Inverted Pendulum Vehicle Seat Height Adjustment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inverted pendulum type vehicles face challenges in maintaining a compact size and good gravity center balance while adjusting seat height using a cylinder-type lifting apparatus, and often result in unintended contact with the operation lever.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle design incorporates a lifting apparatus of the cylinder type between the driving unit and battery unit, with a tubular shape and resin bush for smooth operation, and an operation lever positioned below the seat to prevent contact and facilitate access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a lifting apparatus of the cylinder type is disposed separately from the post frame to adjust seat height, then the seat height can be adjusted, but the size of the vehicle body increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting apparatus is merged with the post frame by disposing it between the driving unit and battery unit, which are already mounted on the post frame. This integration allows the lifting function to be added without requiring separate mounting space, thus avoiding increase in vehicle body size while maintaining seat height adjustability
Solution Approach 2:
The post frame structure is made multi-functional by incorporating both the lifting apparatus and supporting the driving unit and battery unit. This universal design allows a single structural element to serve multiple purposes: structural support, component mounting, and seat height adjustment mechanism housing
2Ease of operation
If the operation lever is positioned for easy access, then the occupant can easily operate the lifting apparatus, but unintended contact with the operation lever may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The operation lever is positioned in a specific location below the seat that provides easy access for the occupant's hand while being out of the natural contact path of the occupant's body. This localized positioning optimizes both accessibility and prevents unintended contact by exploiting the specific spatial relationship between the occupant's seating position and the lever location
Data Source
AI summary
An inverted pendulum type vehicle includes a traveling unit with a main wheel, a vehicle body frame having the main wheel supported thereon, and a pair of left and right driving units supported on the vehicle body frame for driving the main wheel. The vehicle also includes a battery unit for supplying electric power to the driving units, a seat for supporting an occupant thereon, and a telescopic strut for supporting the seat for selected upward and downward movement. The telescopic strut is disposed between the driving unit and the battery unit in a front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body.