Pivoting Aerial Work Platform Wheels to Prevent Roll During Track Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for adjusting the lateral wheel spacing on aerial work platforms (AWPs) are cumbersome, require lifting the wheels off the ground, risk damaging the ground or tires, and may lead to accidental movement due to gravity on inclined surfaces, especially with X-axle technology.
Innovation Solution
A method implemented by onboard electronics that desynchronizes the pivoting and orientation of front and rear wheels to prevent accidental movement on inclined surfaces, using controlled changes in wheel orientation and motorized rotation to adjust wheel spacing without lifting, ensuring stability and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the wheels are extended outward from the platform, then the stability and ground clearance are improved, but the risk of collision with obstacles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wheels are designed to be movable relative to the platform, capable of extending outward for stability and retracting inward to avoid obstacles. The system dynamically adjusts wheel position based on operational conditions, transitioning between extended and retracted states to optimize both stability and collision avoidance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the wheels are retracted inward to avoid obstacles, then the collision risk is reduced, but the stability and ground clearance are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel retraction mechanism allows the wheels to move inward when obstacle detection is activated, reducing collision risk. The system dynamically switches between retracted and extended positions based on real-time environmental assessment, maintaining stability when needed and avoiding obstacles when detected.
3Device complexity
If manual operation is used to extend or retract the wheels, then the device complexity is reduced, but the operator safety and response time are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that automatically detect obstacles and trigger the wheel retraction mechanism without requiring manual operator intervention. The platform performs the safety function itself by monitoring the environment and actuating the wheels accordingly, improving response time and operator safety while maintaining acceptable device complexity.
4Reliability
If automatic sensor-based control is implemented, then the operator safety and response time are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to continuously monitor the environment and provides feedback to the control system. When obstacles are detected, the feedback triggers automatic wheel retraction. This closed-loop control improves operator safety and response time while managing device complexity through efficient sensor-integration and automated decision-making algorithms.
Data Source
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AI summary
An on-board electronics system of an aerial work platform moves the wheels (2, 3) between a retracted and extended position by pivoting a respective arm (4, 5). 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 (2, 3) so that at any time at least one of the following conditions is complied with: - the brake system of at least one wheel (2, 3) is active, - at least one wheel (2, 3) is rotated by a motorised drive, - the orientation of the wheels (2, 3) relative to one another prevents any translation of the aerial work platform (1) on the ground as a result of gravitational force.