Pivoting Wheel Arms for Safe Aerial Platform Width Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerial work platforms with X-axle technology face challenges in safely and efficiently changing wheel spacing without causing tire wear, ground damage, or accidental translation due to gravity on inclined surfaces.
Innovation Solution
Implementing on-board electronics to control the orientation and pivoting of wheels tangentially to the pivoting path, desynchronizing the execution steps for each wheel to prevent accidental translation, and using actuators protected from external impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the wheels are pivoted while in parallel orientation to change lateral spacing, then the wheel spacing can be adjusted, but the tires experience excessive wear and ground damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by first orienting the wheels tangentially to the pivoting path before pivoting the arms. This preliminary orientation change ensures that during the subsequent arm pivoting motion, the wheels roll along the pivoting arc rather than sliding sideways, thereby preventing tire wear and ground damage while still achieving the desired wheel spacing adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the wheels from parallel to the chassis to tangential to the pivoting path. This parameter change in wheel orientation enables the wheels to follow the circular motion of the pivoting arms, converting harmful lateral sliding into beneficial rolling motion that achieves spacing adjustment without damage
2Productivity
If the wheel support arms are pivoted simultaneously for all wheels, then the wheel spacing changes efficiently, but the aerial work platform may translate accidentally on inclined ground due to gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wheel pivoting operation into independent controllable steps for different wheels. Instead of pivoting all arms simultaneously, the system can pivot arms sequentially or in coordinated pairs, allowing brake systems or drive systems to be activated on specific wheels to prevent unwanted platform movement on inclined surfaces while still achieving the desired spacing adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms through the on-board electronics that monitor the platform's position and orientation during the wheel pivoting process. This feedback allows the control system to adjust the pivoting sequence or activate braking/drive systems on specific wheels to counteract gravitational forces on inclined ground, ensuring platform stability while maintaining pivoting efficiency
3Object-affected harmful factors
If dedicated cylinders are used to lift wheels from ground before pivoting, then the wheel spacing can be changed without tire wear, but the ground support pads sink into soft ground and the process becomes tedious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by changing wheel orientation to tangential before pivoting, which eliminates the need for preliminary lifting of wheels from the ground. This allows the wheels to remain in contact with the ground during pivoting without causing wear, and eliminates the need for dedicated lifting cylinders and ground support pads
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the lifting mechanism (dedicated cylinders and ground support pads) from the system by finding an alternative method that allows wheel pivoting without wheel lift. The tangential orientation approach enables direct ground-contact pivoting, removing the complex lifting infrastructure entirely
Data Source
AI summary
An on-board electronics system of an aerial work platform moves the wheels between a retracted and extended position by pivoting a respective arm. The method comprises the following successive steps: a) orienting each wheel tangentially to the pivoting path of the corresponding arm, b) moving the wheel by pivotally actuating the corresponding arm, and c) reorienting the wheel so as to enable another translation of the aerial work platform. The steps are performed in different orders between the wheels so that at any time at least one of the following conditions is complied with: —the brake system of at least one wheel is active, —at least one wheel is rotated by a motorised drive, —the orientation of the wheels relative to one another prevents any translation of the aerial work platform (1) on the ground as a result of gravitational force.