Vehicle Sleeper Cab Bunk with Hinge-Based Pitch and Roll Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle bunk beds in sleeper cabs often provide an undesirable sleeping attitude due to uneven vehicle surfaces, as they are not designed to adjust for pitch or roll, leading to discomfort for occupants.
Innovation Solution
A bunk system with a hinge and adjustable mattress support surface, featuring lock inserts and indexing holes, allowing selective adjustment of pitch and roll to align with a horizontal plane, even on non-level surfaces, using pivotable frames and spring-biased lock mechanisms for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the bunk is fixed to the vehicle cab floor, then the structure is simple and stable, but the sleeping surface becomes uncomfortable on non-level surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The bunk frame is made dynamically adjustable through hinge mechanisms that allow rotation about first and second axes. The first hinge enables pitch adjustment, while the second hinge enables roll adjustment, transforming a static fixed structure into a dynamic one that can adapt to non-level surfaces and provide a horizontal sleeping surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The bunk structure is segmented into multiple independently adjustable components: the first bunk frame and second bunk frame, each with their own hinge mechanisms. This segmentation allows separate control of pitch and roll angles, enabling precise adjustment of the sleeping surface orientation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the bunk is made adjustable for pitch and roll, then sleeping comfort on non-level surfaces is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bunk incorporates two hinge mechanisms (first hinge for pitch, second hinge for roll) that enable dynamic adjustment of the bunk frame orientation. This dynamic capability allows the structure to adapt to various vehicle orientations and provide a consistently horizontal sleeping surface regardless of the vehicle's position on non-level terrain.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into independent rotational degrees of freedom: the first hinge provides pitch adjustment independent of roll, and the second hinge provides roll adjustment independent of pitch. This segmentation simplifies the control logic and allows each hinge to be optimized for its specific function.
3Manufacturing precision
If lock inserts and indexing holes are added for secure positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lock insert automatically engages with the indexing holes when the bunk frame reaches a selected angular position, providing self-locking without requiring manual intervention. The spring bias ensures automatic engagement, and the operator only needs to release the lock to change positions, not manually secure it.
Solution Approach 2:
The indexing holes are positioned at multiple discrete angular locations around the hinge axes, creating equipotential positioning points where the bunk frame can be securely held at various pitch and roll angles. This allows the same locking mechanism to serve multiple positioning functions.
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 bunk system ensures a comfortable sleeping surface by allowing the mattress support to approximate a horizontal plane, regardless of the vehicle's orientation, enhancing occupant comfort and usability on uneven surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
the lock insert is spring biased to extend outwards into engagement with the set of indexing holes and may be manually retracted against the spring bias force
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a bunk with adjustable attitude for a vehicle cab. The bunk includes a hinge, bunk frame provided with a mattress support surface, a lock insert, and a plurality indexing holes. The bunk frame is pivotably mounted to the hinge about an axis so that at least one of the pitch or roll of the mattress support surface may be selectively adjusted. The lock insert releasably engages the indexing holes to releasably hold the bunk frame at a plurality of selectable pivot angles about the axis.