Omnidirectional Wheel Structure for Easier Scooter Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing omnidirectional wheels for scooters have complex structures, leading to high production costs, difficult installation, low maintenance efficiency, and high maintenance costs, which hinder production and maintenance efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The omnidirectional wheel design features a hub with circumferentially distributed support members, first rollers, and second rollers, where the rollers are alternately disposed to ensure smooth movement, with a simple structure that facilitates easier installation and maintenance, using materials like aluminum alloy and manufacturing methods like casting and milling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing omnidirectional wheels are designed to ensure use comfort and adapt to more road conditions, then the mobility and adaptability of the scooter is improved, but the structure becomes complex leading to high production costs and difficult installation
Solution Approach 1:
The omnidirectional wheel is segmented into multiple independent support members (at least three) that are circumferentially distributed on the hub. Each support member independently carries rollers, allowing the wheel to achieve omnidirectional movement through coordinated rotation of individual segments rather than a single complex mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Each support member is designed with dual functionality: it provides structural support for the rollers while also serving as a mounting platform. The support members are circumferentially distributed to enable both lateral movement capability and circumferential driving force generation, making the same structural element serve multiple functions.
2Ease of operation
If existing omnidirectional wheels are designed with complex structures to ensure use comfort, then the mobility is improved, but the installation and maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly is divided into modular support members that can be independently accessed and maintained. Each support member with its rollers can be serviced separately, reducing maintenance complexity compared to integrated omnidirectional wheel designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members are designed to be circumferentially distributed and independently mounted on the hub, allowing for easy removal and reinstallation without requiring complex disassembly procedures. This self-service design enables straightforward maintenance operations.
3Reliability
If existing omnidirectional wheels are designed with complex structures, then the functional capability is improved, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hub is designed with multiple circumferentially distributed support members rather than a single complex omnidirectional mechanism. This segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of identical support member components, reducing production costs through economies of scale and simplified tooling requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes from a single complex omnidirectional wheel mechanism to multiple simpler support members with rollers. This parameter change in the structural configuration simplifies manufacturing processes while maintaining the omnidirectional functional capability, thereby reducing production costs.
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
The design simplifies installation and maintenance, reduces production and maintenance costs, and ensures stable and efficient operation by allowing for uniform and flat working surfaces, improving the overall user experience.
Implementation Method 1
The omnidirectional wheel is a kind of wheel with lateral movement ability, which can freely move laterally while providing circumferential driving force
Data Source
AI summary
An omnidirectional wheel and a scooter having an omnidirectional wheel are provided. The omnidirectional wheel includes: a hub; support members, in which the support members are circumferentially distributed on the hub, each of the support members has a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface disposed oppositely, the first mounting surface is provided with a first mounting shaft, the second mounting surface is provided with a second mounting shaft, and a distance between a first axis of the first mounting shaft and a wheel center of the hub is less than a distance between a second axis of the second mounting shaft and the wheel center of the hub; first rollers, in which at least one of the first rollers is rotatably disposed on each first mounting shaft; and second rollers, in which at least one of the second rollers is rotatably disposed on each second mounting shaft.