Knob-Type Steering Wheel With Inclined Spokes For Industrial Trucks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing knob-type steering wheels in industrial trucks impair visibility of the front area, which is crucial for safe operation and material handling.
Innovation Solution
The steering wheel design features inclined spokes and a peripheral member positioned below the hub, allowing for improved visibility and reduced material usage, while maintaining ergonomic grip and operability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a traditional knob-type steering wheel is used in industrial trucks, then the steering function is achieved, but the visibility of the front area is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential steering function from the traditional circular steering wheel by implementing a minimalistic design with only two spokes and a peripheral member. This extraction removes unnecessary structural elements that block the driver's view of the front area while retaining the core steering capability through the essential components needed for hand operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The steering wheel is segmented into minimal essential components: a hub, two inclined spokes, and a peripheral member. This segmentation eliminates continuous circular structures that impede visibility while maintaining steering functionality through the distributed essential elements that can be operated with one hand.
2Ease of manufacture
If a traditional circular steering wheel structure is used, then steering control is achieved, but material usage and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential structural elements needed for steering control, eliminating the continuous circular rim and additional spokes found in traditional steering wheels. This extraction dramatically reduces material consumption while maintaining the steering function through the minimalistic two-spoke design with a peripheral member for hand engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing a complete circular steering wheel structure, the patent uses partial action by implementing only the minimal necessary components (two spokes and peripheral member) to achieve steering control. This partial structure is sufficient for operational effectiveness while significantly reducing material usage and manufacturing costs.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An industrial truck comprises a frame, a plurality of truck wheels mounted on the frame, and a knob-type steering wheel for controlling the steering of the truck wheels by means of a rotatable knob (25) of the steering wheel. The steering wheel comprises: -a hub (20) that is rotatable with respect to the frame around a rotation axis (28) of the steering wheel and that is connected to a steering column of the industrial truck, -a first spoke (21) having a first outer end and a first central end, the first central end being integrally connected to the hub, -a second spoke (22) having a second outer end and a second central end, the second central end being integrally connected to the hub, -a peripheral member (23) connecting the first outer end of the first spoke (21) to the second outer end of the second spoke (22), wherein a recess (24) is defined by the first spoke (21), the second spoke (22) and the peripheral member (23), wherein the peripheral member (23) includes a portion (27) configured to be grasped by the hand of a user. The knob (25) is connected in a rotatable manner to the peripheral member (23) and configured to be grasped by the user for rotating the steering wheel around the rotation axis (28); the first and second spokes (21, 22) are inclined with respect to each other of an angle (α) in the range 40°-140°, the peripheral member (23) is positioned below the hub (20) when the steering wheel is causing a straight trajectory of the industrial truck, and the peripheral member (23) connects the first and second outer ends of the first and second spokes (21, 22) along a path that does not surround the rotation axis (28) of the steering wheel.