Vehicle Light Assembly for Deck Rotation Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional response vehicles face reduced visibility of warning lights due to the rotating deck obscuring rear lights and light bars, especially in loading positions, which complicates identification by surrounding individuals, especially in adverse conditions.
Innovation Solution
A light assembly is integrated into the bed assembly of the vehicle, featuring a housing with marker and indicator lights positioned to deliver light across the longitudinal direction, improving visibility by being laterally spaced from the cargo support surface and adjustable to maintain visibility during deck rotations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the deck is rotated into the loading position, then cargo loading is facilitated, but the rear lights and light bar become obscured reducing visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into multiple independent light sources positioned at different locations: indicator lights on the bed assembly, rear lights on the chassis, and light bar on the headboard. This segmentation ensures that at least some light sources remain visible regardless of deck position, resolving the contradiction between loading facilitation and visibility maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system transitions from a two-dimensional arrangement (rear lights only) to a three-dimensional distributed arrangement throughout the vehicle structure. Lights are positioned on the bed assembly, chassis, and headboard at various heights and locations, creating spatial redundancy that maintains visibility across different operating conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the light bar is angled relative to the road surface, then deck rotation is enabled, but longitudinal visibility of the vehicle is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different light sources are assigned different functional qualities: indicator lights provide longitudinal visibility when the deck is in the loading position, while the light bar provides warning visibility when the deck is in the transport position. This local differentiation of light source functions resolves the contradiction between deck adaptability and longitudinal visibility.
3Productivity
If cargo is positioned on the bed assembly, then transport function is fulfilled, but the cargo may obscure the rear lights and light bar
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is distributed across multiple segments of the vehicle structure (bed assembly, chassis, headboard) rather than concentrated in one location. This segmentation ensures that cargo on the bed assembly cannot obscure all light sources, maintaining visibility while preserving cargo transport capability.
4Ease of manufacture
If traditional rear lights are positioned below the deck, then installation is simplified, but visibility is reduced when the deck is in the loading position
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting function is segmented between indicator lights on the bed assembly (visible in loading position) and rear lights on the chassis (visible in transport position). This segmentation allows each light source to be positioned for optimal visibility in its specific operating context while maintaining installation simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a chassis, a bed assembly, and a light assembly. The chassis includes a frame member that defines a longitudinal direction. The bed assembly includes a deck coupled to the frame member and moveable between a transport position and a loading position. The light assembly includes a housing, a marker light coupled to the housing and positioned to deliver light across the longitudinal direction, and an indicator light coupled to the housing and positioned to deliver light in the longitudinal direction. The light assembly is coupled to the bed assembly to improve lateral and longitudinal visibility of the vehicle when the deck is in the transport position and the loading position.