Side Body Luggage Compartment With Rear-Hinged Access Panel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional luggage compartments in motor vehicles often compromise vehicle aesthetics, aerodynamics, and weight distribution due to their design, which requires additional weight for doors, locking mechanisms, and hinge mechanisms, and they struggle to utilize space within the vehicle envelope effectively.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a luggage compartment located within the vehicle's outer bodywork surface, forward of the rear wheel arch, with a hinged panel that forms part of the outer surface and pivots behind the rear wheel arch, allowing for maximum accessibility without adding significant weight or compromising structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional luggage compartment doors with sealing mechanisms are used, then the luggage compartment can be sealed against elements, but the vehicle weight increases due to doors, locking mechanisms, and hinge mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional door structure from the luggage compartment design. Instead of using a separate door with locking mechanisms and hinges, the body panel itself forms the closure surface. This extraction of the door function eliminates the need for heavy sealing mechanisms while maintaining the sealing function through the integral body panel design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the body panel with the luggage compartment closure function. The outer body panel serves dual purposes: as the aesthetic exterior surface and as the sealed closure for the luggage compartment. This merging eliminates separate door components and reduces overall weight while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
2Quantity of substance
If roof racks or exterior containers are added to provide adequate luggage space, then luggage capacity increases, but the vehicle's aerodynamic performance deteriorates leading to increased fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vehicle's width dimension by placing luggage compartments within the outer body panels at the sides of the vehicle, forward of the rear wheel arches. This lateral placement within the vehicle envelope eliminates the need for external roof racks or boot racks, maintaining aerodynamic performance while providing adequate luggage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The body panels serve multiple functions: they provide the vehicle's aesthetic exterior, maintain aerodynamic performance, and simultaneously serve as the structural closure for luggage compartments. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate external luggage-carrying devices that would compromise aerodynamics.
3Shape
If luggage compartments are placed within the vehicle envelope, then vehicle aesthetics and aerodynamics are maintained, but the accessibility for loading and unloading luggage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable release mechanism that allows the body panel to be opened dynamically. The releaseable lock and actuator system enable the body panel to transition from a fixed sealed state to an open state for luggage access, providing ease of operation while maintaining aesthetics when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a telescopic strut as an intermediary mechanism to assist in opening and closing the body panel. The strut provides mechanical advantage and controlled movement, making it easier to operate the panel despite it being integrated into the body structure, thereby improving accessibility without compromising the integrated design.
4Volume of stationary object
If conventional luggage compartment designs are used, then adequate luggage space can be provided, but the vehicle's overall weight increases affecting fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the door structure from the luggage compartment design, eliminating heavy locking mechanisms, hinges, and separate door panels. The body panel itself serves as the closure, removing unnecessary weight while maintaining adequate luggage space volume within the vehicle envelope.
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle having an outer bodywork surface including front and rear wheel arches and at least one passenger or driver door on each side of the vehicle, in which a luggage compartment is provided on at least one side of the vehicle, each luggage compartment being located within the outer surface and forwardly of the rear wheel arch, the luggage compartment having an opening which extends at least partially over the top of the luggage compartment and which is closable with a hinged panel, the panel forming part of the outer bodywork surface of the vehicle and having a hinge which is located behind the rear of the luggage compartment and towards the rear of the vehicle.