Forestry Vehicle Extra Wheels Weight Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heavy vehicles used in forestry and agriculture cause ground compression, leading to permanent damage, erosion, and increased difficulty in driving, due to their weight, which is difficult and costly to restore, and requires extensive planning to minimize impact.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of individually controlled extra wheels mounted on a vehicle's frame to distribute the weight more evenly across the ground, reducing pressure and improving weight distribution, with hydraulic or electrical drive systems and damping arrangements to maintain contact and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If heavy vehicles are used for forestry operations, then productivity and load-carrying capacity are improved, but ground pressure increases causing permanent damage, erosion, and compression

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforestry operation efficiencyVSAvoidground damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle's weight distribution is segmented by adding multiple auxiliary wheels (at least two) that divide the concentrated load into multiple contact points with the ground. This segmentation of the load-bearing function reduces the pressure at each individual contact point while maintaining the vehicle's overall weight and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution transitions from a two-dimensional weight distribution (standard vehicle wheels on ground) to a three-dimensional distribution system by adding auxiliary wheels that extend the load distribution in additional spatial dimensions, thereby increasing the total contact area with the ground and reducing pressure intensity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If ground damage is prevented through extensive route planning, then ground preservation is improved, but time consumption and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveground damageVSAvoidroute planning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary wheels are pre-mounted on the vehicle frame, creating a permanent weight distribution capability that is always available during operations. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming route planning to avoid sensitive areas, as the vehicle can operate on any ground type without causing damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If standard vehicle wheels are used, then device complexity is minimized, but weight distribution and ground pressure control are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewheel system simplicityVSAvoidground pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The wheel system is segmented by adding auxiliary wheels (at least two) to the standard vehicle configuration. This segmentation increases the number of load-bearing elements from two main wheels to four or more contact points, improving weight distribution and reducing ground pressure while maintaining relative system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 reduces ground pressure and minimizes damage by evenly distributing the vehicle's weight, facilitating easier movement and reducing the risk of erosion and root damage, while allowing for adaptive operation in varying terrain.

Implementation Method 1

at least two extra wheels (5) that can be individually controlled... arranged at a frame (7) of the vehicle in order to distribute the weight of the machine... over more areas of a support (8), the ground, and in this way improve the distribution of weight and reduce the pressure against the support (8), the ground

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure distribution:

Data Source

PatentEP3317169B1Arrangement and vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.06.03 KOMATSU FOREST
  • EP3317169B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3317169B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

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 frame (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 least two arms (12) arranged at the frame 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).