Forestry Vehicle Extra Wheel Bogie Arrangement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicles used in forestry and agriculture cause significant ground compression and damage due to their weight, leading to erosion, nutrient leakage, and root system disruption, which is difficult and costly to restore, and requires extensive route planning to mitigate.

Innovation Solution

The arrangement features individually controlled extra wheels mounted on pivotable shafts within bogie boxes, allowing for improved weight distribution and reduced ground pressure, with hydraulic or electrical drive systems and damping mechanisms to maintain contact and absorb motion, along with a track to prevent skidding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the vehicle uses conventional wheels only, then the vehicle structure is simple, but the ground pressure is high causing compression and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle structureVSAvoidground pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle's support system is segmented from conventional single-wheel configuration to multiple wheels (at least two extra wheels) distributed across different bogie boxes. This segmentation divides the concentrated vehicle weight into multiple contact points with the ground, reducing ground pressure while maintaining structural feasibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional wheel arrangement (conventional axles) to a three-dimensional distributed wheel system across multiple bogie boxes and levels. The extra wheels are positioned at different locations and heights, creating a spatial distribution that reduces pressure concentration on the ground

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stress or pressure

If extra wheels are added to distribute weight, then ground pressure is reduced, but the vehicle structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveground pressureVSAvoidvehicle structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The extra wheels are integrated into the existing bogie box structure, which already serves as a support and suspension element. The bogie boxes serve dual functions: traditional suspension/support and mounting for extra weight-distributing wheels, thereby reducing overall structural complexity despite adding weight distribution capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the function of extra wheels with the existing bogie box structure. Rather than adding completely separate support structures, the extra wheels are combined with the bogie boxes, sharing structural elements and reducing the complexity that would arise from entirely separate systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If vehicles are driven on forest ground, then transportation efficiency is maintained, but ground damage occurs including erosion and root system disruption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransportation efficiencyVSAvoidground damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The extra wheels are positioned and controlled to preemptively distribute weight before the vehicle's main weight causes ground compression. By having the extra wheels engage first or simultaneously with the main wheels, the system prevents ground damage before it occurs rather than attempting remediation afterward

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful concentrated weight into a beneficial distributed load. The vehicle's weight, which originally caused ground damage, is transformed into a distributed force across multiple wheels and bogie boxes, turning the harmful compression effect into a beneficial pressure-distribution mechanism that protects the forest ground

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP3317168B1Arrangement and vehicle

Publication Date: 2020.04.22 KOMATSU FOREST

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6

AI summary

This invention concerns an arrangement (1) intended to be mounted at a vehicle (2) intended for forestry, comprising a load-bearing part (3) and driving bogie wheels (4) where the arrangement (1) comprises at least two extra wheels (5) that can be individually controlled in the vertical direction where each extra wheel is arranged at a shaft (6) that is fixed and that is not rotatable, pivotable, and is arranged at the bogie box (7) of the vehicle in order to distribute the weight of the machine. The individually controlled extra wheels (5) are subject to a driving force and mounted at at least two arms (12) arranged at the bogie boxes of the vehicle, that a track (18) is placed around each set of bogie wheels (4) and the extra wheel (5) in order to protect against skidding and to distribute the weight, reducing the ground pressure and that a tension arrangement (19) in the form of a cylinder under pressure or a coiled spring unit is arranged at each arm in order to absorb motions in the length of the arm (12) such that the length of the track does not change when the arm (12) moves up and down. The invention concerns also a vehicle (2) comprising such an arrangement (1).