Modular Tilting Vehicle Frame with Articulated Forecarriage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current motor vehicle manufacturing lacks a modular frame solution that can efficiently convert two-wheeled vehicles into three-wheeled tilting vehicles and vice versa, while maintaining production line efficiency and adhering to strict tolerance requirements.
Innovation Solution
A three- or four-wheeled tilting motor vehicle with a modular frame featuring a forecarriage support frame that includes a kinematically connected articulated structure, utilizing revolute and spherical joints to ensure stability, adaptability, and ease of assembly, allowing the frame to be used for both two- and three-wheeled configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a modular frame with removable forecarriage component is adopted, then production flexibility and convertibility between vehicle configurations are improved, but assembly complexity and tolerance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into a base frame and a removable forecarriage support frame component. The forecarriage support frame can be detached and reattached to convert between two-wheeled and three-wheeled configurations, enabling production flexibility without requiring completely different frame designs for each vehicle type.
Solution Approach 2:
The base frame is designed to be universal and can support both two-wheeled and three-wheeled configurations by simply attaching or removing the forecarriage support frame component. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate frame designs for different vehicle types, reducing manufacturing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a removable forecarriage component is added to create a modular frame, then production flexibility is improved, but the number of parts and manufacturing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The frame system is segmented into a base frame and a separate forecarriage support frame component that can be manufactured independently. This allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and assembled together, potentially simplifying manufacturing compared to producing entirely different frames for different vehicle configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The base frame is pre-manufactured with predetermined attachment points and structural features that are ready to receive the forecarriage support frame component. This preliminary preparation of the base frame design enables quick and simple assembly of the complete vehicle frame, reducing manufacturing complexity.
3Strength
If the forecarriage support frame is designed to increase rigidity of the base frame, then structural strength is improved, but the complexity of the removable component increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rigidity-enhancing structure is segmented into a separate forecarriage support frame component rather than being integrated into the base frame. This allows the support frame to be designed specifically for providing rigidity where needed, while keeping the base frame design simple and the removable component's complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The forecarriage support frame is designed to provide localized rigidity enhancement at specific attachment points and structural locations where the base frame needs additional strength. Rather than making the entire base frame complex, the support frame applies rigidity locally where required, simplifying the overall design.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a tilting motor vehicle with three or four-wheels, of which at least two front wheels (10', 10") comprising a frame (6) extending from a forecarriage (8), which supports a pair of front wheels (10', 10") to a rear (12), which supports one or more rear wheels. The forecarriage in turn comprises a forecarriage support frame (20), which is defined by an articulated structure comprising a first (21) and a second portion (22). Such two portions are connected to each other at their first ends (21a, 22a) by means of an intermediate joint (30) and are connected directly or indirectly to the frame (6) at their second ends (21b, 22b) by means of respective end joints (31, 32). The intermediate joint (30) and the two end joints (31, 32) each define at least one articulation axis Y0; Y1, Y2 orthogonal to a centreline plane M-M of the motor vehicle. The articulated structure forms a structure kinematically corresponding to a three-hinged arch. The invention also relates to a kit for converting a two-wheeled motor vehicle into a three-wheeled motor vehicle, of which two at the front.