Sliding Roof Spring-Loaded Locking Bolt Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The operation of sliding roofs on commercial vehicles, typically located at great heights, is challenging due to accessibility issues when the vehicle is fully loaded, as the locking devices are difficult to reach, making it hard to lock or unlock the sliding roof without additional assistance.
Innovation Solution
A commercial vehicle structure with a sliding roof featuring a spring-loaded locking bolt and inclined guide surfaces on a locking lug, allowing for automatic locking and unlocking by sliding the roof along the roof rails, eliminating the need for an additional actuating device, even when the vehicle is fully loaded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a manual locking device is used at high position, then the sliding roof can be locked securely, but the locking device becomes difficult to access when the vehicle is fully loaded
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device automatically engages and disengages through the spring-loaded locking bolt that is driven by the sliding motion itself. The inclined guide surfaces convert the sliding motion into automatic locking/unlocking action, eliminating the need for manual intervention to operate the locking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is pre-loaded to store energy that automatically drives the locking bolt into the locked position before the sliding roof is fully positioned. This preliminary spring action ensures the locking bolt is ready to engage without requiring manual actuation at the high position.
2Ease of operation
If additional actuating devices are added to enable remote operation, then accessibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism serves itself by using the sliding motion to automatically trigger the locking and unlocking actions through the spring-loaded bolt and inclined surfaces, eliminating the need for separate actuating devices like cables, linkages, or remote mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is merged with the sliding motion itself. The same movement that positions the sliding roof also operates the locking mechanism through the spring-loaded bolt and inclined guide surfaces, combining two functions into one integrated system.
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
Enables simple and secure locking and unlocking of the sliding roof in both open and closed positions without manual actuation of the locking bolt, ensuring operational safety and ease of use, even when the vehicle is fully loaded.
Implementation Method 1
at least one end carriage (20) has a spring-loaded locking bolt (26)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a commercial vehicle body with a sliding roof which is guided along roof longitudinal members (10) and has at least one end carriage (20) with a spring-loaded locking bolt (26), wherein the locking bolt (26) cooperates with a locking lug (30) which is attached to a roof longitudinal member (10) and has at least two inclined guide surfaces (31) for the locking bolt (26) to lock the end carriage (20) in an open position and/or a closed position of the sliding roof.