Variable Length Amphibious Vehicle Flap for Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Amphibious vehicles with collapsible flaps face challenges in enlarging the flap size due to limited storage space, especially when a driving seat is positioned above the vehicle body, leading to interference and hindered deployment.
Innovation Solution
The amphibious vehicle features a collapsible flap system with a lower and upper flap configuration, where the flaps are connected to be slidable or rotatable, allowing for variable length adjustments, and includes a control unit to deploy and store the flaps based on navigation states, ensuring efficient storage and deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the collapsible flap is enlarged to receive more lift from water, then the moving speed in water navigation is increased, but the storage space becomes insufficient due to the driving seat protruding from the vehicle body
Solution Approach 1:
The flap is divided into multiple segments (first flap member and second flap member) that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the flap to be configured in different lengths - a longer configuration for water navigation to maximize lift and speed, and a shorter compact configuration for storage that fits within the limited space above the vehicle body without interfering with the driving seat.
Solution Approach 2:
The flap length is made variable rather than fixed. The flap can dynamically adjust its length by sliding or rotating the first and second flap members relative to each other. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to optimize performance for different operational modes - extended for water navigation to increase lift and reduce moving time, and retracted for storage to accommodate spatial constraints imposed by the driving seat configuration.
2Loss of time
If the flap length is increased to achieve efficient transition from floating to sliding state, then the moving time is reduced, but the flap cannot be stored appropriately due to interference with the driving seat
Solution Approach 1:
The flap employs a variable length mechanism with first and second flap members that can slide or rotate relative to each other. This dynamic structure allows the flap to extend to a longer length during water navigation to maximize lift generation and reduce the time required to transition from floating to sliding state. When not in use, the same mechanism allows the flap to be reconfigured to a shorter length that can be stored compactly above the vehicle body without interfering with the driving seat or other vehicle components.
Solution Approach 2:
By dividing the flap into separable segments (first and second flap members), the system gains the ability to adjust the overall flap length. The segmented structure enables the flap to achieve an extended configuration for optimal water navigation performance and reduced transit time, while simultaneously allowing for a compact stored configuration that accommodates the spatial constraints created by the driving seat position.
3Productivity
If the collapsible flap is made larger to receive more lift, then the transition from floating to sliding state becomes more efficient, but the storage configuration becomes problematic due to limited space above the vehicle body
Solution Approach 1:
The flap system incorporates a variable length mechanism where the first and second flap members can slide or rotate relative to each other. This dynamic capability allows the flap to achieve an extended length configuration that maximizes surface area for receiving lift from water, thereby improving the efficiency of transition from floating to sliding state. When storage is required, the same mechanism enables the flap to be reconfigured to a shorter, more compact form that fits within the limited space above the vehicle body without interfering with the driving seat or other components.
Solution Approach 2:
The flap is divided into multiple segments (first flap member and second flap member) that can be independently positioned. This segmentation provides the flexibility to configure the flap at different lengths - an extended configuration that maximizes lift-receiving surface area for efficient water navigation and transition, and a retracted configuration that accommodates the spatial constraints of the vehicle body and driving seat arrangement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables the flap to be enlarged for improved lift and reduced water resistance, allowing for faster transition between floating and sliding states while maintaining compact storage to avoid interference with the driving seat and ensure smooth land navigation.
Implementation Method 1
a flap that receives lift from water in water navigation
Data Source
AI summary
To enlarge a collapsible flap and store the collapsible flap appropriately. In an amphibious vehicle (1) in which a flap (13) which receives lift from water in water navigation is provided to be deployable and storable at a front side in a travel direction of a vehicle body (11), the flap (13) includes a lower flap (21) which is stored to come close to a front surface (11a) of the vehicle body (11) and an upper flap (22) which is stored to come close to an upper surface (11b) of the vehicle body (11), and at least one of the lower flap (21) and the upper flap (22) includes a first flap member (31) and a second flap member (32) and is configured such that a flap length (L13) in a direction orthogonal to a vehicle width direction is variable.