Omni-Wheel Core Structure Without Inner Sleeves
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of omni-wheels is hindered by the need for precise inner sleeves, leading to high production costs due to complex machining requirements.
Innovation Solution
A wheel design featuring a tubular member with V-shaped notches and raised pieces that secure inner races of bearings directly to the core member, eliminating the need for separate fixing members like inner sleeves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inner sleeves are used to fix bearings to the core member, then the free rollers are securely fixed, but the manufacturing cost increases due to precise machining requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the fixing function from the separate inner sleeve component and integrates it directly into the core member through raised pieces. This eliminates the need for precise machining of separate inner sleeves while maintaining secure fixation of the bearings and free rollers to the core member.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the fixing function previously performed by separate inner sleeves into the core member itself through the raised pieces. This consolidation reduces the number of components and eliminates the need for precise machining of separate fixing members, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining reliable fixation.
2Reliability
If multiple inner sleeves are used in the wheel, then the free rollers are securely attached, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple fixing functions into a single integrated core member structure with raised pieces, eliminating the need for multiple separate inner sleeves. This reduces device complexity while maintaining secure attachment of all free rollers through the unified raised piece structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The raised pieces in the core member serve multiple functions: they act as fixing members for bearings, provide structural support, and enable secure attachment of free rollers. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate fixing members are used for each bearing, then precise positioning is achieved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The raised pieces are pre-formed as integral parts of the core member during core member manufacturing. This preliminary formation of fixing structures eliminates the need for separate precision machining and assembly operations for individual fixing members, thereby maintaining positioning accuracy while reducing manufacturing process complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel (3) includes a core member (32) consisting of a tubular member (140) formed with a plurality of V-shaped notches (142) on one side thereof, and bent into an annular shape so as to close the notches, and a plurality of free rollers (60) each rotatably fitted on a linear section (120) of the tubular member located between a mutually adjoining pair of the V-shaped notches via a bearing (122) provided with an inner race (124) and an outer race (126), wherein a raised piece (130) is provided for each inner race on another side of the tubular member opposite from the one side as well as a protrusion (138) so as to engage an end surface of the inner race and fixedly secure the inner race to the core member.