Sheet Metal Drive Disk for Frictional Wheel Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing frictional drive units for inverted pendulum vehicles face challenges in manufacturing due to complex and costly assembly requirements of bearing walls and slots, which increase operational complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
The drive disks are designed using two sheet metal members with radially extending arm parts that support rollers, allowing for easy assembly and manufacturing, with the rollers being arranged in spaces between the arm parts in rotationally symmetrical positions, and bushings are used to support the rollers for maintaining constant rotational direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bearing walls are prepared as separate members and assembled to the base, then the base can rotatably support the drive rollers, but the number of operations increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the bearing wall function directly into the slot structure by forming bearing surfaces on the slot walls through machining or molding operations. This merging eliminates the need for separate bearing wall components, reducing assembly operations while maintaining the rotational support function for drive rollers.
Solution Approach 2:
The slot structure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it guides the drive roller, provides bearing surfaces for rotation, and structurally connects to the base. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate components, simplifying the overall assembly process.
2Reliability
If bearing walls and slots are arranged in different directions, then the drive rollers can be properly supported, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing wall surfaces are integrated into the slot structure itself, with bearing surfaces formed on the slot walls through machining or molding. This eliminates the need for separate bearing wall components and reduces manufacturing complexity, thereby lowering production costs while maintaining proper roller support.
Solution Approach 2:
The slot geometry is designed with specific angular orientations and surface configurations that provide the necessary bearing functionality. By optimizing the slot parameters (angles, surface finishes, dimensions), the design achieves reliable roller support without requiring additional components or complex multi-directional arrangements.
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
This design simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces costs, and facilitates easy assembly of drive disks while maintaining efficient rotational support for the rollers, enhancing the overall performance of the frictional drive unit.
Implementation Method 1
configured to rotate the main wheel around a central axis and an annular axis by applying a frictional force to the main wheel
Data Source
AI summary
Drive disks are configured to rotate a main wheel by applying a frictional force thereto. Each of the drive disks includes a base and a plurality of rollers. The base includes a first sheet metal member and a second sheet metal member. The first sheet metal member includes a first central part and a plurality of first arm parts. The second sheet metal member includes a second central part and a plurality of second arm parts. Each of the rollers has a first end and a second end in an axial direction thereof. Each of the first arm parts and each of the second arm parts support the first end of one of two rollers adjacent to each other and the second end of the other of the two rollers adjacent to each other.