Adjustable Wheel Track Convoy Vehicles for Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing road motor vehicle convoys face instability and poor road holding, particularly when coupled, due to differences in wheel track configurations, leading to oscillation phenomena that affect handling, especially when the last vehicle has a narrower track than the rest of the convoy.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves designing road motor vehicles with adjustable wheel tracks that can switch between a narrower and wider position, allowing optimal interlocking of wheel sets, thereby enhancing road holding and stability. This is achieved through an articulation device that allows the front frame to pivot relative to the rear frame, and hitches that align the chassis without rotational freedom in yaw, ensuring that at least one vehicle in the convoy can adjust its wheel track to match or equal that of adjacent vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the track of one wheel set is made narrower to allow interlocking with another vehicle, then the vehicles can be coupled together, but the road holding and stability of the vehicle deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the wheel track adjustable rather than fixed. The wheel set track can be dynamically changed between a first position (narrower track for interlocking) and a second position (wider track for optimal road holding). This allows the vehicle to adapt its configuration based on whether it needs to couple with another vehicle or maintain stability during operation, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the track of the wheel sets is made equal for all vehicles in the convoy, then the road holding is improved, but the ability to interlock wheel sets between coupled vehicles is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention resolves this contradiction by implementing a dynamic track adjustment mechanism. Each vehicle's wheel set can be positioned at a first track width when coupled with another vehicle (enabling interlocking), and at a second track width when operating independently or in a convoy configuration (optimizing road holding). The controller automatically manages this transition, allowing the system to have both equal tracks for stability and different tracks for interlocking capability at different times.
3Ease of manufacture
If the last vehicle in the convoy has a narrower track, then coupling is facilitated, but oscillation phenomena increase and handling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses this issue by making the wheel track of the last vehicle adjustable. When coupling is needed, the track can be narrowed to facilitate interlocking. However, during operation, the controller adjusts the track to an optimal width that matches the other vehicles in the convoy, thereby reducing oscillation phenomena and improving handling. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the persistent handling problems caused by a permanently narrower track on the last vehicle.
Data Source
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AI summary
Automobile road convoy comprising at least two coupled automobile road vehicles (1) which each comprise: - a front wheel set (2) and a rear wheel set (3), each of these wheel sets (2, 3) comprising two wheels; - a front chassis portion (4) to which the front wheel set (2) is attached; - a rear chassis portion (5) to which the rear wheel set (3) is attached; at least one of these vehicles (1) being a coupler vehicle that is defined by a track of one of its wheel sets that is different from the track of its other wheel set such that one of its wheel sets is adapted to nest with a wheel set located on another vehicle and the track of which is identical to that of the opposite wheel set of the coupler vehicle, and a coupler vehicle being further defined as comprising: - an articulation device (6) interposed between the front chassis portion (4) and the rear chassis portion (5) - a front hitch (7) - a rear hitch (8) which is movable alternately between: • a coupled position, in which this rear hitch (8) cooperates with a front hitch, identical to the front hitch (7) of this vehicle (1) and located on another vehicle; the automobile road convoy comprises, at one of its ends, a hitchable end vehicle which comprises: - a hitch movable between a coupled position and an uncoupled position; and - a front wheel set (2), the track of which is substantially equal to the track of the rear wheel set (3).