Articulated Wheel Alignment for Speed-Adaptive Vehicle Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles with parallel bicycle configurations face limitations such as high aerodynamic and frictional resistance, large space requirements, and poor dynamic driving characteristics, especially in curves.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle equipped with an articulated mechanism that allows conversion between a dual-track driving configuration and a single-track configuration, enabling a stable configuration for slow speeds and a dynamic configuration with minimized resistance for higher speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the vehicle uses a parallel bicycle configuration with running wheels disposed next to one another, then the vehicle structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the aerodynamic resistance and frictional resistance increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies an articulated mechanism that enables dynamic transformation between parallel bicycle configuration (wheels side-by-side) and single-track configuration (wheels aligned). This dynamic reconfiguration allows the vehicle to optimize its wheel arrangement based on operating conditions, reducing aerodynamic and frictional resistance during high-speed travel while maintaining structural simplicity through the articulated connection system.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the vehicle uses a parallel bicycle configuration with large running wheels, then the vehicle provides sufficient stability, but the space requirement increases and driving characteristics in curves deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated mechanism enables the vehicle to dynamically switch between parallel configuration (providing stability) and single-track configuration (reducing space and improving curve performance). This dynamic transformation allows the vehicle to maintain stability when needed while minimizing space requirements and enhancing maneuverability in curves through configuration change rather than relying solely on large wheel dimensions.
3Device complexity
If the vehicle maintains a fixed parallel bicycle configuration, then the vehicle structure is simple, but the driving characteristics in curves are poor and aerodynamic resistance is high
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated mechanism provides a dynamic solution that transforms the fixed parallel bicycle configuration into a variable configuration system. The vehicle can adapt between parallel and single-track arrangements based on driving conditions, improving curve performance and reducing aerodynamic resistance while maintaining relatively simple structure through the articulated connection system.
4Volume of moving object
If the vehicle uses small running wheels in parallel configuration, then the space requirement is reduced, but the aerodynamic resistance remains significant and driving dynamics are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated mechanism enables dynamic transformation between parallel and single-track configurations, allowing the vehicle to optimize its aerodynamic profile by aligning wheels in a single track during high-speed travel, thereby reducing aerodynamic resistance even when using smaller wheels that occupy less space.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a first vehicle part including a first running wheel rotatable about a first axis of rotation and a second vehicle part including a second running wheel rotatable about a second axis of rotation. The first and second running wheels have the same running-wheel diameter. A first and second bearing means for rotatably mounting the first and second running wheels are interconnected by means of a joint mechanism so that the orientation of the first and second axes of rotation relative to each other can be varied. By means of the joint mechanism, the vehicle can be transferred from a first driving configuration to a second driving configuration and from the second driving configuration to the first driving configuration while the vehicle is in motion. The conversion between the first and second driving configurations takes place automatically as a function of a driving speed of the vehicle.