Truck Cab Floor Insert for Elevated Driver Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing truck cabs do not provide an adequate direct view for the driver, particularly in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle, which can be a safety and regulatory concern.

Innovation Solution

A driver's cab design featuring a detachable floor insert that creates a double floor, allowing the driver's seat to be elevated, thereby improving visibility by enabling the driver to see over the instrument panel and door panels, while maintaining compatibility with existing manufacturing tools and components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the driver's seat is raised to improve visibility, then the driver's direct view is improved, but the driver's feet cannot reach the ground

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver's visibilityVSAvoiddriver's feet reaching the ground
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The floor is segmented into two levels: the original cab floor and an elevated floor insert. This segmentation allows the driver's seat to be positioned on the elevated insert, raising the driver's eye level for improved visibility, while the driver's feet can still reach the lower original floor for stable positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Illumination intensity

If the driver's seat is raised to improve visibility, then the direct view over instrument panel and door panels is improved, but the cab structure must be modified

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver's direct viewVSAvoidcab structure modification
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The floor structure is divided into the existing cab floor and a separate elevated floor insert. This segmentation allows the visibility improvement to be achieved without modifying the original cab structure, as the insert is an add-on component that can be installed independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The floor insert is extracted as a separate, detachable component from the cab structure. This allows the elevated seating platform to be installed and removed without permanent modifications to the cab, simplifying the overall structural complexity while achieving the visibility improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Illumination intensity

If a double floor structure is implemented to raise the seating position, then visibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The double floor is segmented into the original cab floor and a separate floor insert. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using existing tools and processes, avoiding the need to redesign the entire floor assembly and reducing overall manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The floor insert serves multiple functions: it raises the driver's seating position for improved visibility, provides a stable platform for the driver's feet, and can be manufactured using the same tools and materials as the original cab floor. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized manufacturing processes.

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

4Stability of the object's composition

If the floor insert is permanently joined to the cab floor, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidcab configuration flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between the floor insert and cab floor is made dynamic rather than static. The detachable fastening system allows the floor insert to be securely joined when needed for stability, and easily removed when adaptability is required, providing flexibility in cab configuration while maintaining structural integrity during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4209390A1Driver's cab for lorries
Publication Date: 2023.07.12 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE
  • EP4209390A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4209390A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4209390A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates, inter alia, to a driver's cab (10) for a truck, comprising a driver's seat (16) and a cab floor (12) with a floor recess (14) arranged in the forward direction of travel of the truck in front of the driver's seat (16). The driver's cab (10) has a floor insert (22) arranged in the floor recess (14) and joined to the cab floor (12), preferably detachably, wherein the floor insert (22) together with the floor recess (14) forms a double floor for vertically raising a footrest for a driver (F) sitting on the driver's seat (16).