Multi-lane Vehicle Active Tilting Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-track vehicles face challenges in balancing space efficiency and energy efficiency while maintaining stable driving dynamics, particularly when reducing vehicle width, which requires innovative solutions to prevent tipping during cornering.
Innovation Solution
A multi-track vehicle design featuring a support structure with pivotally articulated wheels, a lever mechanically coupling rockers, and an actuator that can apply torque or release pivoting movement, allowing for active or passive tilting technology based on driving conditions, enhancing stability and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the vehicle width is reduced to improve space efficiency, then space requirements decrease, but the vehicle becomes unstable and tips over during cornering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an active tilting system that dynamically adjusts the vehicle body orientation during cornering. The control unit activates the tilting actuator to lean the vehicle body into the curve, transforming the static wide-track stability approach into a dynamic active stabilization system. This allows the narrow vehicle to maintain stability by actively compensating for the reduced track width effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the tilting parameter (vehicle body angle) in response to cornering conditions. The control unit detects cornering through sensors and adjusts the tilting actuator to achieve optimal body orientation, effectively changing the stability parameter dynamically rather than relying on fixed geometric parameters like track width.
2Stability of the object's composition
If an active tilting system is implemented to maintain stability in narrow vehicles, then vehicle stability improves, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tilting system is segmented into independent functional modules: steering input detection, cornering detection sensors, control unit processing, and tilting actuator execution. This modular segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture, making the complex active tilting function more manageable and maintainable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback through sensors that detect cornering conditions and vehicle state, feeding this information to the control unit which adjusts the tilting actuator accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables automatic stabilization without requiring complex mechanical linkages or manual intervention, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high stability performance.
3Stability of the object's composition
If an active tilting system is used to improve stability, then driving dynamics improve, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The active tilting system operates periodically only when cornering is detected, rather than continuously. The control unit monitors cornering conditions and activates the tilting actuator only during necessary periods (cornering events), allowing the vehicle to operate in energy-efficient passive mode during straight-line or steady-state driving, thus significantly reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining driving dynamics when needed.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the actuator applies torque to the lever, then active tilting is achieved improving stability, but energy consumption increases compared to passive tilting
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between active and passive tilting modes based on real-time driving conditions. The control unit evaluates cornering severity and activates the actuator only when active tilting is necessary for stability, otherwise allowing passive single-track vehicle behavior. This dynamic mode switching optimizes the trade-off between stability performance and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the actuator engagement parameter based on driving conditions. By monitoring cornering detection inputs, the control unit adjusts the actuator state between engaged (active tilting) and disengaged (passive tilting) modes, effectively changing the energy consumption parameter while maintaining appropriate stability performance for each driving scenario.
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 design combines the advantages of active tilting systems with single-track vehicle behavior, providing improved stability and energy efficiency by automatically switching between active and passive tilting modes based on driving conditions, ensuring safe and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator which is set up to optionally: a torque applied to the lever to thereby incline the support structure about the vehicle longitudinal direction
Implementation Method 2
like a single-track vehicle, it falls into the curve by steering against the actual direction of the curve before the start of the curve due to its inertia
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A multi-track vehicle (1), in particular a three- or more-wheeled micromobility vehicle, is disclosed, comprising a support structure (9) extending in the longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle, a first wheel (2) defining a first lane (6), a second wheel (3) defining a second lane (7) spaced (A) from the first lane (6) in a vehicle width direction (y), a first rocker arm (15) pivotally connecting the first wheel (2) to the support structure (9), a second rocker arm (13) pivotally connecting the second wheel (3) to the support structure (9), a lever (20) pivotally connected to the support structure (9) and mechanically coupling the first and second rocker arms (15, 13), and an actuator (30) configured to optionally apply a torque to the lever (20) in order to pivot the support structure (9) about the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. (x) to incline,or to release a pivoting movement of the lever (20) around the vehicle's longitudinal direction (x).