Segmented Rolling Wheel Structure for Curved Surface Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wheels, both tire-based and magnetic, face challenges in adapting to curved surfaces, leading to reduced contact area and increased pressure, which can result in mechanical stress, limited lifespan, and reduced magnetic adhesion, especially on irregular or inclined surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A rolling device with a rotating hub and annular elements that maintain a constant clearance, allowing for controlled tilting and translation to adapt to curved surfaces, featuring translation guides and a magnetic field generator for enhanced contact and adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional circular wheels are used on curved surfaces, then the wheel structure is simple, but the contact surface area is small leading to high contact pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel is divided into multiple independent rolling elements (spheres, cylinders, or cones) arranged around the hub, each capable of independent movement. This segmentation allows each element to adapt to the curved surface independently, increasing the total contact surface area while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The rolling elements are made movable relative to the hub through articulation mechanisms (ball joints, pivots, or universal joints), allowing them to dynamically adjust their positions and orientations to conform to curved surfaces. This dynamic adaptation maximizes contact surface area without complicating the overall wheel structure
2Reliability
If clearance between rolling elements is reduced to prevent object insertion, then object protection is improved, but adaptability to curved surfaces is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The articulation mechanisms enable the rolling elements to dynamically adjust their positions, maintaining both small effective clearance for object protection and the ability to adapt to curved surfaces through controlled movement and orientation changes
Solution Approach 2:
The clearance between rolling elements is optimized to a specific small value that prevents object insertion, while the articulation mechanisms provide the necessary degrees of freedom to maintain contact with curved surfaces despite this reduced clearance
3Force
If ferromagnetic materials are used for magnetic wheels, then magnetic adhesion is strong, but the contact surface area remains small due to material rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic wheel is segmented into multiple ferromagnetic rolling elements, each making contact with the curved surface. This segmentation increases the total contact surface area while maintaining the strong magnetic adhesion properties of the ferromagnetic materials
Solution Approach 2:
The ferromagnetic rolling elements are articulated to dynamically adapt to curved surfaces, allowing the rigid ferromagnetic materials to achieve larger contact areas through controlled movement and orientation adjustment rather than material deformation
4Force
If magnetic field circulation is optimized for strong attractive force, then magnetic adhesion is improved, but adaptability to curved rolling supports is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic field system is segmented into multiple localized magnetic fields, each associated with a rolling element. This allows the magnetic field to effectively circulate through each element independently, maintaining strong attractive forces while adapting to curved surfaces through the distributed arrangement
Solution Approach 2:
The articulation mechanisms allow the magnetic rolling elements to dynamically adjust their positions and orientations, maintaining optimal magnetic field circulation paths while adapting to the geometry of curved rolling supports
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 solution ensures consistent contact area and reduced pressure on the rolling surface, improving mechanical strength and magnetic adhesion, enabling better load handling and propulsion on uneven or curved surfaces without the need for external power supplies.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic field generator (115), configured to produce a magnetic field through the peripheral rolling surface (111) of the annular elements (110)
Implementation Method 2
The magnetic field loops through the field generator and the wheels, from the external rolling support. This magnetic loop generates the attractive force between the magnetic conveyor and the external rolling support.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a rolling device (100), comprising a hub (101) rotatable about a direction (X), annular elements (110), arranged around the hub (101) and each having a peripheral rolling surface (111), rods (102) along a second longitudinal direction (L), a radial support (103) around the hub (101), the rods (102) passing through first recesses (105) of the radial support (103) and being inclinable with respect to the radial support (103). The invention is characterised in that each annular element (110) has second recesses (112), through which the rods (102) are able to slide translationally in the longitudinal direction (L) when the rods (102) are inclined, the annular elements (110) each having translational guides in planes (113) perpendicular to the direction (X).