Stowable User Support Member for Work Vehicle Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Accessing and maintaining serviceable components on work vehicles is challenging due to obstructive debris and the need for improved accessibility, while existing access support members can interfere with obstacles.

Innovation Solution

A work vehicle design featuring a movably mounted vehicle cover and user support members, such as retractable steps and handrails, that deploy in conjunction with the vehicle cover's opening mechanism to enhance access while minimizing interference with debris or obstacles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If access support members (handrails and steps) are provided in the work vehicle, then accessibility to serviceable components is improved, but these access support members can interfere with unforeseen objects such as debris and building material

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility to serviceable componentsVSAvoidinterference with debris and obstacles

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The access support members are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically change position between deployed and retracted states. This enables the system to adapt to different operational conditions - providing support when needed for maintenance access, and retracting to avoid interference with debris or obstacles during vehicle operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The access support structure is divided into multiple independent segments (steps and handrails) that can be individually deployed or retracted. This segmentation allows selective positioning of different support elements, enabling the system to provide necessary access support while minimizing interference with obstacles by retracting only the portions that would cause interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the vehicle cover is opened to access serviceable components, then maintenance and inspection can be performed, but the serviceable components are exposed and vulnerable when the cover is closed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to serviceable componentsVSAvoidprotection of serviceable components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The access support members are deployed in advance before the operator needs to access the serviceable components. This preliminary deployment ensures that support structures are already in position when the cover is opened, allowing immediate access without requiring additional setup actions during maintenance operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9677249B2Work vehicle with stowable user support member

Publication Date: 2017.06.13 KOMATSU LTD

AI summary

A work vehicle includes a vehicle body, a vehicle cover, at least one user support member and a deployment structure. The body supports at least one serviceable component. The cover is movably mounted to the body to move between a closed position and an open position. The vehicle cover at least partially covers the serviceable component(s) in the closed position, and the cover permits access to the serviceable component(s) in the open position. The user support member(s) is movably mounted to the body to move between a stowed position and a deployed position. The deployment structure is operatively coupled to the user support member(s) to move the user support member(s) from the stowed position to the deployed position in response to movement of the cover from the closed position to the open position.