Deformable Wheel Linkage for Stair and Rough Terrain Traversal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wheels with actuators and track motors face structural complexity, electrical noise, and durability issues, making it difficult to ascend or descend stairs and traverse rough terrain.
Innovation Solution
A transformable wheel assembly that operates solely through a rotating main wheel shaft, utilizing a rotational driving part and an extendable driving part connected to a link unit, allowing shape transformation between circular and elliptical forms without an actuator or track motor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional transformable wheels use actuators and track motors inside the wheel, then the wheel can transform shape and traverse rough terrain, but the structure becomes complicated and causes electrical noise and durability problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes actuators and track motors from inside the wheel structure and relocates them to external positions on the main frame. This extraction eliminates the complex rotating connections needed for power and hydraulic lines, thereby simplifying the wheel structure while maintaining the transformable functionality through externally positioned driving components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a main frame as an intermediary structure that houses the actuators and track motors separately from the wheel assembly. This mediator allows power transmission to the wheel without requiring complex internal wiring and hydraulic connections within the rotating wheel, thus reducing structural complexity and improving durability
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional wheels have actuators and track motors inside, then shape transformation is possible, but electrical noise and durability problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting actuators and track motors from the wheel interior to external positions on the main frame, the patent eliminates the sources of electrical noise and mechanical stress within the rotating wheel assembly, thereby improving reliability while preserving shape transformation capability through the external driving mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the wheel system into separate functional modules: the wheel assembly for shape transformation and the main frame housing for power transmission. This segmentation isolates the electrical and mechanical components causing noise and durability issues from the rotating wheel, improving overall system reliability
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
Enables active driving in complex environments, simplifies the coupling structure, and maintains high energy efficiency with circular wheels and driving ability to overcome obstacles using continuous tracks.
Implementation Method 1
a driving power transmission part provided on the main frame and connected to the driving means to receive power; a first driven power transmission part provided on the main frame and meshed with a driving power transmission gear of the driving power transmission part
Implementation Method 2
a link unit provided on the main frame and forming an outer shape of a wheel, the link unit being configured to transform a shape of the wheel into a modified shape including a circular or elliptical shape
Implementation Method 3
a first driven power transmission part provided on the main frame and meshed with a driving power transmission gear of the driving power transmission part, the first driven power transmission part being configured to receive and transmit rotational power to the wheel part; and a second driven power transmission part provided on the main frame opposite to the first driven power transmission part and meshed with the driving power transmission gear
Data Source
AI summary
A deformable wheel assembly according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a main frame provided with a main driving shaft that is connected to and rotated by a driving means of a driving body including a vehicle; a rotation driving unit which is provided on the main frame and connected to the driving means, and provides rotational power separately from the main driving shaft; an extendable driving unit provided on the main frame and connected to the driving means; and a link unit which is provided on the main frame and forms the outer shape of a wheel, and changes the shape of the wheel into a deformed shape including a circular or elliptical shape by the operation of the extendable driving unit. The rotation driving unit is connected to a wheel unit and provides rotational power separately from the main driving shaft.