Utility Vehicle Rear Cab Frame Collapsing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Utility vehicles lack a compact design for easy transportation and storage, as they typically have a fixed height that does not accommodate reduced profiles necessary for shipping or storage in smaller spaces.
Innovation Solution
The utility vehicle features a rear cab frame assembly that can be moved from an upright position to a collapsed position, reducing the vehicle's height from 102 inches or less to 72-84 inches, allowing for a smaller envelope during transport and storage by folding over seating areas and cargo beds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle has a fixed upright height for operational stability and passenger support, then the vehicle can maintain structural integrity and comfort, but the vehicle cannot be transported or stored in smaller spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The rear cab frame assembly is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable, allowing it to transition between an upright position during operation and a collapsed position during transport. This dynamic capability enables the vehicle to adapt its height based on operational requirements, resolving the contradiction between maintaining operational stability and achieving compact transportability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle structure is segmented into a front cab portion and a rear cab frame assembly that can be independently reconfigured. The rear cab frame assembly can be collapsed without affecting the front portion, allowing the vehicle to maintain its operational configuration in the front while reducing overall height in the rear for transport purposes.
2Length of stationary object
If the rear cab frame assembly is collapsed to reduce vehicle height for transport, then the vehicle fits in smaller compartments, but the passenger and cargo support function is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The rear cab frame assembly transitions dynamically between collapsed and upright configurations. During transport, it collapses to reduce height while during operation, it extends to the upright position to provide full passenger and cargo support functionality, thus resolving the contradiction between compact size and functional capability.
3Volume of moving object
If the vehicle maintains a larger envelope for operational comfort, then passenger and cargo space is improved, but transportation and storage become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle employs dynamic reconfiguration of the rear cab frame assembly, allowing it to expand to a larger envelope for operational comfort and cargo space, then collapse to a compact form for transportation and storage, effectively resolving the contradiction between space requirements and transportation ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle is divided into fixed front portions and a reconfigurable rear cab frame assembly. This segmentation allows the front portion to maintain its operational volume while the rear portion can be collapsed for transport, preserving cargo and passenger space during operation while improving transportation ease.
Data Source
AI summary
A utility vehicle includes front and rear ground-engaging members configured to contact a ground surface, a drivetrain assembly operably coupled to the ground-engaging members, and a frame supported by the ground-engaging members and extending along a longitudinal axis of the utility vehicle. The utility vehicle also includes a rear cargo bed assembly supported by the frame and extending over a portion of the rear ground-engaging member. The rear cargo bed assembly has a rear platform with at least a first seating position. Additionally, the utility vehicle includes a rear cab frame assembly with an upright position and a collapsed position. The vehicle has a first height from the ground surface when the rear cab frame is in the upright position and a second height from the ground surface less than the first height when the rear cab frame is in the collapsed position. The second height is 72-84 inches.