Steerable Rollers for Four-Way Wheel Arm Forklifts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel arm forklift trucks lack cost-effectiveness, space efficiency, and precision in lateral movements, with high energy consumption and complex drive systems, limiting their use as four-way industrial trucks.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating steerable rollers in the wheel arms that can rotate up to 90° or 360°, allowing for precise and robust four-way mobility, with electric motors and gear units for compact and efficient steering, and redundant position sensors for reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If steerable rollers are added to wheel arms to enable four-way movement, then mobility flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the steering function with the existing wheel arm structure by integrating steerable rollers directly into the wheel arms. This merging approach enables four-way movement capability while avoiding the need for separate, complex steering mechanisms, thus improving adaptability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The steerable rollers in the wheel arms serve multiple functions: they provide both the rolling function for movement and the steering function for direction control. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve four-way mobility through a unified structure rather than requiring additional dedicated steering components, thereby managing complexity while enhancing versatility.
2Reliability
If traditional drive systems are used for lateral movement, then reliability is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steerable rollers utilize the existing drive system's motion to achieve lateral movement through their steering capability rather than requiring separate drive mechanisms. This self-service approach allows the system to maintain reliable operation through the proven drive system while reducing energy consumption by avoiding redundant power delivery for lateral movement.
3Ease of operation
If wheel arms are extended for better load handling, then load handling capability is improved, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs steerable rollers that can dynamically adjust their orientation to optimize load handling. By allowing the rollers to steer at different angles, the system can accommodate loads of varying dimensions and weights without requiring extended wheel arms, thus improving load handling capability while maintaining compact space requirements.
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
Enables flexible and stable four-way movement, reducing space and energy requirements, and providing an alternative to traditional four-way industrial trucks with improved precision and reduced costs.
Implementation Method 1
electric motors and gear units for compact and efficient steering
Implementation Method 2
electric motors and gear units for compact and efficient steering
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a wheel arm forklift truck (1), preferably as an automated guided vehicle, comprising a front end (10c) having at least, preferably exactly, two steerable drive rollers (11a, 11b); comprising at least one first wheel arm (10a) which extends in a straight line away from the front end (10c) and is fixedly connected to the front end (10c), wherein the first wheel arm (10a) has at least, preferably exactly, one first roller (12a); and comprising at least one first fork arm (15a) which is located above the first wheel arm (10a) in the vertical direction (Z) and is designed to be raised and lowered in the vertical direction (Z). The wheel arm forklift truck (1) is characterized in that the first roller (12a) of the first wheel arm (10a) is steerable through at least 90°.