Omnidirectional Wheel Structure for High-Load Lightweight Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional omnidirectional wheels face challenges in balancing the need to support high forces from electric mobility vehicles while minimizing weight, leading to potential deformation or breakage of support members under repeated daily use and varying loads.
Innovation Solution
The omnidirectional wheel design incorporates a combination of small-diameter and large-diameter rollers alternating in the circumferential direction, supported by dual arm members that distribute forces effectively, with the large-diameter rollers being supported between adjacent supports and connected to small-diameter rollers through a connecting part, enhancing load transmission and reducing member thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If support members are made thicker to bear high forces, then strength is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are divided into multiple arms (first arm and second arm) that are arranged circumferentially. Each arm supports specific rollers, distributing the load across multiple segments rather than requiring a single thick support structure. This segmentation allows the wheel to bear high forces while keeping individual support members thinner and lighter.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members extend in the axial direction of rollers, utilizing the third dimension (axial direction) to provide support. By arranging arms circumferentially and extending them axially, the structure achieves high strength through spatial distribution rather than increasing thickness in a single direction, thus reducing overall weight.
2Ease of manufacture
If uniform small-diameter rollers are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but load-bearing capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The omnidirectional wheel uses different roller diameters at different circumferential positions. Large-diameter rollers are placed at positions requiring higher load-bearing capacity, while small-diameter rollers are used where less load is expected. This local differentiation optimizes both load-bearing capacity and manufacturing efficiency by applying different roller specifications only where necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller diameter parameter is changed based on circumferential position and load requirements. By varying the diameter parameter of rollers around the wheel circumference, the design achieves optimal load-bearing capacity in high-stress areas while maintaining ease of manufacture in lower-stress areas, balancing both requirements.
3Force
If alternating small and large diameter rollers are used, then load distribution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Adjacent supports are merged in their function of supporting large-diameter rollers. Each large-diameter roller is supported by arms from two adjacent supports, combining the load-bearing function of multiple supports into a coordinated system. This merging approach improves load distribution while avoiding the need for completely independent support structures for each roller.
Solution Approach 2:
The support arms serve multiple functions: they support small-diameter rollers at their ends and simultaneously support large-diameter rollers through their connecting parts. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate support structures, thereby improving load distribution without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An omnidirectional wheel whose outer circumference surface is formed by pluralities of rollers, and includes a rotating part that rotates around a rotation axis. A plurality of supports are arranged in a circumferential direction of the rotating part and each mounted on the rotating part. The rollers include a plurality of first rollers and a plurality of second rollers. Each support has a first arm supporting one end side of a corresponding first roller of the plurality of first rollers, and a second arm supporting the other end side of the corresponding first roller. A corresponding second roller of the plurality of second rollers is supported by the first arm of one of two supports that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction and the second arm of the other one of the two supports.