Foldable Auxiliary Wheel for Two-Three Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current two-wheeled mobility vehicles are unstable at high speeds and prone to injury in case of control mechanism failure, while three-wheeled vehicles have a large turning radius and risk of rollover due to centrifugal force.
Innovation Solution
A small mobility vehicle that can switch between two-wheel and three-wheel driving modes using a foldable auxiliary wheel and a series of linked columns, allowing the vehicle to adjust its configuration for stability and maneuverability based on driving conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a two-wheeled mobility vehicle is used, then the turning radius is reduced to zero for free movement in narrow spaces, but the vehicle becomes physically unstable and unsafe at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the auxiliary wheel foldable and deployable. The auxiliary wheel can be folded during normal two-wheeled operation to maintain zero turning radius, and deployed when stability is needed (such as at high speeds or for safety), thus dynamically adjusting the vehicle configuration based on operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the support structure into main wheels and a separate auxiliary wheel that can be independently deployed. This segmentation allows the vehicle to operate in two distinct modes: two-wheeled mode for maneuverability and three-wheeled mode for stability, resolving the contradiction between turning radius and stability.
2Reliability
If a three-wheeled mobility vehicle is used, then physical stability is improved, but the turning radius becomes relatively large and rollover risk increases due to centrifugal force
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary wheel is designed to be dynamically deployable rather than fixed. During turning maneuvers, the auxiliary wheel can be folded to reduce the turning radius, and deployed only when stability is needed during straight-line high-speed travel, thus dynamically balancing maneuverability and stability requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of wheel configuration from fixed three-wheeled to variable two-or-three-wheeled. By controlling the deployment state of the auxiliary wheel, the vehicle can switch between configurations to optimize performance for different driving conditions, reducing turning radius when needed while maintaining stability when required.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an auxiliary wheel is added to enable mode switching, then stability and maneuverability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary wheel is designed to nest alongside the main wheels when folded, utilizing the existing wheel well space. This nesting approach minimizes the increase in overall vehicle dimensions and reduces structural complexity compared to extending the vehicle body, while still enabling mode switching functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a small mobility vehicle including: a base unit including a footplate and a plurality of driving wheels mounted on the footplate, a first column unit having a first plurality of links hinged to another link of the first plurality of links, wherein the footplate is coupled to a lower end of a lower link of the first plurality of links and steering handlebars are coupled to an upper end of an upper link of the first plurality of links, and a second column unit capable of being folded or unfolded that has a second plurality of links hinged to another link of the second plurality of links, wherein a lower end of a first link of the second plurality of links is hinged to the footplate and an auxiliary wheel is coupled to one end of a second link of the second plurality of links.