Steerable Wheel Mounting Assembly with Variable Track Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current steering mechanisms for utility vehicles with variable track width, such as agricultural sprayers, face challenges in delivering a robust steering force due to the acute angle between the steering actuator and the wheel-support assembly, requiring large actuators and complex mounting brackets to compensate for the low moment of force.
Innovation Solution
A wheel-mounting assembly with a steering actuator connected through an opening in the outer axle, allowing a more robust connection while maintaining the ability to adjust track width, featuring a polygonal cross-section to prevent rotation and a vertical opening to reduce dirt ingress, enabling a shallower angle and smaller actuator diameter for equivalent force delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the steering actuator is mounted close to the wheel-support assembly to accommodate the telescopic axle arrangement, then the variable track-width functionality is maintained, but the acute angle between the actuator and wheel-support assembly results in low moment of force and requires a large bore actuator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by routing the steering actuator through an opening in the outer axle, allowing the actuator to be positioned in a different spatial plane relative to the wheel-support assembly. This dimensional repositioning enables a shallower mounting angle that generates sufficient moment of force while preserving track-width adjustability
2Force
If a large bore actuator is used to compensate for the low moment of force, then sufficient steering force is achieved, but the actuator size and complex mounting brackets increase device complexity and reduce robustness
Solution Approach 1:
The opening in the outer axle serves as an intermediary structure that enables the steering actuator to connect to the inner axle through a more favorable geometric path. This intermediary feature allows the use of a smaller, more robust actuator with simpler mounting requirements while achieving the necessary steering force through improved moment arm geometry
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel-mounting assembly for an agricultural utility vehicle includes a chassis and a telescopic axle arrangement fixed to the chassis. The telescopic axle arrangement includes an inner axle telescopically received in an outer axle, which is fixed to the chassis. A wheel-support assembly is mounted to an outboard end of the inner axle. A steering-control actuator is connected between the inner axle and the wheel-support assembly. The steering-control actuator is connected to the inner axle through an opening provided in the outer axle, which allows the steering-control actuator to translate together with the inner axle when track width is adjusted.