Hinged Drive-Wheel Support for Uneven Ground Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transport vehicles with drive-wheels struggle to maintain contact with the ground when navigating uneven terrain, leading to loss of driving force and inefficient movement, especially when loaded objects are being transported.
Innovation Solution
A driving apparatus featuring a loading plate with connected supports and drive-wheels, utilizing a hinge structure and slide-movable connectors to ensure the drive-wheels remain in contact with the ground by allowing pivoting and sliding movements, thereby maintaining traction even on uneven surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the drive-wheel is used to transport loaded objects on uneven ground, then the transport capability is improved, but the drive-wheel cannot maintain ground contact leading to loss of driving force
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is designed to pivot dynamically about a hinge axis, allowing the drive-wheel to adjust its position relative to the loading plate. This dynamic adaptation enables the drive-wheel to maintain ground contact on uneven terrain while still supporting loaded objects, resolving the contradiction between transport capability and reliable ground contact.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid support structure is used to hold the loading plate, then structural stability is improved, but the drive-wheel cannot adapt to uneven ground surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure incorporates a hinge mechanism that allows controlled pivoting motion. This dynamic element enables the structure to adapt to uneven ground surfaces while maintaining overall structural stability during operation, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is divided into segments that can pivot relative to each other about a hinge axis. This segmentation allows the drive-wheel portion to adapt independently to ground irregularities while the loading plate remains stable, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and ground adaptation.
3Device complexity
If the loading plate is directly connected to the support, then connection simplicity is improved, but pivoting motion cannot be achieved for ground adaptation
Solution Approach 1:
A hinge connection is introduced between the loading plate and support structure, enabling pivoting motion. This relatively simple mechanical element provides the necessary adaptability for ground contact maintenance without significantly increasing device complexity, resolving the contradiction between connection simplicity and pivoting capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein is a driving apparatus for transporting a loaded object, which allows a drive-wheel to always be in contact with the ground even when the ground is uneven. The driving apparatus includes a loading plate (140, 240) on which a loaded object is loaded, a first support (110, 210) connected to a lower portion of one side of the loading plate (140, 240), a second support (120, 220) connected to a lower portion of the other side of the loading plate (140, 240), a hinge (130, 230) configured to connect the first support (110, 210) to the second support (120, 220) in a hinge structure, at least a pair of drive-wheels (160, 260) coupled to both sides of a lower portion of the second support (120, 220), and a driver configured to rotate and drive the drive-wheels (160, 260).