Integrated Leaning Drive and Brake Mechanism for Compact Vehicle Body
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing leaning vehicle designs experience a size increase due to the complex support structure required for the leaning drive mechanism and leaning brake mechanism, which restricts the shape of the vehicle body and interferes with the leaning mechanism, limiting its degree of freedom and increasing overall size.
Innovation Solution
The integration of the leaning drive mechanism and leaning brake mechanism into a single mechanism using a gear and rotary shaft configuration, where the brake member is connected to either the gear or rotary shaft, allowing for a simplified support structure that reduces the number of support points on the vehicle body, thereby minimizing size increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the leaning drive mechanism and leaning brake mechanism are disposed separately near the leaning mechanism, then the functionality of causing the vehicle to lean and maintaining lean states is improved, but the vehicle body increases in size and the structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the leaning drive mechanism and leaning brake mechanism into a single integrated mechanism. The brake member is connected to the rotary shaft that transmits driving force from the drive source, allowing both leaning drive and brake functions to be performed by shared components. This merging eliminates the need for separate support structures for each mechanism, reducing the vehicle body size while maintaining both functionalities.
2Reliability
If the leaning drive mechanism and leaning brake mechanism are disposed separately near the leaning mechanism, then the functionality of causing the vehicle to lean and maintaining lean states is improved, but the support structure becomes complicated and the degree of freedom in vehicle body shape is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the leaning drive mechanism and leaning brake mechanism so that they share common components including the rotary shaft, gear, and support structure. The brake member is integrated with the existing drive mechanism components rather than being a separate entity. This integration dramatically simplifies the support structure, reducing the number of support points needed on the vehicle body and increasing the degree of freedom in vehicle body shape design.
3Reliability
If separate support structures are provided for the leaning drive mechanism and leaning brake mechanism, then both mechanisms are properly supported, but the vehicle body increases in size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the support structures for both mechanisms by having the brake mechanism share the same support points and structural components as the leaning drive mechanism. The gear casing member and rotary shaft support structure serve dual purposes, supporting both the drive mechanism and the integrated brake mechanism. This eliminates redundant support structures and reduces the overall vehicle body size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the support structure to serve multiple functions simultaneously. The same support points on the vehicle body support both the leaning drive mechanism and the brake mechanism. The rotary shaft and gear casing member are designed to accommodate both driving and braking operations. This multi-functionality reduces the number of dedicated support structures needed, thereby reducing vehicle body size.
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 configuration simplifies the support structure for the leaning mechanisms, reducing the vehicle body's size increase while maintaining the functionality of causing the vehicle body, left wheel, and right wheel to lean, and allowing the vehicle to maintain an upright or lean state effectively.
Implementation Method 1
The gear and the rotary shaft are connected to the drive source and the support arm, and rotate in an interlocking manner with the support arm. The leaning drive mechanism transmits the driving force generated by the drive source to the support arm through the gear and the rotary shaft.
Implementation Method 2
The brake member is connected to one of the gear or the rotary shaft, and rotates in an interlocking manner with the support arm by way of the gear or the rotary shaft to which the brake member is connected. The resistance applying member applies a resistance to a motion of the brake member with respect to the vehicle body.
Data Source
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AI summary
A leaning vehicle includes: a vehicle body (5); a left wheel (11L); a right wheel (11R); a leaning mechanism (61); a leaning drive mechanism (33); and a leaning brake mechanism (50). The leaning drive mechanism (33) includes a drive source (37). The leaning drive mechanism (33) includes a gear (370), rotary shafts (37a, 41, 36), and a gear casing member (43). The leaning brake mechanism (50) includes a brake member (42) and a resistance applying member (45). The gear (370) and the rotary shaft (37a, 41, 36) of the leaning drive mechanism (33) and the brake member (42) of the leaning brake mechanism (50) are supported by the vehicle body (5) in a rotatable manner by way of the gear casing member (43) of the leaning drive mechanism (33).