Trailer Underfloor Storage for Towing Vehicle Emission Compliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge is to enhance the environmental friendliness of motorized towing vehicles without reducing the payload volume of road vehicle combinations, given the limited installation space and legal requirements for larger exhaust and fuel systems due to emission standards.

Innovation Solution

A commercial vehicle trailer with a chassis and vehicle frame is equipped with a supply and/or storage device below the loading area, which provides energy and resources to the towing vehicle, allowing for the relocation of necessary components from the towing vehicle to the trailer, thus saving space and maintaining payload capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If additional technical components are installed in the towing vehicle to comply with emission standards, then environmental friendliness is improved, but installation space is reduced and payload volume decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexhaust emissionsVSAvoidpayload volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the supply and storage devices (fuel tanks, fluid reservoirs) from the towing vehicle and relocates them to the trailer. This extraction resolves the contradiction by removing the space-consuming components from the towing vehicle's limited installation space while ensuring emission compliance through proper component sizing in the trailer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the vertical dimension and unused spaces within the trailer structure (below the loading area, between side members) to accommodate the supply and storage devices. This dimensional approach allows components to be placed in locations that do not compromise the towing vehicle's payload volume while maintaining full functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the towing vehicle is enlarged to accommodate larger exhaust systems and cooling systems, then emission compliance is improved, but the total length is limited by law and payload volume is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexhaust emission complianceVSAvoidtotal length
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the supply and storage devices from the towing vehicle and relocates them to the trailer. This extraction resolves the contradiction by removing the space-consuming components from the towing vehicle's limited installation space while ensuring emission compliance through proper component sizing in the trailer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The trailer is designed to serve multiple functions: it carries cargo in the loading area and simultaneously houses the supply and storage devices in its lower sections. This multi-functionality allows the system to meet emission requirements without requiring the towing vehicle itself to be enlarged.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Volume of moving object

If supply and storage devices are relocated to the trailer, then installation space in the towing vehicle is saved, but space utilization in the trailer must be optimized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation space in towing vehicleVSAvoidspace utilization optimization
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the vertical dimension and unused spaces within the trailer structure (below the loading area, between side members) to accommodate the supply and storage devices. This dimensional approach allows components to be placed in locations that do not compromise the towing vehicle's payload volume while maintaining full functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent places different components in specific locations within the trailer based on their functional requirements and space availability. Supply devices are positioned in areas with adequate clearance and accessibility, while storage devices are placed in spaces that would otherwise be unused, optimizing the overall space utilization of the trailer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2794325B2Commercial vehicle trailer for road vehicles, use of a clearance below a loading surface of a commercial vehicle trailer, method for operating a motorized commercial vehicle, and road vehicle train
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 KOEGEL TRAILER GMBH
  • EP2794325B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2794325B2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2794325B2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a commercial vehicle trailer (1) for road vehicles, with a chassis (2) and with a vehicle frame (3) which is connected to the chassis (2) and supports a loading surface, wherein the vehicle frame (3) below the loading surface has at least one supply and/or storage device (6) which is connectable to a towing vehicle in order to supply energy and/or operating means to at least one unit of the towing vehicle. The invention furthermore relates to the use of a clearance below a loading surface of a commercial vehicle trailer, to a method for operating a motorized commercial vehicle and to a road vehicle train.