Pivoting Running Gear for Precise High-Speed Cornering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steerable wheel units with two independently driven wheels struggle to maintain precise alignment and absorb transverse forces during cornering on uneven surfaces, limiting their speed and maneuverability, especially when aligning with precise movement paths or handling heavy/bulky goods.
Innovation Solution
A drive system with a pivotably mounted inner ring and wheel carrier, allowing both wheels to maintain ground contact by pivoting perpendicularly to the travel direction, and independent wheel control for smooth movement, along with a rolling bearing for efficient rotation, enabling high-speed cornering and precise positioning on uneven surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a centrally arranged pivoting rotary bearing is used in steerable wheel units, then the structure is simple, but only small transverse forces can be absorbed and high-speed cornering is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The running gear is divided into functionally independent pivotable components: the inner ring can pivot independently about the main axis of rotation, while the wheel carrier can pivot independently about the pivot axis perpendicular to the main axis. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific forces and movements separately, enabling the absorption of high transverse forces during cornering while maintaining structural manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic pivotability to the wheel unit structure. The wheel carrier is designed to pivot about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the main axis of rotation, allowing the wheel unit to dynamically adjust its orientation during cornering maneuvers. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the absorption of high transverse forces while maintaining ground contact, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and force absorption capacity.
2Measurement precision
If wheel units are designed for precise positioning, then alignment accuracy improves, but speed and maneuverability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable wheel carrier allows the wheel unit to dynamically adjust its orientation during movement, enabling precise positioning while maintaining high transport speeds. The independent pivot capability ensures that alignment accuracy is achieved without requiring speed reduction, as the mechanical structure actively compensates for orientation adjustments during transit.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the wheel unit structure by introducing a pivot axis perpendicular to the main axis of rotation. This parameter change enables the wheel unit to achieve precise alignment through mechanical pivoting rather than through slow, controlled movements, thereby maintaining high speed while improving positioning accuracy.
3Productivity
If steerable wheel units are used for high-speed cornering, then transport efficiency improves, but ground contact reliability decreases on uneven surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable wheel carrier enables the wheel unit to dynamically adapt to uneven surfaces during high-speed cornering. By allowing the wheel carrier to pivot about the perpendicular pivot axis, the system maintains reliable ground contact even when navigating rough terrain at high speeds, thus preserving both transport efficiency and ground contact reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the wheel unit by introducing independent pivot capability. This allows the wheel unit to adjust its contact parameters with the ground in real-time, maintaining reliable ground contact during high-speed cornering on uneven surfaces and thereby preserving transport efficiency without sacrificing reliability.
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
This solution ensures reliable ground contact and high transverse force absorption, allowing for precise positioning and maneuverability, even on uneven surfaces, and supports heavy loads, enhancing the transport device's agility and efficiency in navigating defined paths.
Implementation Method 1
a rolling bearing (7), in particular a tilting rotary bearing, for the inner ring (8) in the guide ring (1)
Implementation Method 2
the wheel carrier (2) can be pivoted about a pivot axis (6) arranged essentially perpendicularly to the main axis of rotation (9) via at least one pivot bearing (5)
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the invention are directed to running gear for transport devices comprising a guide ring, a wheel carrier configured and arranged to be pivoted within the guide ring about a vertical main axis of rotation and two wheels configured and arranged to be rotated about a common axis of rotation, and an inner ring pivotably mounted in the guide ring via a rotary bearing about the main axis of rotation, and the wheel carrier is pivotably mounted via at least one pivot bearing about a pivot axis perpendicular to the main axis of rotation.