Side-Wall Fluid Tank Structure for Space-Saving Cargo Bodies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing commercial vehicle superstructures face challenges in optimizing cargo space utilization due to the presence of fluid tanks, which occupy valuable space and hinder usability for work or storage.
Innovation Solution
Integrating fluid tanks flush against the side walls of the cargo area, allowing them to form part of the inner wall, thereby maximizing vertical storage volume while minimizing horizontal space usage, and using a double-walled design with spacer elements for enhanced rigidity and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If fluid tanks are placed inside the cargo space, then the vehicle can carry sufficient fluid for cleaning operations, but the available cargo space is reduced and usability is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The tank is merged with the side wall structure of the cargo space, forming an integrated design where the tank becomes part of the wall assembly. This combining of the storage function with the structural element eliminates the need for separate tank placement that would occupy cargo space, thereby resolving the contradiction between fluid storage capacity and cargo space usability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tank is positioned to line the side wall vertically, utilizing the vertical dimension rather than horizontal cargo space. By extending the tank along the height of the side wall (lining at least part of the side wall), the design transfers the storage volume requirement from the horizontal cargo area to the vertical wall structure, maintaining cargo space availability while achieving sufficient fluid capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If the tank is made larger to increase storage volume, then more fluid can be carried, but the structural integrity and stability of the tank may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall is constructed as a composite structure with the tank integrated into it, potentially using double-walled construction with insulation material between the walls. This composite approach provides both the necessary storage volume and enhanced structural stability, as the multi-layer construction distributes stresses and improves overall tank rigidity and insulation properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The tank structure is merged with the side wall assembly, creating a unified structural system where the tank and wall support each other. This integration means the tank benefits from the structural support of the side wall framework, and conversely, the side wall structure is reinforced by the tank's presence, thereby maintaining stability even as storage volume increases.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention proposes a superstructure (1) for a commercial vehicle (2) in which a wall (4) encloses a cargo space (3). The superstructure (1) has a fluid supply system (5), wherein the fluid supply system (5) comprises a tank (7) that lines at least a part (8) of a side wall (6) of the wall (4).