Low-Floor Transport Module Layout for Balanced Wheel Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing modular low-floor transport systems face issues with excessive load on drive vehicles due to uneven load distribution, as they typically have lower maximum loads than carrying vehicles, leading to potential overload and insufficient contact force of drive wheels.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates drive modules with separately controllable or commonly driven wheels via differentials, and support modules with driveless wheels, where the drive bases and support bases are axially and rotationally fixed without play, allowing the drive chassis to deflect under load, reducing the risk of excessive loading and ensuring adequate contact force through varying stiffness of spring elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If uniform load distribution is implemented among individual vehicles, then payload is evenly distributed, but drive vehicles become excessively loaded beyond their maximum load capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns different functional qualities to different vehicle types: drive vehicles are optimized for motion with lower load capacity, while carrier vehicles are optimized for load bearing with higher capacity. This local differentiation allows the system to distribute loads according to each vehicle's specific capabilities rather than uniformly, preventing drive vehicles from being overloaded.
2Speed
If drive vehicles have lower maximum loads to maintain maneuverability, then mobility is improved, but they cannot bear sufficient payload without excessive loading
Solution Approach 1:
The transport system is segmented into specialized drive vehicles and carrier vehicles that operate as a coordinated group. Drive vehicles maintain their maneuverability and lower individual payload capacity, while carrier vehicles provide the additional load-bearing capacity needed. The segmentation allows each vehicle type to be optimized for its specific function while contributing to the overall system's payload capacity.
3Force
If drive wheels have insufficient contact force due to overload, then drive capability deteriorates, but increasing contact force requires higher loads on drive vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
Carrier vehicles act as intermediaries that bear the excessive load and transfer it to the ground through their own drive wheels or support structures. This mediation prevents the load from concentrating on the drive vehicles' wheels, maintaining sufficient contact force for propulsion while avoiding overload conditions that would compromise drive capability.
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 effectively distributes payload across interconnected bases, reducing the risk of excessive loading on drive modules and ensuring sufficient contact force for drive wheels, thereby enhancing the system's stability and mobility while maintaining efficient payload distribution.
Implementation Method 1
the drive chassis is flexibly supported in the lifting direction by a spring element
Data Source
Figure 1A~2
Figure 3A~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A modular low-floor transport system according to the invention has at least one drive module which has a drive base (100) and a drive chassis connected thereto with at least one drive wheel (101) which is coupled to a drive, and at least one support module which has a support Base (200) and a support chassis connected thereto with at least one non-driven support wheel (201), the drive base and the support base being firmly connected to one another with respect to a lifting direction (H), and the drive chassis on the Drive base in the lifting direction (H) is movably mounted (112, 113).