Asymmetric Three-Castor Trolley Steering Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport vehicles in industrial settings face challenges with maneuverability, stability, and ergonomics, particularly in achieving a small turning circle and preventing tipping, while also being structurally simple and cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
A transport trolley design featuring at least three castors, with two positively steered castors on one side and a third castor on the opposite side, which can be either freely rotatable or positively steered, utilizing a steering system with deflection devices and tensioning elements to optimize steering angles and maintain stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If four steering rollers are used instead of two steering rollers and two fixed rollers, then maneuverability is improved and turning circle is minimized, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by arranging three castors asymmetrically: two positively steered castors on one side and one freely rotatable castor on the opposite side. This asymmetric configuration achieves good maneuverability while reducing structural complexity compared to symmetric four-castor designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The freely rotatable castor serves multiple functions: it provides additional support contact points for stability while allowing free rotation to accommodate various steering angles, eliminating the need for complex steering mechanisms for all castors.
2Device complexity
If a one-piece drawbar and turntable design is used, then structural simplicity is achieved, but the drawbar projects beyond the outer contour of the transport vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the drawbar and turntable into separate components rather than using a one-piece design. This allows the drawbar to be positioned such that it does not project beyond the outer contour of the transport vehicle when moving in main direction or during transverse movement.
3Ease of operation
If six rollers are used in a steering movement, then maneuverability is achieved, but steering forces and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric arrangement of three castors (two positively steered, one freely rotatable) reduces the number of rollers that need to be actively steered, thereby reducing steering forces while maintaining good maneuverability.
Solution Approach 2:
The freely rotatable castor automatically adjusts to steering movements without requiring active steering forces, reducing the overall steering force requirement while still contributing to maneuverability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the drawbar is rotated about the axis of rotation for transverse movement, then lateral movement capability is achieved, but the drawbar projects beyond the outer contour
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the drawbar from the turntable, the drawbar can be independently positioned to remain within the outer contour during transverse movement, while the turntable and castors provide the necessary lateral movement capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a transport trolley (100, 200) with at least one support frame (102, 202), a drawbar (106, 206) arranged at the front in a main direction of travel and rotatable about at least one drawbar pivot axis, a steering device (110, 130, 210, 230) and at least one first steering wheel (112, 212) rotatable about a first steering axis, at least one second steering wheel (114, 214) rotatable about a second steering axis and at least one third steering wheel (134, 154, 234a, 234b) rotatable about a third steering axis, wherein the first steering wheel and the second steering wheel are designed as positively steered steering wheels such that a rotational movement of the drawbar about the drawbar pivot axis can be transmitted by means of the steering device to the first steering wheel for rotation of the first steering wheel about the first steering axis and to the second steering wheel for rotation of the second steering axis.and the first steering axle and the second steering axle run one behind the other with respect to the main direction of travel and laterally offset with respect to a center of gravity axis running in the main direction of travel and through a center of gravity of the transport trolley through a support plane spanned by the support frame and the third steering axle runs through the support plane on the side of the center of gravity axis opposite the first and second steering axles, as well as a train comprising a plurality of transport trolleys according to the invention and an accessory kit for a transport trolley.