Articulated Vehicle Side Wall Cladding for Constant Passage Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side wall panels in articulated vehicle transitions experience changes in available space due to varying curvatures during cornering, reducing interior space and causing loss of clear passage width.
Innovation Solution
A side wall panel design featuring pivotable swivel arms and guides that allow the panel to maintain a constant length and guide intermediate sections along curved trajectories, compensating for distance changes between vehicle parts during cornering without rolling or significant curvature adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the side wall panel uses a flexible central section with varying curvature to accommodate distance changes during cornering, then the panel can maintain coverage of the inner walls, but the available interior space and clear passage width are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall panel is divided into three distinct sections: a first rigid section, a flexible intermediate section, and a second rigid section. This segmentation allows the intermediate section to deform and accommodate distance changes during cornering, while the rigid end sections maintain structural integrity and coverage, thus solving the contradiction between adaptability and space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate section is designed with flexible material that can dynamically change its shape and length in response to distance variations between vehicle parts during cornering. This dynamic flexibility allows the panel to adapt to operational loads while the rigid end sections preserve the interior space and passage width, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and volume.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the side wall panel uses multi-part sliding elements or roll-up elements to accommodate pivoting movements, then the panel can maintain coverage, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is segmented into rigid end sections and a flexible intermediate section, eliminating the need for complex multi-part sliding mechanisms or roll-up elements. The flexible material inherently accommodates pivoting movements through its deformability, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate section utilizes flexible material that can deform to accommodate pivoting movements between vehicle sections. This approach replaces complex mechanical sliding or rolling mechanisms with a simpler flexible membrane solution, reducing device complexity while maintaining the required adaptability.
3Strength
If the flexible central section is tensioned with cable elements to bulge towards the center during cornering, then the panel maintains structural integrity, but the manufacturing precision and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate section is constructed from flexible material that inherently maintains structural integrity through its material properties rather than requiring cable tensioning systems. This eliminates the need for precise curvature control mechanisms and complex installation procedures, reducing manufacturing precision requirements while preserving strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible intermediate section utilizes changes in its physical state and material properties to maintain structural integrity during deformation. By relying on material parameter changes rather than mechanical tensioning systems, the invention reduces manufacturing precision requirements and simplifies the overall structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
Side wall paneling (1) for the inside of a transition between two articulated vehicle parts, comprising a flexible panel (8), at least a first pivot arm (2) which is pivotably connected about a first pivot axis (6) to at least a first pivot arm support (4), at least a second pivot arm (3) which is pivotably connected about a second pivot axis (7) to at least a second pivot arm support (5), wherein the panel is arranged at least with a central section (11) between the first pivot arm support and the second pivot arm support and is connected with end regions (9a, 9b) to the at least one first pivot arm and the at least one second pivot arm.According to the invention, at least one first guide (12) and/or at least one second guide (14) is/are provided, to which the at least one first pivot arm and/or the at least one second pivot arm are movable relative by pivoting, wherein an intermediate section (10a, 10b) of the panel contacts the first guide and/or the second guide and is movable relative to it by pivoting the first pivot arm and/or the second pivot arm, wherein the first guide and/or the second guide is/are designed to guide the respective intermediate section along a curved trajectory.