Automated Transport Vehicle Segmented Chassis for Uneven Surface Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing driverless transport vehicles with U-shaped chassis are susceptible to torsion due to uneven floors and obstacles, which affects stability and requires complex design adjustments to account for uneven loading.

Innovation Solution

A driverless transport vehicle with elongated chassis units connected via a load handling unit, allowing independent movement and tilting of each unit relative to the load handling unit, decoupling from obstacles and maintaining horizontal positioning, and featuring bearing devices that enable movement along transverse and longitudinal axes to compensate for uneven surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a U-shaped chassis is used to connect wheel units, then the chassis provides structural support and stability, but the chassis becomes prone to twisting on uneven surfaces and cannot adapt to obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechassis stabilityVSAvoidadaptability to uneven surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The chassis is divided into two separate chassis units (first chassis unit and second chassis unit) that are not rigidly connected. Each chassis unit can independently move and tilt relative to the load-bearing unit, allowing the system to adapt to uneven surfaces while maintaining overall stability through the common load-bearing connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the chassis is rigidly connected to handle the load, then load handling capability is ensured, but the chassis cannot independently adapt to obstacles on one side without affecting the other side

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload handling reliabilityVSAvoidindependent adaptation to obstacles

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The load-bearing unit serves as a common connection point for both chassis units, allowing each chassis unit to independently tilt and move relative to the load-bearing unit. This segmentation enables one chassis unit to adapt to obstacles on its side without transmitting twisting forces to the other chassis unit, while the load remains securely handled through the shared load-bearing connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If bearing devices allow chassis units to tilt independently, then adaptability to uneven surfaces improves, but the complexity of the chassis structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to uneven surfacesVSAvoidchassis structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing devices are distributed between the two chassis units and the load-bearing unit, with each bearing device providing tilt freedom for its associated chassis unit. This segmented approach to mobility allows independent adaptation to uneven surfaces while keeping each individual bearing device relatively simple in structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3426593B2Automated transport vehicle

Publication Date: 2023.09.06 MELKUS MECHATRONIC GMBH

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AI summary

Disclosed is an automated guided vehicle (1) for transporting a load carrier, comprising an undercarriage (2), a load accepting unit (11) connected to the undercarriage (2), a lifting unit (15) for lifting the load accepting unit (11) relative to the undercarriage (2); the undercarriage (2) includes two separate undercarriage units (3), each of which comprises at least one wheel unit (4) and which are connected to each other via the load accepting unit (11).