Work Vehicle Windshield Lower Shield Vertical Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing arrangement of windshields in work vehicles, where the hood is opened or closed, often results in inconvenient contact between the hood and the windshield, and existing solutions like detachable windshields are cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A work vehicle design featuring a windshield with an upper and lower shield, where the lower shield is vertically movable to close or open the gap between the upper shield and the hood, using a support unit with link members and an urging member to maintain positions without the need for detaching the lower shield.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the windshield is disposed at a position overlapped with the hood, then the space forwardly of the driver's seat is increased, but the hood cannot be opened without contact with the windshield
Solution Approach 1:
The windshield is divided into an upper shield and a lower shield. The lower shield can be detached from the upper shield to allow hood opening, while the upper shield remains in place to maintain the space advantage. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing the windshield to provide space when closed and be removable when hood access is needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower shield is configured to be movable between a closed position (attached to upper shield) and an open position (detached). This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt between two states: maintaining space when the lower shield is attached, and allowing hood access when detached, thus resolving the operational conflict.
2Ease of operation
If the windshield is made detachable via a mount unit, then the hood can be opened without contact, but the operation becomes troublesome
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the windshield into upper and lower shields that can be easily separated, the complex mount unit operation is simplified. The lower shield can be quickly detached without requiring complex mounting mechanisms, reducing operational trouble while still allowing hood access.
3Ease of operation
If the lower shield is made vertically movable, then the hood can be opened without detaching the lower shield, but a support mechanism is required
Solution Approach 1:
The lower shield is made vertically movable through a support unit with link members that enable smooth movement between closed and open positions. This dynamic mechanism allows the lower shield to be easily positioned without detachment, and the urging member automatically maintains the shield in the appropriate position, reducing the need for complex separate maintenance mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The urging member (spring) automatically maintains the lower shield in the correct position (attached or detached) based on the hood's state, eliminating the need for separate locking mechanisms or manual positioning efforts. The system self-regulates to maintain the shield in the appropriate state.
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
Enables easy opening and closing of the hood without impairing the windshield's position, reducing operational trouble and eliminating the need for separate mechanisms to maintain the lower shield's position, while preventing wind and rain intrusion during travel.
Implementation Method 1
there is provided an urging member configured to urge the bracket to a predetermined position
Implementation Method 2
a pair of link members provided between the support frame and the bracket; and base end portions of the pair of link members are pivotally supported to the support frame via a horizontally oriented first support shaft and pivotal end portions of the pair of link members are pivotally supported to the bracket via a horizontally oriented second support shaft
Data Source
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AI summary
In a work vehicle, a windshield (W) provided at a front portion of a vehicle body includes an upper shield (20) disposed upwardly of a hood (5) and a lower shield (21) that can be disposed at a position closing a gap formed between a lower end of the upper shield (20) and an upper face of the hood (5). There is provided a support unit (C) configured to support the lower shield (21) vertically movably to be capable of selectively disposing the lower shield (21) at the closing position for closing the gap and an opening position for opening the gap.