Industrial Truck Cladding Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing multi-part cladding system for industrial trucks' battery compartments and center masts is cumbersome, increasing assembly effort, manufacturing and logistics costs, and complicating adjustments due to tolerance issues.

Innovation Solution

A single, stable paneling part that covers both the battery compartment and the center mast's rear, with an extension to cover the mast's lower section, reducing fastening points and allowing independent assembly and disassembly of mast and battery compartment claddings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If three separate paneling parts are used to cover the battery compartment and center mast, then complete coverage is achieved, but assembly effort and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly effortVSAvoidnumber of paneling parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines three separate paneling parts into a single integrated paneling part that covers both the battery compartment and the center mast. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate components, reducing assembly effort and manufacturing complexity while maintaining complete coverage of both areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single paneling part serves multiple functions: it covers the battery compartment, covers the center mast, and provides structural support. This multi-functional design replaces what previously required three separate parts, simplifying the overall structure and reducing the number of fastening points required.

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

2Manufacturing precision

If three separate paneling parts are used, then complete coverage is achieved, but adjustment work due to tolerances increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment workVSAvoidnumber of paneling parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the three paneling parts into one integrated component, the patent eliminates the tolerance accumulation and adjustment work that would occur between multiple separate parts. The single paneling part is manufactured as one precise unit, avoiding the need for field adjustments between multiple components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If a single paneling part is used to cover both battery compartment and center mast, then assembly is simplified, but structural stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidpaneling stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the paneling part in the longitudinal direction to include both the battery compartment and center mast areas. This dimensional extension creates a larger, more stable structure that can be supported by multiple fastening points distributed along its length, maintaining structural integrity while simplifying assembly.

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

Solution Approach 2:

While the paneling part itself is a single piece, the patent incorporates fastening point segments distributed at different locations along the paneling part. This segmentation of fastening points provides multiple attachment locations that distribute structural loads, ensuring stability without requiring the paneling to be divided into multiple separate parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2251300B1Industrial truck with cladding
Publication Date: 2012.12.19 JUNGHEINRICH AG
  • EP2251300B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2251300B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~4
  • EP2251300B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The truck (10) has a lift frame (18) comprising a central mast (20) whose back side is turned to a drive component that limits partly at batteries (16a, 16b). A battery room covering (26) covers a top side of the batteries. An attachment piece (30) partly covers the back side of the central mast. The central mast has a covering above the attachment piece of the battery room covering. The attachment piece has a cross section which corresponds to the covering of the central mast in the cross section. A control element (32) protrudes from the covering of the central mast for the truck.