Telescopic Intake Pipe for Tilt Cab Industrial Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heavy industrial vehicles with tilt cabs face challenges in accommodating large intake pipes due to limited engine hood space, leading to pipes being placed outside, which are exposed to weather and dust, and hinder cabin tilting due to their size and complexity, requiring complex structures and manual intervention for decoupling.

Innovation Solution

A telescopic and decouable intake pipe system with a first segment connected to the cabin and a second segment connected to the vehicle frame, featuring a helical spring for automatic length adjustment and a cam mechanism for seamless connection and disconnection, allowing the pipe to compress and extend without user intervention during cabin tilting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the intake pipe is placed outside the engine hood, then the pipe can accommodate large dimensions for adequate airflow, but the pipe becomes exposed to weather and dust requiring complex protective structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintake pipe capacityVSAvoidexposure to weather and dust
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The intake pipe employs a telescopic structure with multiple segments that can extend and retract dynamically. The pipe extends when the cabin is closed to provide adequate airflow capacity, and retracts when the cabin tilts to avoid obstruction. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining large pipe capacity and avoiding exposure to harmful external factors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The intake pipe is divided into multiple telescopic segments that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows the pipe to change its overall length and configuration, enabling it to provide sufficient airflow when needed while minimizing exposure to weather and dust when the cabin is open.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If the intake pipe is placed outside the engine hood, then the pipe can maintain adequate dimensions, but the pipe hinders cabin tilting due to its size

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintake pipe capacityVSAvoidcabin tilting capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The telescopic intake pipe dynamically adjusts its length based on cabin position. When the cabin is closed, the pipe extends to provide adequate airflow capacity. When the cabin tilts, the pipe automatically retracts to clear the tilting path, allowing smooth cabin operation without manual intervention. This resolves the contradiction between maintaining pipe capacity and enabling cabin adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The telescopic pipe segments are nested within each other, allowing the pipe to compact into a small space when retracted. This nesting mechanism enables the pipe to provide large airflow capacity when extended while occupying minimal space when retracted, thus not hindering cabin tilting operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the intake pipe is placed inside the engine hood, then the pipe is sheltered from weather, but the pipe obstructs cabin tilting due to limited space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from weatherVSAvoidcabin tilting capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The telescopic intake pipe positioned inside the engine hood provides protection from weather while maintaining the ability to retract dynamically. When the cabin tilts, the pipe retracts automatically to clear the tilting path, resolving the contradiction between providing shelter and enabling cabin adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If the intake pipe uses a decoupleable structure for easy disconnection, then the pipe can be manually disconnected, but the structure becomes complex requiring special means to prevent dirt and water accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepipe disconnectionVSAvoidprotective structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The telescopic intake pipe system is designed to operate automatically without manual intervention. The pipe extends and retracts based on cabin position, and the segments connect and disconnect automatically through the telescopic mechanism. This self-service operation eliminates the need for complex manual decoupling mechanisms and associated protective structures, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 system allows the intake pipe to be compactly housed within the engine hood, enabling smooth cabin tilting without manual intervention, reducing maintenance costs and complexity, while ensuring the pipe automatically reconnects when the cabin is closed, maintaining efficient airflow and durability.

Implementation Method 1

a helical spring for automatic length adjustment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a cam mechanism for seamless connection and disconnection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCam mechanism: Cam

Data Source

PatentEP2119902B1Intake pipe particularly for industrial vehicles provided with tilt cab
Publication Date: 2014.01.01 IVECO SPA
  • EP2119902B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2119902B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2119902B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

This invention relates to an intake pipe (1) particularly suitable for being mounted inside the engine compartment of industrial vehicles with tilt cab. The intake pipe is characterized in that it comprises at least a first segment (3) connected to said cabin and, telescopically associated to said first segment (3), at least a second segment (4) of pipe. This second segment of pipe (4) is in its turn decoupleably associated to a third segment of intake pipe (2) connected to the vehicle frame. The intake pipe according to this invention, therefore, has a variable overall length and is decoupleable at the same time, obtaining this way numerous advantages, such as the allowing the tilting of the cabin without hampering and without any danger of damaging the pipe itself.