Coupled Steering Tilting and Embedded Suspension Swing Arm for Trikes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing three-wheeled vehicles lack a system that effectively integrates tilting, suspension, and steering while maintaining an aesthetic appearance, and they often require excessive user interaction or complex mechanical linkages, which compromises their stability, comfort, and maneuverability.
Innovation Solution
A coupled steering tilting and embedded independent suspension swing arm system (STS system) for three-wheeled vehicles, featuring a mechanical design with pivotable swing arms and a cruciform assembly connected to the chassis, allowing for independent suspension and tilting functions, providing stability and comfort similar to multiple-wheeled vehicles with the tilting characteristics of two-wheeled vehicles during turns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional three-wheeled vehicle designs are used, then self-stability is achieved, but the vehicle cannot lean during turns like two-wheeled vehicles, reducing comfort and traction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the steering mechanism and tilting mechanism into a single integrated system. The swing arm assembly combines both functions, where the swing arm pivots allow the vehicle to tilt during turns while the same mechanism provides steering control. This integration eliminates the need for separate complex linkages for each function, resolving the contradiction between achieving tilting capability and maintaining mechanical simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The swing arm assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides steering control, enables tilting during turns, and incorporates suspension capabilities. This multi-functional design allows the vehicle to achieve comfort and traction benefits of tilting without requiring additional dedicated mechanisms, thus avoiding increased device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If tilting mechanisms with multiple tubular linkages are used, then tilting capability is achieved, but the design lacks aesthetic appeal and requires external suspension struts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the tilting mechanism and suspension system into a single swing arm assembly, eliminating the need for external suspension struts and tubular linkages. The swing arm itself serves as both the tilting mechanism and the suspension element, creating a clean, minimalist design that maintains aesthetic appeal while achieving the desired tilting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the unnecessary external suspension struts and complex tubular linkage structures from the design. By extracting these redundant elements and relying on the integrated swing arm assembly to provide both tilting and suspension functions, the design achieves a cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing appearance without sacrificing functionality.
3Stability of the object's composition
If coupled steering tilting and suspension system is implemented, then stability and comfort are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges steering, tilting, and suspension functions into a single integrated swing arm assembly. This consolidation achieves lateral stability during turns through coordinated steering and tilting actions while incorporating suspension for comfort, all without requiring separate complex mechanical systems for each function. The unified design reduces overall system complexity despite the multiple functions performed.
4Stability of the object's composition
If three-wheeled delta configuration is used, then self-stability is achieved, but the vehicle rolls over easily during accelerated and decelerated turns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic tilting capability to the three-wheeled vehicle, allowing it to lean into turns during acceleration and deceleration. This dynamic adjustment of the vehicle's orientation counteracts the centrifugal forces that cause rollover in static three-wheeled configurations. The swing arm mechanism enables the vehicle to actively adapt its posture to turning conditions, significantly improving resistance to rollover while maintaining self-stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A coupled steering tilting and embedded independent shock absorption swing arm system (STS) system of a personal mobility vehicle, for example, but not limited to, a three-wheeled trike configuration, is disclosed.