Swivelling Sliding Step Extension for Flush Vehicle Boarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding steps in vehicles often face height differences due to assembly tolerances, resulting in a vertical gap between the extended step and the landing, which complicates boarding and disembarking.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle with a sliding step that features a displaceable extension guided by a base frame, allowing for linear displacement and adjustable height via pivoting of the extension and step rail relative to the vehicle body, ensuring a flush alignment with the landing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the sliding step is fixed in position, then the structure is simple and stable, but the front edge cannot compensate for height differences due to assembly tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by enabling the sliding step to pivot about a defined axis of rotation, transforming it from a static fixed structure to a dynamic adjustable one. This allows the front edge to change its vertical position relative to the landing, compensating for height differences up to 20mm while maintaining structural stability through the guided pivoting mechanism.
2Manufacturing precision
If the extension is pivoted to adjust height, then the front edge alignment with landing is improved, but the vertical distance between step rail and step surface may change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the defined axis of rotation as an intermediary element that decouples the two adjustment needs. By positioning this axis specifically, the pivoting motion adjusts the front edge height relative to the landing without altering the vertical distance between the step rail and step surface, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of alignment precision and structural stability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the sliding step structure is simplified, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the ability to adjust vertical position is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the sliding step into distinct functional components: the extension that provides the step surface, the step rail, and the defined axis of rotation. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently with standard tolerances, simplifying production, while the assembled structure provides the necessary vertical adjustment capability through controlled pivoting.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a vehicle with a vehicle body (14) and a sliding step (10) with a displaceable extension (34) and a step rail (40), wherein the extension (34) has a front edge (38), wherein the extension (34) can be pivoted together with the step rail (40) relative to the vehicle body (14) about a defined axis of rotation (62), and wherein the step rail (40) and the extension (34) can be pivoted together in such a way that a vertical distance (d) between the step rail (40) and a step surface (36) of the extension (34) remains unchanged during pivoting.