Mark W. Ingalls
Contributors
All--
I'm just finishing up the dimensioning of parts so I can try out a couch remodel. Here are a couple screen shots from AutoCAD that I hope show the action of the unfolding mechanism.
Please criticize mercilessly, so the design can improve...
Folded position:
The green objects are struts that swing to the left when the couch is opened to a bed. We are looking from the end of the TC toward the front of the truck.
The bottom cushion is attached to several 17 inch long hardwood 1x3 'sleepers'. In the closed position the sleepers nest into a bulkhead. The bulkheads are sized to allow storage bins to be slid beneath the couch and retained with bungees or a yet-to-be-designed keeper mechanism.
Open position:
In the open position the right strut is oriented vertically and the 3 inch sleepers rest on top of 16-1/2 inch legs that are glued to the bulkheads. The resulting bed height allows the backrest cushion to be placed on the 10 inch shelf next to the right wall.
This orientation allows about 16 inches of free floor space between the kitchen and the bed, and also makes the climb to the top bunk easier.
The backrest is propped in the couch position with trapezoidal pieces of plywood, keyed to a 1x3 stiffener. In the bed position, the trapezoidal props are interference fit between the left cushion and the right strut, stopping the right cushion from falling through to the floor.
As time permits, I'll post the dimensioned components and a BoM...
I'm just finishing up the dimensioning of parts so I can try out a couch remodel. Here are a couple screen shots from AutoCAD that I hope show the action of the unfolding mechanism.
Please criticize mercilessly, so the design can improve...
Folded position:
![couch.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi207.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb133%2Fmarkwingalls%2Fcouch.jpg&hash=aa730568a2e701de0b1150f32e6b0a9f)
The green objects are struts that swing to the left when the couch is opened to a bed. We are looking from the end of the TC toward the front of the truck.
The bottom cushion is attached to several 17 inch long hardwood 1x3 'sleepers'. In the closed position the sleepers nest into a bulkhead. The bulkheads are sized to allow storage bins to be slid beneath the couch and retained with bungees or a yet-to-be-designed keeper mechanism.
Open position:
![bed.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi207.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fbb133%2Fmarkwingalls%2Fbed.jpg&hash=065c8b2a4f0e8a7a0e853b740f7484ba)
In the open position the right strut is oriented vertically and the 3 inch sleepers rest on top of 16-1/2 inch legs that are glued to the bulkheads. The resulting bed height allows the backrest cushion to be placed on the 10 inch shelf next to the right wall.
This orientation allows about 16 inches of free floor space between the kitchen and the bed, and also makes the climb to the top bunk easier.
The backrest is propped in the couch position with trapezoidal pieces of plywood, keyed to a 1x3 stiffener. In the bed position, the trapezoidal props are interference fit between the left cushion and the right strut, stopping the right cushion from falling through to the floor.
As time permits, I'll post the dimensioned components and a BoM...