Articulated Vehicle Roof Joint Pitching Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing roof joints in multi-section vehicles allow excessive pitching movements, which can compromise stability and mobility, as they fail to effectively restrict these movements while permitting necessary rotary and rolling movements.

Innovation Solution

A roof joint design featuring a sliding guide aligned in the transverse direction with an elastic restoring element and a tie rod, which builds up restoring forces to prevent pitching movements while allowing rotary and rolling movements, and includes a stop mechanism to limit excessive lateral deflection and enhance stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the roof joint allows free movement between carriages, then mobility is improved, but pitching movements cannot be prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovemobilityVSAvoidpitching movement control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The roof joint is segmented into multiple functional components: a sliding guide for transverse movement, an elastic restoring element for pitching control, and a tie rod for longitudinal force transmission. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in controlling specific degrees of freedom, enabling mobility in permitted directions while preventing pitching movements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic restoring element acts as an intermediary between the sliding guide and the tie rod. It mediates the interaction between transverse sliding movements and longitudinal restoring forces, allowing the system to permit mobility while actively preventing excessive pitching movements through controlled elastic deformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the sliding guide restricts longitudinal movement to prevent pitching, then pitching control is improved, but transverse mobility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepitching movement restrictionVSAvoidtransverse mobility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sliding guide is designed with dynamic characteristics through the elastic restoring element, which provides different constraints in different directions. The guide allows free transverse sliding movements while building up restoring forces against longitudinal displacements, creating an anisotropic mobility pattern that satisfies both pitching control and transverse mobility requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If the elastic restoring element is compressed by the tie rod, then pitching prevention is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepitching preventionVSAvoidroof joint structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic restoring element changes its mechanical parameters (stiffness, pre-compression force) based on the position and loading conditions of the tie rod. This parameter change capability allows the system to provide active pitching prevention through controlled elastic deformation, achieving stable pitching control without requiring complex active control systems or multiple rigid components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 restricts pitching movements, ensuring stability and mobility by absorbing longitudinal forces and allowing desired transverse movements, while maintaining freedom of movement in the vertical direction to prevent stress and enhance vehicle stability.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic restoring element is provided which deforms as a result of a movement of the sliding guide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2695790B1Roof joint for an articulated vehicle
Publication Date: 2018.10.03 ATG AUTOTECHN
  • EP2695790B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2695790B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP2695790B1 patent drawingFigure 7A~7C

AI summary

The hinge has a main support (34) that extends to a carriage (11) and main support (35) that extends to a carriage (12). The main support (34) comprises a pivot (38). A rigid connection is provided between the main supports in the longitudinal direction. The main supports are interconnected over a transversely oriented slide guide (39). The slide guide comprises a cross beam (37) that rests forward and backward against a guide surface. An elastic resetting element is provided by which movement of slide guide is deformed. An independent claim is included for an articulation system.