Combined sun protection and blackout system

Abstract: This is the official version of the thesis and therefore some confidential
information has been removed.

The aim of this thesis was to conduct a thorough investigation of truck
drivers’ needs and desires regarding sun protection and blackout equipment
in the cab and thereafter to develop a concept for a new system that met the
customers’ and Volvo Truck’s requirements.

The current system was evaluated through interviews with 21 truck drivers.
The inquiry showed that to suit drivers of different heights the system
needs greater adjustment abilities. Other problems included difficulty to
reach parts of the system and gaps where light entered. Many drivers also
wished for a bug net in the roof hatch. A benchmark showed that all
competitors except for Scania provide different blind systems, although they
are often optional in their biggest models. Only Renault’s biggest truck,
the Magnum uses the blinds for both sun protection and blackout. In the
other models curtains are used for blackout.

The new system consists of blinds in the windshield, side window and roof
hatch and is supplemented with a pair of curtains to black out the side
window. The motorized windshield blind allows manual pull down and its guide
rails are hidden and integrated with the A-pillars so that no gaps appear.
The blind can be lowered all the way down to the dashboard thus working as
both sun protection and blackout. To avoid the blind being lowered to far a
safety button has to be pushed at the same time as the blind control button
when activating the blackout position.

For the side window the blind is used only for sun protection. On the driver
side a manual blind is used but a motorized roller blind is provided as an
option. On the passenger side it is possible to choose whether to have sun
protection or not. If this is desired the sun protection consists of a
motorized roller blind. The blinds are placed in a window cover and visible
guide rails are placed on the outside of the cover. To allow the guide rails
to follow the inclined shape of the side window a spring system is attached
to blind’s hem bar.

The roof hatch system consists of two blinds. The upper one is a bug net. It
is manually operated and can be either rolled up on the roller tube or drawn
out completely. Beneath the bug net is an opaque blind which is manually
handled and can be placed in four positions, covering one fourth, one half,
three fourths or the entire roof hatch. A motorized roller blind is provided
as an option.

To complete the system curtains are used to black out the side windows. They
are attached to the curtain rails by “click-in” clips.