Leaning Vehicle Interlocking Mechanism for Boarding Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing leaning vehicles face difficulties in allowing easy on and off for drivers, especially when the vehicle leans leftward or rightward, as it becomes challenging to manage both the leaning and movement in the front-rear direction, particularly on inclined surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a braking mechanism and a lean lock mechanism, actuated by an interlocking mechanism, which allows for the restriction of vehicle movement in the front-rear direction while preventing leftward or rightward leaning, enabling easier access and egress by distributing operating forces to both mechanisms through an operation input section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the vehicle leans leftward or rightward, then the vehicle can turn efficiently, but the driver has difficulty getting on or off the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The lean lock mechanism is activated before the driver gets on or off the vehicle to lock the vehicle body in an upright position, preventing unwanted leaning during the boarding/alighting process. This preliminary action ensures the vehicle remains stable and accessible before the driver needs to board, resolving the contradiction between turning efficiency and ease of access.
2Speed
If the vehicle moves forward or rearward while the driver is getting on or off, then the vehicle maintains mobility, but the driver has more difficulty getting on or off
Solution Approach 1:
The braking mechanism is activated in advance to hold the vehicle stationary before the driver boards or alights. This preliminary braking action prevents any forward or rearward movement during the critical boarding process, making it safer and easier for the driver while preserving full mobility capability after boarding is complete.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle is on an inclined surface, then the vehicle can operate on varied terrain, but the driver has difficulty getting on or off due to gravity-induced movement
Solution Approach 1:
When the vehicle is on an inclined surface, the braking mechanism is activated beforehand to counteract gravity-induced movement, and the lean lock mechanism is engaged to maintain an upright position. These preliminary actions create a stable platform for boarding/alighting even on slopes, preserving terrain adaptability while ensuring safe access.
Solution Approach 2:
The braking mechanism applies a counteracting force before the driver boards to prevent gravity-induced movement on inclined surfaces. This preliminary anti-action counterbalances the gravitational force that would otherwise cause the vehicle to slide, creating stable conditions for easy boarding and alighting regardless of terrain.
Data Source
AI summary
A leaning vehicle including a braking mechanism, a linkage mechanism configured to cause a body frame of the leaning vehicle to lean leftward or rightward, a lean lock mechanism configured to restrict leftward leaning and rightward leaning of the vehicle body frame, and an interlocking mechanism configured to actuate the braking mechanism and the lean lock mechanism. The interlocking mechanism includes an operation input section configured to input a first operating force, a brake-operation-input section configured to input a second operating force, an operating force distributor configured to distribute the first operating force input by the operation input section to the lean lock mechanism and the braking mechanism, and a brake actuator configured to actuate the braking mechanism by the first operating force distributed to the braking mechanism by the operating force distributor, or by the second operating force input by the brake-operation-input section.