Retractable Top Linkage Arms Navigating Roll Cages

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current retractable top designs for modern Jeeps and similar vehicles are limited, as they do not accommodate the new roll cage configuration, which reduces mounting space and makes it difficult to achieve a secure, windproof seal, especially with the roll cage's narrow profile and sharp angles.

Innovation Solution

The retractable top design incorporates a pair of right-angle roll bars that extend to the central roof roll cage, with linkage arms and tapered interconnection apertures for attachment, allowing for side mounting and a windproof seal, and includes features like a motorized rear bow, sealing brackets, and a tightening cable to manage the enclosure material effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the retractable top is designed to accommodate the new roll cage configuration with narrow profile and sharp angles, then the adaptability to modern Jeep models is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for specialized linkage arms and tapered interconnection apertures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to roll cage configurationVSAvoidcomplexity of linkage arms and apertures

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retractable top is divided into multiple linkage arms (first bow arm, second bow arm, third bow arm, K-arm) that can independently pivot and adjust. Each arm segment handles a specific portion of the traversal path, allowing the overall system to navigate the roll cage's sharp angles through coordinated movement of discrete segments rather than a single complex structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The linkage arms are interconnected through nested pivot points where the first bow arm pivots to the second bow arm, the second bow arm pivots to the third bow arm, and the K-arm connects to the second bow arm. This nested arrangement allows multiple degrees of freedom within a compact configuration, enabling the top to traverse the roll cage while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Volume of moving object

If the retractable top uses a narrow profile to traverse the roll cage's sharp angles, then the space utilization is improved, but the sealing performance deteriorates due to reduced contact area with the vehicle body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprofile width of retractable topVSAvoidsealing performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The retractable top employs different structural characteristics at different locations: the linkage arms have a narrow profile for traversing the roll cage, while the sealing brackets and enclosure material provide enhanced sealing capability at the interfaces with the vehicle body. The door brackets and sealing brackets are specifically designed to engage with grooves in the vehicle body, creating localized high-quality seals without requiring the entire structure to be wide

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Sealing brackets and enclosure material act as intermediary elements between the narrow linkage arm structure and the vehicle body. These intermediaries provide the necessary sealing contact area and pressure distribution, allowing the narrow-profile top to achieve reliable seals by transferring the sealing function to dedicated components rather than relying on the main structural arms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If the retractable top is mounted on the side of the vehicle frame rather than the floor or wheel wells, then the ease of installation is improved, but the structural stability worsens due to higher mounting location

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of installationVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting system combines multiple attachment points and methods: the first and second support members are attached to the vehicle frame at multiple locations, the linkage arms are pivoted to these support members, and the sealing brackets engage with grooves in the vehicle body. This merging of multiple attachment mechanisms distributes the structural loads across several points, providing stability comparable to lower mounting positions while maintaining the installation advantages of side mounting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8672389B2Retractable top for an open vehicle

Publication Date: 2014.03.18 BESTOP INC

AI summary

In one embodiment of a retractable top for a vehicle having an open top, including a left and a right rear roll bar projecting vertically from the rear floor above the height of the vertical walls, the roll bars projecting forward to join a transverse roll bar and forming a roll cage, the retractable top includes support members attached to two of the three horizontal sides. The retractable top includes linkage arms attached to the support members configured to move from a retracted position to an extended position, linkage arms including a bow arm that has a first tapered interconnection aperture, the first tapered interconnection aperture shaped to receive a first connector and recess the first connector such that an end of the first connector is flush with a first surface of the bow arm. The retractable top includes an enclosure material oriented to cover the open top when extended.