Work Vehicle Chamfered Body for Operator Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Work vehicles, such as feller bunchers, face limited visibility from the operator cab due to the arrangement of serviceable components like hydraulic pumps and cooling devices being moved forward to achieve a shorter vehicle body length, which restricts lateral visibility and obstructs the view of track ends, impacting operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a vehicle body with a chamfered exterior surface on the second body part, extending from the seat index point to the design eye point, providing increased lateral visibility by slanting the surface outward and forward, allowing more of the track ends to be visible from the operator cab.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If serviceable components (hydraulic pumps, cooling devices) are moved forward to achieve a shorter vehicle body length, then the vehicle body length is reduced, but the lateral visibility from the operator cab is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by modifying the vertical height dimension of the second body part's frontward portion. Instead of keeping it short, the height is increased to create a chamfered exterior surface that slopes downward from front to rear. This vertical dimension adjustment allows the operator to see over the elevated structure, thereby improving lateral visibility while maintaining the shortened horizontal length of the vehicle body.
2Volume of moving object
If the height dimension of the frontward portion of the second body part is increased to fit components within shorter vehicle body, then components can be accommodated, but the visibility from the operator cab in lateral direction is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by introducing a chamfered (sloped) exterior surface on the frontward portion of the second body part. Instead of a vertical or flat surface that would block the operator's view, the sloped surface allows the operator to see over it, improving lateral visibility while maintaining the increased height needed to accommodate components within the shortened vehicle body.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle body is made short to avoid interference with tree trunks and branches, then interference is reduced, but the operator's visibility of track ends is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by utilizing the vertical dimension through the chamfered exterior surface. The sloped surface, extending from a higher front position to a lower rear position, creates a visual pathway that allows the operator to see the track ends and surrounding ground conditions, thereby maintaining operational capability in wooded areas while improving visibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A work vehicle includes a ground propulsion apparatus, a chassis, and a vehicle body. The vehicle body includes a first body part with an operator cab and a second body part. The first body part and the second body part are disposed on opposite sides of a fore-aft longitudinal center line of the work vehicle. The second body part has a front exterior surface, an inner side exterior surface, and a vertically extending chamfered exterior surface slanted in an outward-forward direction from the inner side exterior surface towards the front exterior surface to define a vertically extending chamfered corner. The chamfered exterior surface is disposed at least in an area extending from a height position corresponding to a seat index point of the operator cab to a height position corresponding to a design eye point of the operator cab.