a structural shell that provides stability through its geometric design. The recesses and protrusions create a rigid structure that resists bending and deformation, enabling the use of thicker insulation material without compromising structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional insulating floor structures are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to chassis components is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to chassis
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The lower cover layer is manufactured as a profiled molded part with integrated recesses and protrusions. This profiled design allows the insulating floor to adapt to various chassis configurations and components. The molding process integrates these adaptive features directly into the structure, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while significantly improving adaptability to different chassis designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The profiled lower cover layer serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, enables adaptation to various chassis configurations through its geometric features, and facilitates integration with other vehicle components. This multi-functionality is achieved through a single molded part design, maintaining ease of manufacture while enhancing versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 reduces weight, maintains stability, enhances insulation properties, and optimizes space utilization by integrating chassis components, thus reducing energy consumption and production costs.

Implementation Method 1

A gap formed between the lower cover layer and the upper loading floor element is filled with a thermally insulating foam material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

The lower cover layer is a profiled molded part formed from at least one plastic film and a fiber-reinforced, in particular glass-fiber-reinforced, plastic material pressed onto the plastic film

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP4173930B1Vehicle body, in particular a refrigerated vehicle, refrigerated vehicle with such a vehicle body and method for producing an insulating floor
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 KOEGEL TRAILER GMBH
  • EP4173930B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4173930B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4173930B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a vehicle body (10), in particular a refrigerated vehicle, with an insulated floor (11) comprising at least one lower cover layer (12) and at least one upper loading floor element (13) arranged opposite the lower cover layer (12), in particular at least one wooden panel, wherein a space (14) formed between the lower cover layer (12) and the upper loading floor element (13) is filled by a thermally insulating foam material, wherein the lower cover layer (12) is a profiled molded part (12') formed from at least one plastic film (15) and fiber-reinforced, in particular glass fiber-reinforced, plastic material pressed with the plastic film (15).