Monowheel Vehicle Auxiliary Wheel Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional monowheel vehicles experience discomfort due to 'gerbilling' during braking or deceleration, where the seat and motor rotate with the wheel, causing instability and potential tipover, and existing solutions either add weight with a flywheel or rely on separate balancing mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A gerbilling-proof monowheel vehicle design featuring side-mounted auxiliary wheels that are synchronically displacable and individually driven by a propulsion motor, with a control unit and servo mechanism to maintain the passenger seat's horizontal position and prevent tipover, using a combination of sensors and braking mechanisms to manage acceleration and deceleration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a flywheel driven by a separate motor is introduced for balancing, then the monowheel vehicle becomes balanceable, but the vehicle becomes heavier and less effective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the balancing function with the propulsion motor by making the auxiliary wheels individually driven by the propulsion motor through a differential mechanism. This merging eliminates the need for a separate balancing motor and flywheel, reducing vehicle weight while maintaining balanceability through the auxiliary wheels that can independently adjust to counteract gerbilling effects
Solution Approach 2:
The propulsion motor serves dual functions: providing forward motion through the main wheel and independently driving the auxiliary wheels for balancing. This multi-functionality allows a single motor to handle both propulsion and stabilization, eliminating the need for additional balancing components and reducing overall vehicle weight
2Speed
If brakeage or slowdown is attempted, then the vehicle can decelerate, but the seat and motor rotate in the direction of motion causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary wheels are positioned and configured to provide preliminary counteracting force during deceleration. When the vehicle slows down, the auxiliary wheels automatically adjust their position to prevent the seat and motor from rotating forward, counteracting the gerbilling effect before it causes discomfort to the rider
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses acceleration sensors to detect deceleration events and provides feedback to the control unit, which then adjusts the auxiliary wheels accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that the auxiliary wheels respond dynamically to deceleration, maintaining rider comfort by preventing unwanted rotation of the seat and motor
3Stability of the object's composition
If auxiliary wheels are added for stabilization, then side tipover is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the auxiliary wheels into the existing vehicle structure, mounting them on the frame and connecting them to the propulsion motor through the differential mechanism. This merging approach prevents side tipover while avoiding the need for separate, complex balancing systems
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary wheels are designed to automatically adjust their position based on vehicle acceleration and deceleration without requiring complex active control systems. The mechanical linkage and differential mechanism enable the wheels to self-adjust for stabilization, reducing the need for sophisticated control electronics and actuators
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
The design ensures stability and comfort by preventing side tipover and maintaining the passenger seat horizontal during acceleration and deceleration, while allowing for efficient maneuverability in urban environments with adjustable auxiliary wheels and braking systems.
Implementation Method 1
the closely spaced wheels act as a single wheel, and the vehicle turns by leaning the wheels... the auxiliary wheels are stabilizing said passenger and preventing said gerbilling-proof monowheel from side tipover
Implementation Method 2
a frame rotatably mounted within said wheel felloe... The frame and the wheel felloe are rotatable relative to each other
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A gerbilling-proof monowheel vehicle comprises: (a) a wheel felloe with a tire thereon; (b) a frame rotatably mounted within the wheel felloe; the frame carrying a passenger seat; (c) moving means configured for propelling the gerbilling-proof monowheel vehicle; and (d) braking means configured for decelerating the gerbilling-proof monowheel vehicle. The gerbilling-proof monowheel further comprises at least two auxiliary wheels side-mounted on the frame for vertically stabilizing the passenger seat and preventing the gerbilling-proof monowheel from side tipover and maintaining said passenger seat in a horizontal position within said wheel felloe.