Vehicle Transition Bellows With Integrated Head Cover for Curves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bellows designs for vehicle transition devices face issues with excessive weight, sagging, restricted curvature, high production effort, and inadequate visual protection due to separate head covers and connecting profiles, as well as limitations in height and aesthetic appearance with integrated designs.
Innovation Solution
A bellows design where the edging frames transition seamlessly into a head cover area with wave-shaped or fold-shaped cover surface bodies, forming a frame-integrated head cover that maintains the bellows' height without increasing weight, providing full-surface privacy protection and stability through a continuous, one-piece edging frame structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If separate end caps with connecting profiles are mounted onto the bellows, then visual protection for cables is improved, but weight increases significantly causing the bellows to sag or collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the head cover directly into the bellows structure, merging previously separate components (end caps and bellows) into a unified design. This eliminates the need for additional connecting profiles and reduces overall weight while maintaining visual protection functionality through the continuous surface body that extends over the head cover area.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface bodies serve multiple functions: they provide the bellows' structural envelope, enable extension movement, and simultaneously provide visual screening for cables in the head cover area. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate protective components, reducing weight while achieving the same protective effect.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If separate end caps with connecting profiles are used, then visual protection is achieved, but block dimensions increase limiting minimum radii for curves and valleys
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the head cover into the bellows structure with continuous surface bodies, the patent eliminates the protruding connecting profiles that increased block dimensions. This integrated design maintains a compact profile that allows the bellows to negotiate tighter curves and valleys while still providing complete visual protection through the extended surface coverage.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate end caps are assembled separately, then manufacturing is possible, but manufacturing cost increases comparatively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the head cover and bellows as an integrated structure where surface bodies continuously extend from the side areas over the head cover area to the roof area. This unified design eliminates the need for separate assembly of end caps and reduces the number of components, thereby lowering manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining production feasibility.
4Ease of manufacture
If bellows panels extend over the head cover area in an integrated design, then manufacturing is simplified, but large fabric cutouts are required making them prone to creasing and limiting maximum height
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the surface bodies into distinct areas (side areas, head cover area, roof area) that are differently configured. The surface bodies in the head cover area are specifically designed to follow the edging frames' path, creating a hump-shaped elevation that avoids large continuous fabric cutouts. This segmentation allows for greater height without creasing by distributing the structural requirements across different zones.
5Ease of manufacture
If continuous panels are used in integrated design, then manufacturing is easier, but privacy protection is insufficient with significant openings exposed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the surface coverage into side areas, head cover area, and roof area, with each segment serving specific functions. The surface bodies extend continuously from side areas over the head cover area to the roof area, creating complete visual protection. The segmentation allows the surface bodies to follow the edging frames' hump-shaped path, ensuring no significant openings are exposed while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through the continuous extension design.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a bellows (100) for a transition device (200) between two movably connected vehicle parts (301, 302) of a bus (300) or a rail vehicle, wherein the bellows (100) has several frame sections (1) and several corrugated or pleated surface bodies (2) which are received in the frame sections (1), wherein according to the invention - the outer contour (A) of the surface bodies (2) transitions from a side area (S) to a roof area (D) by means of a radius section (R) without increasing the height of the roof area (D), wherein - the frame sections (1) transition from the side area (S) to a head cover area (K), and wherein - corrugated or pleated cover surface bodies (3) are received in the frame sections (1) in the head cover area (K), whereby - the frame sections (1) in the head cover area (K) form a form a frame-integrated head cover (10).