Sliding-Axle Universal Wheel for Shock-Absorbing Obstacle Crossing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing universal wheels face challenges in crossing obstacles due to vertical immobility, violent shaking, noise production, and high interaction forces during vertical movement, leading to poor user experience.
Innovation Solution
A universal wheel design incorporating a support base with a steering assembly for 360° rotation, a rolling assembly with a slidably connected axle and roller, and a shock-absorbing assembly using a damped stretchable element like a spring or gas spring, aligned parallel to the moving direction of the axle, to reduce resistance and enhance obstacle-crossing ability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the universal wheel uses a fixed caster structure, then the structure is simple and stable, but the wheel cannot move in the vertical direction and cannot cross obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed caster structure into a dynamic one by introducing an axle that can slide along the radial direction within a chute. This allows the wheel to move vertically when encountering obstacles, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and vertical movement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support base is divided into functional components including a chute, an axle, and a shock-absorbing assembly. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall structural simplicity, enabling vertical movement without excessive complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the universal wheel encounters a high obstacle, then the wheel can cross the obstacle, but the wheel shakes violently and produces noise
Solution Approach 1:
The shock-absorbing assembly with a damped stretchable element is pre-configured to cushion the impact before the axle encounters the obstacle. This beforehand cushioning reduces the violent shaking and noise during obstacle crossing while maintaining the ability to cross high obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The damped stretchable element acts as an intermediary between the axle and the support base, absorbing and dampening the shock forces during obstacle crossing. This intermediary component reduces the harmful vibrations and noise transmitted to the wheel structure.
3Force
If the angle between the interaction force and the vertical force on the universal wheel is large, then the wheel can contact the obstacle, but it is difficult to lift the wheel vertically
Solution Approach 1:
The chute is designed with an asymmetric oblique surface that guides the axle during vertical movement. This asymmetric geometry optimizes the force distribution, reducing the angle between the interaction force and the vertical force, thereby making it easier to lift the wheel vertically when encountering obstacles.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the stretchable element provides strong shock absorption, then the shock absorbing performance is good, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damped stretchable element serves multiple functions: it acts as a shock absorber, a guide for the axle movement, and a structural connector between the axle and support base. This multi-functionality provides strong shock absorption without significantly increasing device complexity.
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 design effectively reduces shock and improves obstacle-crossing performance by minimizing the angle between resistance and reaction forces, providing a smoother and quieter operation.
Implementation Method 1
a shock-absorbing assembly, the shock-absorbing assembly including a damped stretchable element having a lower end connected to the axle and an upper end connected to the support base
Implementation Method 2
a shock-absorbing assembly, the shock-absorbing assembly including a damped stretchable element
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses a universal wheel including a support base, the support base including a top portion connected with a steering assembly that enables 360° rotation of the universal wheel, and a rolling assembly, the rolling assembly including an axle and a roller rotatably connected to the axle. A coordinate system is constructed with a center of the roller as an origin, a traveling direction of the roller as a negative direction of an abscissa, and a direction perpendicular to the abscissa and extending upward as a positive direction of an ordinate, the support base has a chute located in a first quadrant, and the axle is slidably connected to the chute along a radial direction of the roller. This apparatus has good shock absorbing performance and a strong obstacle-crossing ability.