Folding Wheel Segments for Amphibious Obstacle Climbing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel technologies fail to effectively navigate obstacles like stairs and provide efficient propulsion on both land and water surfaces for vehicles, particularly for amphibious vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A folding wheel design with pivotally attached segments that can transition from a rolling orientation to a folded orientation, allowing the wheel to extend laterally and engage obstacles for climbing and act as a paddle for water propulsion, featuring a center wheel section with chords and pivotally attached segments, and optionally equipped with gripping lugs for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional rigid wheel is used, then the wheel structure is simple and stable, but the wheel cannot effectively climb stairs or obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel is divided into a center wheel section and multiple foldable wheel segments that can independently pivot relative to each other. This segmentation allows the wheel to deform its shape to engage with obstacles while maintaining a simple overall structure when in rolling mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure through pivot joints that allow wheel segments to rotate and fold. This dynamic capability enables the wheel to adapt its shape for climbing obstacles while maintaining structural simplicity through controlled movement.
2Reliability
If the wheel structure is made complex to enable obstacle climbing, then the wheel can navigate stairs, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel comprises a center wheel section and multiple identical foldable wheel segments connected by pivot joints. This modular segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of individual segments that can be assembled together, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the enhanced climbing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel utilizes flexible connections between segments that allow deformation without requiring complex mechanical structures. The foldable segments can be constructed with simple hinged joints that are easy to manufacture while providing the necessary flexibility for obstacle climbing.
3Reliability
If a separate propeller drive is used for amphibious vehicles, then water propulsion is effective, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The foldable wheel serves dual functions: as a rolling wheel on land and as a water propeller when folded. The same structural components that enable obstacle climbing are utilized for water propulsion, eliminating the need for separate propeller drives and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel dynamically changes its configuration based on the operating environment - maintaining a circular rolling shape on land and transforming into a folded paddle-like structure in water. This dynamic adaptability allows a single drive system to effectively perform both terrestrial and aquatic propulsion functions.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the wheel folds to act as a paddle, then water propulsion is achieved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel is segmented into foldable sections that can independently pivot to create the paddle configuration. This segmentation allows the wheel to achieve the folded shape using simple hinge joints rather than complex mechanical mechanisms, maintaining structural simplicity while enabling amphibious functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel employs dynamic folding mechanisms that allow it to transition between rolling and paddle configurations. The pivot joints enable controlled deformation that creates the necessary paddle shape for water propulsion without requiring permanent complex structural features.
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 vehicles to climb stairs and obstacles while providing stable stationary positions and efficient water propulsion, offering a simple, economical solution scalable for various applications.
Implementation Method 1
A first wheel segment is pivotally attached to the center wheel section about a first pivot axis extending along the first side of the center wheel section
Data Source
AI summary
A circular folding wheel has a center wheel section encompassing the center of a circle and adapted to be mounted to an axle at the center, with a side substantially corresponding to a chord of the circle. A wheel segment is pivotally attached to the center wheel section about a pivot axis extending along the side of the center wheel section. The wheel segment is movable from a rolling orientation, where the outer edge of the wheel segment is aligned with an outer edge of the center wheel section such that the folding wheel takes a rolling circular shape, to a folded orientation where the wheel segment extends laterally away from the pivot axis. Two, three, or more wheel segments can be pivotally attached to corresponding sides of the center wheel section.