Rear Wheel Latching Mechanism for Personal Transport Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compact personal transport devices face challenges in quickly and reliably transitioning the rear wheel between a deployed state and a stored state.
Innovation Solution
A rear wheel latching mechanism that includes a cam-latch mechanism and a pin, allowing the rear wheel to articulate between a stored and deployed state, and securely lock in place when fully extended or retracted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple sliding mechanism is used for the rear wheel, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of the wheel transition is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The latching mechanism is divided into two independent components: a cam-latch mechanism for primary locking and a pin for secondary positioning. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while working together to provide reliable wheel transition, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin is positioned in advance to catch and hold the rear wheel in the deployed state before the cam-latch fully engages. This preliminary action ensures the wheel is securely positioned during the transition process, enhancing reliability without requiring a complex single-component system.
2Reliability
If a complex latching mechanism is used to ensure reliable wheel locking, then the reliability improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the latching function into two independent mechanisms (cam-latch and pin), each component can be simple in design while collectively providing reliable locking. The cam-latch handles the primary locking action with a simple cam movement, while the pin provides secondary positioning, making the overall system easy to operate despite the dual-mechanism approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam-latch mechanism is designed to automatically engage and disengage through the cam's geometric shape and spring force, requiring minimal user input. The pin similarly self-positions and self-latches, allowing the wheel transition to be operated easily while maintaining high reliability through the self-servicing action of the mechanisms.
3Productivity
If the rear wheel transitions quickly, then the productivity improves, but the reliability of the transition may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The pin is pre-positioned to catch the wheel during the transition, ensuring reliable positioning is established quickly alongside the cam-latch engagement. This preliminary positioning action occurs simultaneously with the cam-latch operation, allowing rapid transition while maintaining reliability through the coordinated dual-mechanism action.
Data Source
AI summary
A rear wheel latching mechanism for a personal transport device and a corresponding personal transport device are provided. The mechanism includes a rear wheel attached to an arm, which includes an inner extrusion that slides on one axis of a fixed frame in a horizontal direction. The fixed frame comprises an outer extrusion that surrounds the inner extrusion. The mechanism also includes a rear wheel cam-latch, configured to lock the inner extrusion and the outer extrusion together. The rear wheel cam-latch allows the rear wheel to articulate when the rear wheel cam-latch is unlatched between a stored state and a deployed state. The mechanism also includes a rear wheel pin that catches and holds the rear wheel in the deployed state to fix a front portion of the inner extrusion and a rear portion of the outer extrusion before the rear wheel cam-latch clamps the inner and outer extrusions together.