Scissors Lift with Independently Steerable Wheels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scissor lift devices have limited mobility and access due to their design, requiring users to climb steeply to operate them, which is dangerous and laborious, and their elevated height restricts access to narrow areas.
Innovation Solution
A scissors lift vehicle with independently steerable wheel assemblies, including a master and slave wheel configuration, allows for enhanced maneuverability and control, enabling tighter turns and crab movements, and a user input system that adjusts steering angles and speeds to optimize navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional steering configuration is used, then the structure is simple, but the turn radius is limited and crab movement capability is non-existent
Solution Approach 1:
The steering system is segmented into independently controlled wheel assemblies, where each wheel can be steered individually about its steer axis. This segmentation allows the vehicle to achieve complex maneuvers like crab movement and tight turns by coordinating different wheel orientations, resolving the contradiction between enhanced adaptability and increased system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel assemblies incorporate variable-speed steer actuators that dynamically adjust steering angles and rates based on operational requirements. This dynamic control enables the system to adapt its steering characteristics in real-time, providing both tight turning capability and crab movement while managing complexity through intelligent actuation rather than mechanical complexity.
2Ease of operation
If scissors lift assembly is mounted on top of carriage, then lift function is achieved, but height is greatly elevated making access dangerous and laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by positioning the scissors lift assembly beneath the carriage rather than on top. This inversion lowers the vehicle's overall height, allowing users to access the work platform more easily and safely while still achieving the necessary vertical lift capability through the scissors mechanism's extension.
3Adaptability or versatility
If equipment is mounted under scissors lift assembly, then propulsion and control functions are integrated, but height is increased limiting access to narrow areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inversion principle by relocating equipment mounting from underneath the scissors lift assembly to the carriage structure. This repositioning lowers the vehicle's profile, enabling access to narrow areas while maintaining integrated propulsion and control functions through the carriage-mounted configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method of controlling a scissors lift vehicle are provided. The scissors lift vehicle system includes a carriage including a plurality of independently steerable wheel assemblies configured to engage a travel surface. The plurality of independently steerable wheel assemblies, each steerable about a steer axis of rotation include one of the plurality of wheel assemblies being designated a master wheel and the remaining wheel assemblies being designated slave wheels. The wheel assemblies each include a variable-speed steer actuator configured to rotate a respective wheel assembly about the steer axis of rotation of that wheel assembly at a selectable rate. The wheel assemblies each also include a wheel including a respective drive axis of rotation and a variable-speed drive actuator configured to rotate that wheel about a respective steer axis of rotation at a selectable rate.