Tractor Engine Hood Lock Cover with Release Tool Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tractors' engine hoods can be easily unlocked by unintended individuals, and existing designs require operators to perform unlocking operations in a straining posture, posing safety and operational challenges.
Innovation Solution
A tractor design featuring a lock unit and a release operation unit with a cover member that prevents manual operation, allowing unlocking only with a predetermined release tool, positioned externally to facilitate easy operation without straining, and enabling manual release during maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the release operation unit is made easily accessible for manual operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the security against unintended unlocking deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A cover member is introduced as an intermediary between the release operation unit and the external environment. This cover member has an opening portion that guides the release tool during the unlocking operation, allowing authorized access while preventing unauthorized manual operation. The cover member acts as a mediator that permits legitimate users to unlock the engine hood while blocking unintended individuals.
2Reliability
If the release operation unit is positioned inside the engine hood, then the security is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to straining posture requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The release operation unit is repositioned from the interior of the engine hood to the exterior, changing its spatial location from a three-dimensional interior space to an externally accessible position. This dimensional relocation allows the operator to access the release operation unit from outside the engine hood, eliminating the need for straining postures while maintaining security through the cover member with its specifically shaped opening portion.
3Ease of manufacture
If the cover member is made from sheet metal members, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the structural strength may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is segmented into multiple sheet metal members rather than being a single monolithic structure. This segmentation allows for easier manufacturing and assembly while maintaining sufficient structural strength through the combined configuration of multiple members. The segmented design also facilitates the creation of the opening portion and overall structure at lower cost.
Data Source
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AI summary
A tractor includes an engine hood (7), engine frames, a lock unit (60), an operation wire (41), and a cover member (42). The lock unit (60) deters the engine hood (7) from being opened. The operation wire (41) is coupled to the lock unit (60), and is configured to allow releasing locking of the lock unit (60) through a release operation of moving its operable part (41b). The operable part (41b) is arranged outward of the engine frames relative to a right-left direction and exposed to the exterior. The cover member (42) covers the operation wire (41) so as to disable manual operation of the operation wire (41), while allowing operation of the operation wire (41) at least by using a predetermined release tool (100), the cover member (42) having an opening portion (42a) shaped along a movement locus of the operable part (41b) of the operation wire (41).