Eccentric Disk Mechanism for Vertical Load Wheel Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing industrial trucks face issues with lateral vibrations due to uneven road surfaces, which can cause the truck to tilt and collide with racks, and current solutions requiring large space and high construction costs for vertical load wheel adjustment are inefficient.

Innovation Solution

The load wheels are mounted on eccentric disks that rotate about an offset axis, allowing for vertical adjustment using a rotary drive, such as an electric motor, with both wheels adjustable simultaneously through a shared drive shaft, reducing space and construction requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a linear actuator is used to adjust the load wheel vertically, then the load wheel can be adjusted in the vertical direction, but the space requirement and construction costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevertical adjustability of load wheelVSAvoidconstruction complexity and space requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the linear actuator (complex mechanical system) with an eccentric disk mechanism driven by a rotary motor. The eccentric disk converts rotary motion into vertical displacement of the load wheel through its offset center, achieving the same vertical adjustability with simpler components and less space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the motion parameter from linear (linear actuator) to rotary (eccentric disk), utilizing the offset center of the eccentric disk to convert rotary motion into the required vertical linear motion, thereby simplifying the overall mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If two separate linear actuators are used to adjust both load wheels vertically, then both wheels can be adjusted independently, but the construction complexity and cost increase further

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent vertical adjustment of both load wheelsVSAvoidconstruction complexity with two actuators
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the adjustment mechanism for both load wheels into a single eccentric disk system. The eccentric disk is configured to simultaneously adjust both load wheels through its geometry and connection points, reducing the number of actuators from two to one while maintaining independent adjustability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single eccentric disk serves multiple functions: it adjusts both load wheels vertically, converts rotary motion to linear motion, and provides synchronized adjustment capability, thereby replacing what would otherwise require two separate linear actuators

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the industrial truck encounters uneven ground, then the truck can adapt to the terrain, but lateral vibrations are introduced into the mast and driver's workplace

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompensation for uneven groundVSAvoidlateral vibrations
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic adjustment system where the eccentric disk can continuously adjust the vertical position of the load wheel in response to uneven ground conditions. This dynamic capability allows the truck to adapt to terrain variations while the control system minimizes lateral vibrations through precise motion control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This solution effectively compensates for road unevenness, reducing lateral vibrations, preventing collisions, and allowing for higher operating speeds with lower construction costs and improved handling capacity.

Implementation Method 1

the load wheel, which can be adjusted in the vertical direction, is arranged such that it can rotate about a wheel axis of rotation on at least one eccentric disk which is mounted on the vehicle body about an axis of rotation, the wheel axis of rotation of the load wheel being offset from the axis of rotation of the eccentric disk

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEccentric mechanism: Eccentric

Data Source

PatentEP3309111B1Industrial truck
Publication Date: 2018.09.26 KION WAREHOUSE SYST
  • EP3309111B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3309111B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3309111B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a forklift truck (1) which is supported by a chassis on a roadway (FB), wherein the chassis has a steerable drive wheel (9) driven by means of a drive mechanism and two non-steered load wheels (8a, 8b), wherein the two load wheels (8a, 8b) are spaced apart from the drive wheel (9) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the vehicle and are spaced apart laterally in the transverse direction (Q) of the vehicle, wherein at least one load wheel (8a; 8b) is arranged to be vertically adjustable on a vehicle body (2) of the forklift truck (1). The vertically adjustable load wheel (8a; 8b) is rotatably arranged about a wheel axis (D1; D3) on at least one eccentric disc (20a, 21a; 20b, 21b) which is mounted on the vehicle body (2) about an axis of rotation (D2), wherein the axis of rotation (D1; D3) of the load wheel (8a; 8b) has an offset (V1; V2) to the axis of rotation (D2) of the eccentric disc (20a, 21a; 20b, 21b).