Multifunctional Castor With Dynamic Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing castors lack control over moving direction, with steering castors uncontrollable during movement and non-steering castors unable to change direction when encountering obstacles, leading to instability and inefficiency in equipment movement.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional castor design incorporating a mounting seat, rotary seat, engaging member, wheel, brake swing member, longitudinal rod assembly, engaging assembly, transverse rod, brake pedal, and brake-release pedal, allowing for steering, directional, and braking functions through a system of interlocking mechanisms and pedals to control the rotation and movement of the wheel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a castor is designed with steering function to enable directional changes, then the castor can steer around while rolling, but the moving direction becomes uncontrollable during equipment movement
Solution Approach 1:
The castor employs a dynamic locking mechanism that can switch between locked and unlocked states. The locking member engages with the guide groove to restrict rotational movement when directional control is needed, and disengages to allow free rotation when steering is required. This dynamic state change enables the castor to provide both steering capability and directional control reliability at different operational phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide groove acts as an intermediary element between the locking member and the castor body. It provides a controlled path for the locking member to follow, ensuring that the castor rotates only in the intended direction when steering is activated, thereby maintaining directional control while enabling steering functionality.
2Reliability
If a castor is designed without steering function to maintain stable straight-line movement, then the castor moves stably along a straight line, but it is unable to steer around when encountering obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism transitions from a static locked state (providing straight-line stability) to a dynamic unlocked state (enabling obstacle avoidance). When obstacles are encountered, the locking member disengages from the guide groove, allowing the castor to rotate and steer around the obstacle, thus providing adaptability while maintaining stable straight-line movement during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The castor is designed to perform multiple functions: it can move stably in a straight line during normal operation and switch to steering mode when obstacles are encountered. The locking mechanism and guide groove work together to enable both straight-line stability and obstacle avoidance capability within a single castor design.
3Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to control castor rotation to achieve directional control, then the moving direction becomes controllable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: a locking member with engaging structure, a guide groove with restricted path, and a braking member with brake plate. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall design and making the complex function of directional control achievable through simple, modular elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through the braking force generated during deceleration. When the equipment slows down, the braking member naturally engages with the brake plate, causing the locking member to engage with the guide groove and lock the castor's rotation. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for additional actuators or complex control systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable directional control.
Data Source
AI summary
A multifunctional castor with steering, directional and brake functions and is provided with a mounting seat, a rotary seat, an engaging member, a wheel, a brake swing member, a longitudinal rod assembly, an engaging assembly, a transverse rod, a brake pedal and a brake-release pedal. Pressing down or pushing up the brake pedal can activate the steering, direction and brake functions of the castor, and then the steering, direction and brake functions of the castor can be deactivated by controlling the brake-release pedal.