Anti-tip Suspension for Personal Mobility Vehicle Tipping Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Personal mobility vehicles (PMVs) face challenges in stability and tipping resistance on varied indoor and outdoor surfaces, requiring a balance between maneuverability and stability, and weight distribution issues across different rider sizes.
Innovation Solution
A PMV design featuring a pivotally-mounted anti-tip suspension with counter-rotating spring mechanisms and trailing arms, maintaining all wheels in contact with the surface, and adjusting weight distribution by placing the rider's center of mass close to the main wheel axis, while the trailing wheels provide additional stability through counter-rotational force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a larger wheel base is used, then stability and tipping resistance are improved, but maneuverability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is divided into separate functional components: main wheels for propulsion, trailing wheels for stability, and a tiller for steering. This segmentation allows the main wheelbase to remain short for maneuverability while trailing wheels extend backward to provide stability without compromising turning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The stability function is moved from the longitudinal dimension (main wheelbase) to the lateral dimension through trailing wheels positioned behind the main wheels. This dimensional shift allows stability to be achieved without increasing the front-to-rear distance that would hinder maneuverability.
2Reliability
If the vehicle is designed for outdoor operations on irregular surfaces, then traction and stability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trailing arms are designed to pivot dynamically, allowing the trailing wheels to adapt to uneven outdoor surfaces while maintaining contact. This dynamic adjustment provides reliable traction on irregular terrain without requiring complex suspension systems or active control mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If weight is distributed to the steering front wheel for control purposes, then control capability is improved, but main wheel traction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the vehicle have specialized functions: the tiller and front wheel assembly is designed specifically for steering control, while the main wheels are optimized for propulsion and traction. This local specialization allows control weight to be concentrated at the front without significantly compromising main wheel traction, as the control system is locally optimized.
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 design enhances stability and traction on uneven surfaces, maintains proportional weight distribution across different riders, and prevents tipping by ensuring all wheels remain in contact, improving safety and maneuverability.
Implementation Method 1
A counter-rotating spring mechanism connected to the suspension is adapted for applying a counter-rotational force around a transverse, pivotal axis
Implementation Method 2
a frame with a pivotally-mounted, anti-tip suspension adapted for rotation about a transverse, pivotal axis
Data Source
AI summary
A personal ability vehicle (PMV) includes a frame with front and rear subframes. A steering mechanism is mounted on the front subframe and includes a steering front wheel connected to a tiller. The rear subframe includes a suspension mount comprising a pair of rear support legs. An anti-tip suspension includes a pair of trailing arms each mounting a trailing wheel. Each trailing arm is pivotally mounted on a respective support leg whereby the suspension is inevitable through a limited range of motion about a transverse suspension pivotal axis. A pair of spring assemblies are attached to the trailing arms and are adapted for selectively engaging the support legs to provide a counter-rotational torque force around the suspension pivotal axis in order to resist backwards tipping of the PMV, for example, when it is ascending an inclined sloping surface. Relatively uniform proportional, weight distribution on said steering front, main and trailing wheels is maintained throughout a range of loads.