Foldable Vehicle Frame with Rotating Rod Linkage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current foldable electric scooter designs are inefficient in reducing the overall vehicle volume, making them cumbersome for long-distance travel and unsuitable for storage in public transportation luggage compartments due to complex disassembly processes and incomplete folding mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A foldable vehicle frame with a connecting mechanism comprising rotatable rod parts and a plate structure, allowing the frame to be compactly folded and unfolded, featuring a retractable handle and anti-tip wheels that convert to ground pulleys for enhanced portability and ergonomic handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a foldable structure is added to the electric scooter, then the volume can be reduced for portability, but the disassembling process becomes complex and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle frame is divided into multiple main bodies (first main body, second main body) connected by a connecting mechanism with rod parts. This segmentation allows the frame to be folded into a compact state for portability while maintaining structural integrity when unfolded.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting mechanism with rod parts is designed to be turnable and stackable at a lower layer of the first main body. When folded, the rod parts nest within the frame structure, significantly reducing the overall volume without requiring complex disassembly procedures.
2Device complexity
If only the seat or smaller parts are disassembled, then the disassembly process is simplified, but the entire vehicle volume cannot be sufficiently reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting mechanism incorporates rod parts that can dynamically change their configuration between extended (for vehicle operation) and folded (for storage). This dynamic design allows the entire frame to be collapsed into a compact form while maintaining simplicity through the natural folding motion of the mechanism.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the scooter is designed for long-distance travel, then the vehicle stability is improved, but the portability and accommodation features are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle frame employs a dynamic connecting mechanism that can transition between a stable unfolded configuration for long-distance travel and a compact folded configuration for portability. The rod parts and joint portions are designed to maintain structural rigidity when extended while enabling easy folding when collapsed.
Solution Approach 2:
When folded, the connecting mechanism and rod parts nest within the frame structure, reducing the vehicle to a compact size suitable for public transportation luggage compartments. This nesting capability provides adaptability for different usage scenarios without compromising the stable structure needed for long-distance travel.
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 solution significantly reduces the folded volume, enabling easy storage in public transportation and improves ergonomics by maintaining the center of gravity low, making the scooter more portable and convenient to carry.
Implementation Method 1
The head end is rotatably connected to the joint portion of the first main body, and the tail end is rotatably connected to the joint portion of the second main body
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable vehicle frame includes a first main body, a second main body having a pedal portion and at least one joint portion, and a connecting mechanism connected to the first main body and the second main body. The connecting mechanism further includes a pair of rod parts, and the pair of rod parts respectively has a head end and a tail end. The head end is rotatably connected to the first main body, and the tail end is rotatably connected to the second main body, such that the connecting mechanism is turned over and stacked at a lower layer of the first main body, and the pedal portion of the second main body is folded under the turned-over connecting mechanism, so as to form a folded state. Furthermore, the connecting mechanism, the first main body, and the second main body are all unfolded simultaneously to form an unfolded state.