Pivot-Arm Running Unit With Lockable Wheel Coordination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing running units with pivotable wheels suffer from instability at low speeds and inability to maintain balance when stationary due to continuous pivoting movements that cannot be stopped.
Innovation Solution
A running unit with a pivot motion transmission system that includes a first and second pivot rotating element, transmission elements, and a rotation suppression mechanism allowing switching between pivoting and locking states to stabilize wheel coordination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the pivot arms are always allowed to pivot with linked movements, then the wheels can adapt to road surface conditions and maintain uniform ground pressure, but the vehicle body becomes unstable at low speeds and cannot maintain balance when stationary
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two states: a pivoting state where the linking shaft allows rotation for road adaptation, and a locking state where the rotation suppression mechanism engages to stabilize the vehicle. This dynamic state change enables the system to optimize performance for different operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation suppression mechanism changes the rotational parameter of the linking shaft from free rotation to constrained rotation. By altering this physical parameter, the system transitions between adaptive and stable states, resolving the contradiction between wheel flexibility and vehicle stability.
2Reliability
If the left and right wheels are linked to operate together, then ground pressure is maintained uniform, but the continuous pivoting movements destabilize the vehicle at low speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage system dynamically adjusts its degree of freedom through the rotation suppression mechanism. When locked, the linkage maintains rigid connection for stability; when unlocked, it allows coordinated pivoting for ground pressure distribution. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction between reliability and stability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pivot motion transmission is always engaged, then the wheels can flexibly tilt with the vehicle body, but the vehicle cannot stand on its own when halted
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation suppression mechanism extracts or removes the rotational freedom of the linking shaft when needed. By taking out the ability of the pivot motion transmission to cause coordinated pivoting, the system enables the vehicle to stand upright without the destabilizing effect of continuous pivoting movements.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
To provide a simply structured running unit that can suppress the production costs and maintenance frequency and offer high flexibility in equipment design. The running unit includes wheels attached to left and right pivot arms pivotable about a pivot shaft, and first and second pivot rotating elements that rotate in conjunction with one of the pivot arms and the other of the pivot arms, respectively. The first and second pivot rotating elements and first and second elongated transmission elements transmit rotation respectively to first and second transmission elements. A linking shaft connects the first and second transmission elements. The first and second pivot rotating elements are linked to rotate in opposite directions to each other. The running unit further includes a rotation suppression mechanism configured to suppress the rotation of the linking shaft.