Vehicle Ceiling Unit Sliding Carrier Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ceiling units in vehicles restrict accessibility to technical devices in the roof area due to the limited opening size of ceiling flaps, which can hinder maintenance and repair processes.
Innovation Solution
A ceiling unit with a pivotally mounted ceiling flap and a slidably mounted carrier device, equipped with a guide device, allowing the carrier device to be displaced and the ceiling flap to open wider, thereby improving access without restricting technician movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a ceiling flap is used to access technical equipment in the roof area, then accessibility is provided, but the open flap restricts technician movement and limits the opening area
Solution Approach 1:
The ceiling access system is divided into multiple independent ceiling flaps (first ceiling flap and second ceiling flap) that can be opened separately. This segmentation allows the opening area to be expanded by opening multiple flaps while maintaining individual control over each flap's position, thereby improving accessibility without requiring a single large opening that would restrict movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The support device is mounted on a guide device that enables lateral displacement perpendicular to the opening direction of the ceiling flaps. This dimensional change allows the support device to be repositioned laterally to optimize the opening area and technician access paths, effectively increasing the usable opening area without changing the flap dimensions themselves.
2Ease of operation
If a fixed support device is used for the ceiling flap, then structural stability is maintained, but accessibility and opening area are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The support device is designed with dynamic capabilities through its mounting on a guide device, allowing lateral displacement along the guide device's axis. This dynamic positioning capability enables the support device to be adjusted to optimize accessibility while maintaining structural stability through controlled movement within the guide device's constraints, rather than being completely fixed.
3Strength
If screw-on ceiling panels are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but access time and labor intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ceiling flaps are pre-assembled with their support devices and hinge connections before installation. This preliminary assembly allows the flaps to be quickly installed and removed as complete units rather than requiring on-site assembly and disassembly of multiple components, significantly reducing access time while maintaining structural integrity through proper pre-engineered connections.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a ceiling unit (14) for a vehicle (2), which comprises a pivotally mounted ceiling flap (16) for opening and closing a ceiling opening (18), and a carrier device (20, 58) for holding said ceiling flap (16). In order to improve accessibility to technical assemblies arranged in the roof area of the vehicle (2), the ceiling unit (14) comprises a guide device (22) by means of which said carrier device (20, 58) is mounted so as to be displaceable.