Adaptive Wheel with Pivoting Plates for Rough Terrain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle wheels struggle to operate smoothly on harsh environments such as sand hills and swamps, as rubber tires become slippery or bogged down, while caterpillar wheels are energy-intensive and impractical for combat use when disconnected.
Innovation Solution
A wheel design featuring a cylindrical body with protruding ring members, a rotation ring, pivoting plates, a connection member, stopper bar, and a shock absorber, allowing for smooth operation by limiting pivoting range and absorbing shock, enabling effective traction in challenging terrain without the need for separate caterpillar or rubber tire configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rubber tire is used, then it is suitable for paved roads, but it becomes slippery or bogged down on unpaved roads such as sand and swamps
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel structure dynamically transforms between two configurations: a compact wheel shape for paved roads and an extended caterpillar-like shape for unpaved terrain. The pivoting plates can rotate outward to increase the contact area with the ground, providing better traction on sand and swamps, then retract to form a standard wheel on paved surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the wheel by allowing the pivoting plates to rotate between different angles. This alters the effective contact area and shape of the wheel, enabling adaptation to different terrain types without requiring separate wheel designs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a caterpillar wheel is used, then it is suitable for sand or swamp and mountainous areas, but it takes a lot of energy to operate and is impossible to carry out combat if disconnected
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel structure dynamically transforms between two configurations: a compact wheel shape for paved roads and an extended caterpillar-like shape for unpaved terrain. The pivoting plates can rotate outward to increase the contact area with the ground, providing better traction on sand and swamps, then retract to form a standard wheel on paved surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a universal wheel that can function both as a standard rubber tire wheel and as a caterpillar-like track wheel. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate wheel systems for different terrains, reducing overall energy consumption and improving operational versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pivoting range of the pivoting plate is not limited, then the wheel can adapt to terrain, but the structure becomes unstable and energy is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper bar provides a mechanical feedback mechanism that limits the pivoting range of the pivoting plates. When the plates reach their optimal pivoting angle for terrain adaptation, the stopper bar engages to prevent further rotation, ensuring stable operation and preventing energy waste from excessive pivoting motion.
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
The wheel maintains smooth operation on sand hills and swamps by limiting pivoting range and absorbing shock, preventing sliding and reducing energy consumption, thus addressing the limitations of conventional wheels in harsh environments.
Implementation Method 1
a shock absorber 70 coupled to the body 10 to absorb shock when the stopper bar 60 pivots
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel includes a body (10) having a cylindrical outer circumference; a first ring member (21) provided at one side edge of the body (10) in the form of a protruding ring; a second ring member (22) provided at the other side edge of the body (10) in the form of a protruding ring; a rotation ring (30) located between the first ring member (21) and the second ring member (22) and located out of the body (10) and rotatably coupled thereto; a plurality of pivoting plates (40) coupled to the rotation ring (30) to be pivotal outward and configured to protrude out of the rotation ring (30); a connection member (50) located between the plurality of pivoting plates (40) to connect the first ring member (21) and the second ring member (22) and serve as a stopper for limiting a pivoting range of the pivoting plate (40); a first opening (31) formed at the rotation ring (30) along a rotation direction of the rotation ring (30); a second opening (11) formed at the body (10) at a position corresponding to the first opening (31); a stopper bar (60) configured to be pivotal based on a center portion (C) of the body (10) and provided through the first opening (31) and the second opening (11); and a shock absorber (70) coupled to the body (10) to absorb shock when the stopper bar (60) pivots.