Amphibious Vehicle Steering Linkage for Retractable Wheel Centering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Amphibious vehicle steering arrangements face challenges in retracting wheels for water clearance while maintaining effective steering, as existing linkages cause road wheels to pivot when steering, leading to excessive pocket size requirements and water spray issues during water traversal.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle steering arrangement with a swingable connection on the steering column, a track rod, and articulated links that allow the suspension to rotate between protracted and retracted positions, ensuring minimal wheel movement during water steering and reduced pocket size, utilizing a retraction mechanism interconnected with the steering mechanism to deactivate road wheel steering during marine mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the road wheels are retracted through nearly 90° for water clearance, then good clearance of water is achieved, but the link becomes mostly upright and road wheel steering is lost or largely lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the steering linkage configuration change based on suspension position. The link connects to the upright member at a point that allows the linkage to transition from a steered configuration on land to a non-steered configuration in water, enabling the system to adapt its steering characteristics dynamically based on operational mode
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the steering function from the road wheels during water operation. By positioning the link connection point on the upright member, the steering action is effectively decoupled from the road wheels when retracted, allowing the vehicle to be steered in water without causing road wheel pivoting
2Length of moving object
If the link is positioned to allow full wheel retraction, then wheel clearance is improved, but excessively large wheel pockets are required causing loss of body space
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic configuration of the steering linkage allows the wheels to be positioned precisely at the retracted position without requiring excessive pocket space. The linkage naturally centers the wheels when retracted, eliminating the need for large accommodation spaces while maintaining full retraction capability
3Length of moving object
If the link is angled outwards to allow wheel retraction, then wheel clearance is achieved, but water can be scooped up causing excess spray and impeding forward progress
Solution Approach 1:
The steering linkage dynamically positions the wheels to be centered and aligned with the vehicle body when retracted, rather than allowing them to angle outward. This dynamic centering action prevents the wheels from scooping water and generating excessive spray, while still achieving full retraction for water clearance
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle steering arrangement for an amphibious vehicle having retractable steered wheels with which the steering input to such wheels is automatically substantially curtailed upon retraction of the wheels. Retraction of the wheels causes a steering link to swing toward its steering axis to thereby reduce its effective radius while steering input to a marine propulsion remains unchanged. The reduced steering input to the wheels reduces space needed to accommodate the wheels in their retracted position.