Heavy duty modular vehicle with adjustable steering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The laborious process of manually adjusting coupling rods to fix their length for correct steering ratio and preventing 180° reversal in friction-steered axle assemblies of heavy-duty modular vehicles is inefficient and impractical.
Innovation Solution
Designing all axle assemblies as permanently forced-steered with a connecting arrangement that allows adjustable steering ratios through a pivotally mounted second connecting element, enabling continuous adjustment of the steering movement transmission between axle groups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If friction-steered axle assemblies are used in the further group of axles, then automatic steering angle adjustment during forward driving is achieved, but manual adjustment of coupling rods is required every time reversing is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling rod is made dynamically adjustable in length, allowing it to transition between fixed length positions for forward driving and extended positions for reversing. The coupling rod includes a telescopic mechanism with a sliding section that can be extended or retracted, enabling the system to adapt its geometry based on driving direction without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing steering movement and hydraulic pressure from normal vehicle operation to automatically adjust the coupling rod length. When reversing is detected, the hydraulic cylinder automatically extends the coupling rod to the appropriate length, eliminating the need for manual adjustment by operating personnel.
2Reliability
If coupling rods are fixed at a fixed length, then 180° reversal of friction-steered axle assemblies is prevented, but the steering ratio must be selected from the distance between axle groups
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling rod transitions from a fixed-length component to a dynamically adjustable component with telescopic sections. The sliding mechanism allows the coupling rod to extend or retract based on the driving condition, maintaining both the prevention of 180° reversal during forward motion and enabling appropriate steering ratios during reversing by adjusting the effective length.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameter of the coupling rod length is changed dynamically based on operating conditions. The coupling rod includes an adjustable section that can vary its length, allowing the system to optimize the steering ratio for different driving scenarios while maintaining reliability through controlled extension only when reversing is detected.
3Stability of the object's composition
If all axle assemblies are designed as permanently forced-steered, then consistent cornering behavior is achieved during forward and reverse motion, but the connecting arrangement becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting arrangement incorporates a dynamically adjustable coupling rod with telescopic sections that can extend or retract. This dynamic component allows the system to maintain consistent cornering behavior during both forward and reverse motion by adjusting the geometric relationship between axle groups, while the adjustment mechanism is integrated into the existing steering linkage.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable coupling rod serves multiple functions: it maintains the forced-steered configuration for consistent cornering behavior, automatically adjusts length based on driving direction, and eliminates the need for separate manual adjustment mechanisms. This multi-functional design reduces overall system complexity despite the added adjustability feature.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a heavy-duty modular vehicle 100 having a plurality of axles 112, each having at least two axle assemblies 114, wherein the plurality of axles 112 are divided into at least two groups 116, 118 of axles, and wherein the heavy-duty modular vehicle 100 has a connection arrangement 124 between a first group 116 of axles and a further group 118 of axles.According to the invention, all axle assemblies 114 of the plurality of axles 112 are designed as permanently forced-steered axle assemblies 114, wherein a first connecting element 128 of the connecting arrangement 124 is connected at one end 128a to the first group 116 of axles and at its other end 128b to a transmission element 132 of the connecting arrangement 124, and wherein one end 134a of a second connecting element 134 of the connecting arrangement 124, the other end 134b of which is connected to the further group 118 of axles, is mounted on the transmission element 132 in a continuously displaceable manner.