Alternating Roller Wheel Layout for Smoother Omnidirectional Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mecanum wheels exhibit uneven sections between rollers, leading to impacts and noise when contacting the ground, deteriorating ride quality in movable bodies.
Innovation Solution
A wheel design with alternately disposed first and second roller members and complementary members that overlap non-uniformity sections, minimizing uneven surfaces and reducing noise and impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If rollers are disposed in a circumferential direction of the wheel, then the wheel can achieve omnidirectional movement capability, but uneven sections are formed between adjacent rollers causing impact and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new spatial arrangement by disposing rollers at different axial positions (first rollers at one axial position, second rollers at another axial position) in addition to their circumferential arrangement. This three-dimensional configuration allows the outer peripheral surfaces of adjacent rollers to overlap, eliminating uneven sections while preserving omnidirectional movement capability through the angled rotation axes of the rollers.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rollers are arranged to surround the rotation axis, then the wheel structure achieves symmetry and stability, but gaps between rollers create non-uniform outer surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an overlapping configuration where the outer peripheral surface of one roller extends to overlap with the outer peripheral surface of the adjacent roller. This nesting-like arrangement eliminates gaps between rollers, creating a uniform outer surface while maintaining the symmetric circular shape of the wheel and its structural stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel includes a rim part provided to be rotatable about a rotation axis X of the wheel. The wheel includes: a plurality of first roller members provided in a direction in which the plurality of first roller members surrounds the rotation axis X, and a plurality of second roller members spaced apart from the plurality of first roller members in a direction in which the rotation axis X extends. The plurality of second roller members is provided in a direction in which the plurality of second roller members surrounds the rotation axis X. In particular, the first roller members and the second roller members are alternately disposed in a circumferential direction A of the wheel.