Multifunctional Vehicle with Movable Wheel Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles are not versatile enough to seamlessly transition between three-wheeled and four-wheeled configurations, lacking the functionality and reliability needed for both leisure and work applications, and they often compromise on safety and economic competitiveness.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional vehicle design featuring a chassis with a longitudinal centerline plane, a first pair of steerable and tilting wheels on opposite sides, and a second pair of wheels that can move between positions on opposite sides and aligned on the centerline plane, allowing conversion between four-wheeled and three-wheeled configurations through a mechanism involving rotoidal pairs and actuation arms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a vehicle is designed with a fixed number of wheels (three or four), then it has stable structural configuration and ease of manufacture, but it lacks versatility to adapt to different operating situations and applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the wheel positioning system movable rather than fixed. The second pair of wheels can be moved between a first position (on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline plane) and a second position (substantially on the longitudinal centerline plane), allowing the vehicle to dynamically reconfigure its wheel arrangement based on operational needs, thus achieving versatility without permanent structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing a single vehicle platform that can perform multiple functions through configuration changes. The same vehicle can operate in a four-wheeled mode (first position) for stable transport and in a three-wheeled mode (second position) for maneuverability or leisure use, eliminating the need for separate specialized vehicles
2Adaptability or versatility
If a vehicle converts between three-wheeled and four-wheeled configurations, then it achieves versatility for different applications, but it may compromise on reliability and safety due to structural changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the wheel system into independent, movable components. Each wheel of the second pair can be independently positioned and secured, allowing the vehicle to reliably transition between configurations while maintaining structural integrity through modular, separable connections rather than permanent fixed structures
Data Source
AI summary
A multifunctional vehicle including a chassis in which a longitudinal centerline plane is defined. A first pair of wheels is connected to the chassis on opposite sides with respect to the longitudinal centerline plane of the chassis. A second pair of wheels is connected to the chassis, and wheels of the second pair of wheels can be moved with respect to the chassis between: a first position, in which they lie on opposite sides with respect to the longitudinal centerline plane of the chassis, and a second position, in which they lie substantially on the longitudinal centerline plane of the chassis.