Vehicle Hatch Weight Compensation Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing access hatch handling devices for military vehicles, particularly those on a glacis, face difficulties due to interference with turret elements and require improved force compensation for easy opening and closing.
Innovation Solution
A pivoting hatch mechanism stabilized by an elastic means, such as a tension spring or stack of compressible washers, positioned to counteract the hatch's weight, with articulations aligned to maximize force at the pivot axis, facilitating both closing and opening operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pair of torsion springs are used to assist hatch movement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases and interference with turret elements occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts one spring from the pair of torsion springs configuration, using only a single elastic means (spring or jack) mounted between the hatch and the vehicle structure. This simplifies the device while maintaining the force compensation function, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a pair of torsion springs are used to assist hatch movement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the hatch may interfere with turret elements
Solution Approach 1:
By using a single elastic means instead of a pair of torsion springs, the hatch mechanism occupies less space and has a more compact configuration. This reduces the risk of interference with turret elements located above the hatch, while still providing the necessary force compensation for easy operation.
3Force
If the elastic means is positioned to maximize force at pivot axis alignment, then the force compensation efficiency is improved, but the positioning precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic means is positioned and configured to create a counterbalancing force that opposes the weight of the hatch. By aligning the articulations so that the center of gravity of the hatch is in a vertical plane passing through the pivot axis when the elastic means produces maximum force, the system achieves efficient force compensation. The principle accepts certain positioning precision requirements as necessary to achieve the counterweight effect.
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
The solution simplifies the handling of pivoting hatches by compensating for the hatch's weight, ensuring stable positioning and easy operation, even on inclined surfaces, reducing the risk of interference with turret elements.
Implementation Method 1
the vehicle (1) comprises a device (10) for compensating the weight of the flap (3) which comprises an elastic means (6) comprising a traction spring (6) with non-contiguous spirals
Implementation Method 2
the elastic means comprises a jack comprising a stack of compressible elastic washers
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a weight compensation device (10) for a hatch (3). The device (10) comprises an elastic means (6) which tends to position the hatch (3) at the ends of its pivoting stroke by balancing all or part of the weight of the hatch (3), the elastic means (6) being fixed to the hatch (3) at its first end by means of a first articulation (6b) located at a distance from the axis (5), the elastic means (6) being fixed to the vehicle (1) at its second end (6a) by means of a second articulation (6a), the axis (5) and the articulations (6a, 6b) being positioned so as to be aligned when the center of gravity (G) of the hatch (3) is located in a plane vertical to the pivot axis (5) of the hatch (3), the elastic means (6) then producing its maximum force.