Compact Biwheel Layout With Rim Drive to Reduce Gerbiling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional diwheel vehicles face issues with gerbiling, limited access to the cockpit, impractical luggage space, and vulnerability to punctures due to large wheels and pneumatic tires, while lacking compactness, passenger comfort, and practicality for carrying passengers and cargo.
Innovation Solution
A biwheel design with spaced main wheels supporting a cockpit, where torque is applied directly to the rim, and suspension assemblies with leaf springs absorb shocks, allowing for easy access and minimizing gerbiling, combined with solid polymer tires and a rear jockey wheel for stability, and electric propulsion for efficient and controlled movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If torque is applied to the wheel axle via a single motor, then propulsion is achieved, but access to the cockpit is hindered and space is minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the motor from the central wheel axle position and relocates it to the periphery, mounting it on the wheel rim itself. This extraction of the motor from the cockpit access path eliminates the obstruction to entry and exit, while the motor continues to function in its new location on the rim, driving the wheel through direct torque application.
2Ease of operation
If pneumatic tyres are used to enhance traction and suspension, then ride comfort is improved, but vulnerability to punctures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite wheel-tyre assembly where a rigid wheel rim is combined with a flexible polymer tyre layer. The rigid rim provides structural strength and puncture resistance, while the flexible polymer layer maintains contact with the ground for traction and absorbs shocks for ride comfort. This composite structure eliminates the vulnerability of pneumatic tyres to punctures while preserving their beneficial mechanical properties.
3Stability of the object's composition
If large spaced main wheels are used, then stability is improved, but access to cockpit becomes impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wheel structure into distinct functional components: a large-diameter rim for stability, with the motor mounted on the outer periphery, and the cockpit positioned in the central space between the wheels. This segmentation allows the large wheels to provide stability while the central configuration maintains accessible cockpit entry and exit points.
4Device complexity
If a single motor applies torque to the wheel axle, then device complexity is reduced, but gerbiling occurs causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical drive system (single motor at axle) with an electric motor system mounted on the wheel rim that applies torque directly to the rim perimeter. This substitution of the mechanical transmission system with a direct-rim electric drive simplifies the overall mechanism while the controller minimizes gerbiling by independently controlling each wheel's torque application, thereby maintaining passenger comfort.
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 biwheel design provides improved access, reduced gerbiling, enhanced traction, and increased practicality for carrying passengers and cargo, while minimizing maintenance and maximizing space efficiency, with a focus on safety and comfort through controlled torque and suspension systems.
Implementation Method 1
each suspension assembly comprises a spring supporting at least one of an idler wheel or a drive wheel to absorb a shock applied to the main wheel via motion between the main wheel and cockpit
Implementation Method 2
the spring is a leaf spring
Implementation Method 3
The wheel may be fitted with a solid tyre of a polymer material
Implementation Method 4
A biwheel having: a pair of spaced ground engageable main wheels disposed relatively parallel to each other to suspend a cockpit between them, said cockpit capable of accommodating a payload, a power transmission arranged to apply torque to each wheel to propel the biwheel over the ground
Data Source
AI summary
A biwheel has large left and right main wheels (1, 2) supported by suspension assemblies (7) acting between rims of each main wheel and a payload carrying cockpit (3) suspended above the ground between the wheels. The arrangement facilitates access to the cockpit payload space through the wheels. Each wheel is cambered to deter pitching motion of the cockpit within the wheel. A rear jockey wheel (61) is provided to further deter pitching. Propulsion to the wheels is via electric motors built into drive wheels (16) which are mounted onto a suspension assembly (7). The torque applied to the electric motors can be controlled by a digital control system responsive to sensors such as a cockpit attitude sensor, to further deter pitching motion of the cockpit. Propulsion may additionally be delivered by a manual propulsion system supplemented by the electric motors.