Roller Shutter Guide Mounting for Lower-Cost Commercial Vehicle Bodies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial vehicle bodies with roller shutters are complex and expensive to manufacture, primarily due to the intricate guidance systems required for precise and smooth operation of the panels along the rail system.
Innovation Solution
The guide devices and mounting devices are designed to be interchangeable, allowing guide devices to be mounted on any mounting device, regardless of height, simplifying the assembly process and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If guide devices are arranged at different height levels on panels to ensure precise and smooth guidance along the rail system, then guidance precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing guide devices with standardized mounting configurations that can be installed at any height level on the panels. The guide devices feature universal mounting brackets and adjustable positioning mechanisms, allowing a single type of guide device to serve multiple height positions along the rail system, thereby reducing the variety of components needed while maintaining precise guidance across all positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the guide device into modular components including separate mounting brackets, positioning elements, and rail-contacting elements. This modular segmentation allows individual components to be adjusted and reconfigured for different height positions without replacing entire guide devices, reducing manufacturing complexity while preserving guidance precision.
2Ease of operation
If multiple guide devices are provided at different heights on panels, then smooth operation is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by creating guide devices with standardized interfaces and mounting systems that can be reused across multiple height positions. The universal mounting brackets and adjustable mechanisms allow a single guide device design to be installed at various heights, reducing the total number of unique components manufactured while ensuring smooth operation at each position through proper geometric configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by allowing the vertical position parameter of the guide devices to be varied while maintaining identical structural designs. The guide devices incorporate adjustable mounting systems where only the installation height parameter changes, not the fundamental design or manufacturing process, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while achieving smooth operation at different heights.
3Reliability
If guide devices are mounted in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner on specific mounting devices, then guidance reliability is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing mounting devices with standardized interfaces that accept all guide devices through consistent form-fitting and force-fitting mechanisms. The universal mounting system uses identical connection geometries across all mounting positions, allowing the same assembly procedures and fastening methods to be applied regardless of height position, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing assembly complexity through standardization.
Data Source
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AI summary
Described and illustrated is a commercial vehicle body (2), in particular for a truck, trailer or semi-trailer (1), with a roller shutter (8), wherein the roller shutter (8) has a wall element (9) which can be adjusted from a closed position closing the commercial vehicle body (2) into an open position releasing the commercial vehicle body (2) for loading and/or unloading and back, and a rail system (13) for guiding the wall element (9) when adjusted from the closed position to the open position and back, wherein the wall element (9) has a series of panels (10, 11, 12) which close the commercial vehicle body (2) in sections in the closed position of the wall element (9), wherein a plurality of guide devices (18, 19) each mounted in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner on an associated mounting device (22, 23) of one of the panels (11, 12) are each for guiding the respective panel (11,12) is provided along the rail system (13), and wherein at least two of the guide devices (18, 19), at least in the closed position of the wall element (9), are arranged at least partially, in particular at least substantially, at different height levels relative to the panel (11, 12) associated with the respective guide device (18, 19). To enable the commercial vehicle body to be manufactured more simply and cost-effectively, the guide devices (18, 19) and the mounting devices (22, 23) are configured to correspond to one another in such a way that the guide devices (18, 19) can each be mounted in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner on the at least one mounting device (22, 23) associated with the at least one other guide device (18, 19).