Resilient Deflectable Arms for Vehicle Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle traction elements are optimized for specific surfaces, compromising their performance on diverse terrain and obstacles, and lack inherent springing and shock absorption capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle traction element with resiliently deflectable surface-engaging arms equidistantly spaced around a rotary or circulatory member, featuring an inner curved portion and an outer curved portion, allowing for enhanced grip and thrust by leveraging surface irregularities and providing increased footprint and shock absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated traction element designs (spikes, chevron ribs) are used for specific surfaces, then grip on that specific surface is improved, but performance on other surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The traction element employs arms with dual curved portions that can adapt to multiple surface types through a single design. The inner curved portion engages with surface irregularities while the outer curved portion provides leverage, enabling the same element to effectively traverse snow, ice, mud, sand, and obstacle surfaces without requiring dedicated designs for each terrain type.
Solution Approach 2:
The arms are designed to be resiliently deflectable rather than rigid, allowing them to dynamically adapt their configuration based on surface conditions. This dynamic flexibility enables the arms to yield under load and return to their original position, providing consistent traction across varying terrain types and surface textures.
2Strength
If rigid traction elements are used, then structural strength is improved, but shock absorption capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The arms are designed with specific geometric parameters including inner and outer curved portions with defined angles and radii. These parameter optimizations allow the arms to maintain structural strength while incorporating inherent springing capability through their curved geometry, enabling them to deflect under load and absorb shock without requiring separate cushioning elements.
3Device complexity
If conventional low-dynamic elements (rubber blocks, ribs) are used, then simplicity of construction is improved, but traction enhancement and shock absorption deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The arms incorporate double curved portions with specific geometric configurations. The inner curved portion engages surface irregularities while the outer curved portion provides leverage for overcoming obstacles. This curved geometry inherently provides springing action and shock absorption without requiring complex mechanisms or multiple components.
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
The traction element achieves improved traction on various surfaces and obstacles, including low-friction and vertical surfaces, with enhanced grip and thrust capabilities, and bi-directional traction, while maintaining structural integrity and constructional simplicity.
Implementation Method 1
each arm comprising an inner curved portion starting at the root and departing from the periphery at an acute angle on a concave side of the inner curved portion and an outer curved portion ending at the tip and curved in opposite sense to the inner curved portion
Data Source
Figure 1~5
AI summary
A vehicle traction element (10) for providing traction relative to a surface over which a vehicle equipped with the element is to travel comprises a rotary or circulatory member, especially a wheel (10a), which has a periphery (12) and is provided at the periphery with a series of resiliently deflectable surface-engaging arms (11). The arms (11) are equidistantly spaced around the periphery (12) and have the same shape and orientation. In particular, each arm has a root (13) at, and a tip (14) remote from, the periphery (12) and each arm comprises an inner curved portion (15) starting at the root and departing from the periphery at an acute angle (a) on a concave side (15a) of that portion (15) and an outer curved portion (16) ending at the tip (14) and curved in opposite sense to the inner curved portion (15). The resiliently deflectable arms (11) allow relatively smooth motion over normal surfaces, but can function similarly to claw-tipped legs to lever the wheel over an obstacle.