Auxiliary Lean Control Mechanism for Hydraulic Failure Recovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles with lean control systems, particularly those with primary and auxiliary lean control systems, face instability issues when the hydraulic control system fails, leading to potential rollover risks due to loss of hydraulic power or fluid leakage, necessitating a mechanism to maintain an upright configuration and stability without hydraulic control.
Innovation Solution
An auxiliary lean control system is introduced, comprising an energy storage device, a stabilizing mechanism, and a linkage to adjust the vehicle's lean angle, which operates independently of the primary lean control system to maintain stability by storing energy and applying it to the vehicle's suspension system, ensuring the vehicle remains upright and stable in the absence of hydraulic control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a primary hydraulic lean control system is used to stabilize the vehicle, then vehicle stability during normal operation is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to failure when hydraulic control is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The lean control system is divided into two independent segments: a primary hydraulic lean control system for normal operation and an auxiliary mechanical lean control system for backup. The auxiliary system includes a return mechanism with a return spring and linkage that can independently return the vehicle to upright position if the hydraulic system fails, thus improving reliability without completely redesigning the complex hydraulic system.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary return mechanism is designed as a preemptive backup system that remains dormant during normal operation but automatically activates when hydraulic control is lost. The return spring is pre-loaded to provide the necessary force to return the vehicle to upright position, cushioning against the harmful effect of hydraulic system failure before it can cause a rollover.
2Ease of operation
If the vehicle center of gravity is located above the roll axis to enable roll axis articulation, then maneuverability is improved, but vehicle stability deteriorates making the vehicle more prone to rolling over
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary return mechanism acts as a counterbalancing system that provides a restoring moment to counteract the instability caused by having the center of gravity above the roll axis. The return spring generates a force that creates a counter-moment to prevent rollover, allowing the vehicle to maintain both maneuverability through roll axis articulation and stability through the auxiliary return mechanism.
3Reliability
If an auxiliary lean control system with energy storage device is added to maintain upright position during hydraulic failure, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary lean control system is designed as a self-service mechanism that automatically activates when hydraulic control is lost. The return spring automatically stores and releases energy to return the vehicle to upright position without requiring external power sources, complex control electronics, or manual intervention, thus improving reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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 auxiliary lean control system effectively maintains the vehicle in a stable upright position by adjusting the lean angle to a predetermined value, reducing potential energy and enhancing stability, even when the primary lean control system fails or malfunctions, thereby preventing rollover risks until hydraulic control is restored.
Implementation Method 1
an energy storage device for storing energy to actuate the lean control system
Implementation Method 2
a stabilizing mechanism coupled to the energy storage device and to the portion of the vehicle for applying energy received from the energy storage device to the portion of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
An auxiliary lean control system is provided for controlling a lean angle of at least a portion of a vehicle. The auxiliary lean control system includes an energy storage device for storing energy to actuate the lean control system, a stabilizing mechanism coupled to the energy storage device and to the at least a portion of the vehicle for applying energy received from the energy storage device to the at least a portion of the vehicle to adjust the lean angle of the at least a portion of a vehicle, and a linkage coupled to the energy storage device and to the stabilizing mechanism for transferring energy from the energy storage device to the stabilizing mechanism. The auxiliary lean control system controls the lean angle of the portion of the vehicle in an absence of control of the lean angle by a primary lean control system. In another aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle including a vehicle suspension apparatus and a vehicle lean control system coupled to the vehicle suspension apparatus for controlling a lean of at least a portion of the vehicle, the suspension apparatus being operable independent of the vehicle lean control system.