Lean-Steer Scooter Front Axle Centering Without Steering Play
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scooters with steering mechanisms that rely on lateral balance can feel loose or unresponsive when riding close to straight, leading to reduced rider security and control.
Innovation Solution
A steering mechanism with a resilient element that urges the front wheels towards a centered position, combined with a conversion mechanism to convert the resilient element's action transverse to the tie bar movement direction, ensuring precise and stable steering without loose feelings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a steering mechanism with resilient elements is used to urge the steering towards a centered position, then the scooter supports the rider in riding straight, but the steering feels loose or unresponsive when riding close to straight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimension of the resilient element's action from longitudinal (parallel to tie bar movement) to transverse (perpendicular to tie bar movement). This dimensional change allows the resilient element to provide centering force without creating longitudinal play, thereby resolving the contradiction between steering stability and steering responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a conversion mechanism as an intermediary between the resilient element and the stub axles. This conversion mechanism translates the transverse action of the resilient element into longitudinal centering force on the stub axles, enabling precise centering without direct longitudinal connection that would cause play.
2Ease of manufacture
If the resilient element acts longitudinal to the tie bar main movement direction, then the centering action is direct, but imprecisions in the resilient element cause eccentric bias in the steering
Solution Approach 1:
The conversion mechanism serves as an intermediary that decouples the resilient element from direct longitudinal loading. By converting transverse resilient element action into longitudinal centering force, the system achieves precise steering accuracy without being sensitive to imprecisions in the resilient element's longitudinal characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The conversion mechanism预先 (in advance) converts the transverse resilient element force into precise longitudinal centering action, preventing eccentric bias before it can occur. This preliminary conversion ensures that even with resilient element imprecisions, the steering remains accurately centered.
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 combination provides a stable and responsive steering experience, allowing riders to maintain a straight path easily while enabling smooth lateral steering, enhancing the rider's sense of control and security.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient element configured to resiliently urge the stub axles towards a centered position corresponding to a straight riding direction of the scooter
Data Source
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Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
Scooter having an elongate base, a rear wheel and two front wheels, the front wheels being interlinked by a steering mechanism configured to be operated by a rider by leaning sideways, wherein the steering mechanism comprises: stub axles to which the front wheels are connected; a tie bar element mutually coupling the rotations of the stub axles about their kingpin axes, thereby determining a tie bar main movement direction of the tie bar element; a resilient element configured to resiliently urge the stub axles towards a centered position corresponding to a straight riding direction of the scooter, wherein the resilient element is arranged to act transverse to the tie bar main movement direction; and a conversion mechanism arranged to convert the action of the resilient element to a centering action on the stub axles towards the centered position.