Carousel-Steering Tractor Unit for Elongated Load Maneuvering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicles struggle to maneuver elongated loads like wind turbine blades or tower segments due to lack of maneuverability, especially in confined spaces, as they are not designed to handle such large and lengthy items effectively.
Innovation Solution
A tractor unit with a triangular wheel set of three steerable wheels that can switch between aligned and carousel modes, allowing for enhanced maneuverability by rotating around a common vertical axis while keeping the load stationary, combined with a load engagement mechanism mounted on this axis to maintain load stability and avoid counter-balancing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional vehicles are used to transport elongated loads, then the load can be transported, but the maneuverability is poor especially in confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is divided into a tractor unit and a trailer unit, with the load itself providing the connection between them. This segmentation allows the tractor to be maneuverable while the trailer supports the span of the elongated load, resolving the contradiction between handling capability and maneuverability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tractor unit employs three steerable wheels whose orientation can be varied between aligned mode (for straight-line travel) and carousel mode (for rotation about a common vertical axis). This dynamic reconfiguration enables the vehicle to adapt its maneuverability to different operational requirements, allowing sharp steering in confined spaces while maintaining the ability to transport elongated loads.
2Ease of operation
If the tractor unit rotates about a common vertical axis in carousel mode, then maneuverability is improved, but the load position may be displaced
Solution Approach 1:
The load engagement mechanism is mounted pivotally on the tractor unit body about the same common vertical axis that serves as the center of rotation for the carousel mode. This merging of the pivot axis with the rotation axis ensures that when the tractor rotates in carousel mode, the load engagement mechanism counter-rotates to maintain the load in a fixed position relative to the ground, thus improving maneuverability without displacing the load.
Solution Approach 2:
The load engagement mechanism acts as an intermediary between the rotating tractor unit and the load. By mounting this mechanism on a pivot that shares the common vertical axis, it mediates the rotational motion, allowing the tractor to rotate while the mechanism counter-rotates to keep the load stationary relative to the ground.
3Ease of operation
If the load engagement mechanism is mounted on the tractor unit body, then the load can be supported, but counter-balancing may be required
Solution Approach 1:
The load engagement mechanism is mounted pivotally on the tractor unit body about the common vertical axis that passes through the incentre of the triangular wheel arrangement. This merging of the load engagement pivot with the rotational center ensures that the load is transferred directly onto this axis, eliminating the need for counter-balancing and reducing device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A tractor unit is disclosed for transporting an elongated load such as a wind turbine blade or wind turbine tower segment. The tractor unit body is supported, driven and steered by a wheel set comprising at least three ground-engaging wheels. At least two of the wheels are steerable and can transform between an aligned mode of operation and a carousel mode of operation. In the aligned mode, the wheels are aligned with one another in a neutral steering position, and steerable to vary the direction of steering. In the carousel mode, the wheels of the wheel set are oriented with their axes of rotation intersecting at a substantially common vertical axis located within the lateral extent of the tractor unit body, so that when the wheels are driven the tractor unit spins about this common vertical axis. A load engagement mechanism is mounted pivotally on the tractor unit body about the common vertical axis. This allows the load engagement mechanism to be counter-rotated in an equal and opposite amount to the angular rotation of the tractor unit body in carousel mode, keeping the load in fixed position relative to the ground as the tractor unit spins.