Refrigerated Vehicle Side Wall Connecting Element Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Refrigerated vehicle bodies face challenges in achieving effective thermal insulation and maximizing loading space while maintaining structural stability and ease of production.

Innovation Solution

The side wall element is designed with lower and upper connecting elements that form flat surfaces with the cover layer, allowing for increased wall thickness without altering external dimensions, enabling improved thermal insulation and simplified production by integrating insulating material through a foaming process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If wall thickness is increased to improve thermal insulation, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but external dimensions and loading space are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal insulation performanceVSAvoidloading space
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting element is designed with a multi-dimensional structure where the first partial element extends in one direction to form a flat surface with the inner cover layer, while the second partial element extends perpendicular to it to connect with the floor element. This spatial arrangement allows the wall thickness to be increased without projecting into the loading space, thus improving thermal insulation while maintaining loading space volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting element is divided into two distinct partial elements: a first partial element for connection with the inner cover layer and a second partial element for connection with the floor element. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while collectively achieving the dual goal of improved insulation and preserved loading space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If traditional corner profiles are fastened to the inner surface, then structural stability is achieved, but steps are formed that reduce loading space and complicate production

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting element merges the functions of corner profiling, load-bearing connection, and load securing into a single integrated component. The first partial element forms a flat surface with the inner cover layer eliminating steps, while the second partial element provides structural connection to the floor, and the entire element can accommodate load securing elements, thus simplifying production and maintaining structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural connection between wall and floor elements, forms a flat load-bearing surface, accommodates load securing elements, and eliminates the need for separate corner profiles. This multi-functionality reduces production complexity while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design enhances thermal insulation by increasing wall thickness, maintains loading space width and height, and simplifies production by eliminating the need for additional fastening of corner profiles, while providing a stable and cost-effective solution.

Implementation Method 1

integrating insulating material through a foaming process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFoaming process: Foam

Data Source

PatentEP3388317B1Refrigeration vehicle structure
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 KIESLING FAHRZEUGBAU
  • EP3388317B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3388317B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3388317B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A side wall element for a refrigerated vehicle body is described, in which insulating material (14) is arranged for insulation between opposing cover layers (10, 12) forming inner and outer surfaces, and in which a lower connecting element (4) is provided on a section facing a lower edge of the wall element (2) with a planar first sub-element (6) for connection to the cover layer (10) forming the inner surface and a second sub-element (8) extending from the inner surface and forming a leg with the first sub-element (6) for connection to a floor element (24), wherein the first sub-element (6) connects to the inner cover layer (10) steplessly and forms a planar surface with the cover layer (10) and the second sub-element (8) can be connected to the floor element (24) forming one of the vehicle floors of the refrigerated vehicle body.