Steering Mechanism for Drawn Vehicles Using Cable Sheave
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steering mechanisms for drawn vehicles limit the number of steerable axles due to force constraints, leading to tire wear, increased maintenance, environmental impact, and safety hazards, especially when navigating bends, as they require a limited number of axles to be steerable while others are fixed, resulting in twisting and rubbing, reduced load capacity, and increased fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
A steering mechanism utilizing a slewing bearing with a rocker and pulley system that transmits force through tackles, allowing a greater number of axles to be steered with reduced force requirements, enabling forces of up to 40 tonnes to be transmitted, thus reducing tire wear and improving safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional steering mechanisms with limited force transmission are used, then only a limited number of axles can be steered, but this results in tire wear, increased maintenance, and reduced safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cable sheave as an intermediary component between the tractor unit and the steered axles. The cable sheave converts the bending movement of the tractor unit into rotational movement that can steer multiple axles simultaneously, overcoming the force limitations of direct mechanical linkages
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic cylinders connected to the cable sheave to amplify the steering force. The hydraulic system converts limited mechanical force from the tractor unit into sufficient force to steer multiple heavy axles, resolving the contradiction between limited force availability and the need to steer multiple axles
2Object-affected harmful factors
If axles are placed close to one another to limit twisting and rubbing, then weight distribution becomes non-ideal and flipping hazard increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic steering control where the cable sheave automatically adjusts the steering angle of each axle based on the real-time bending movement of the tractor unit. This dynamic adaptation allows axles to be positioned optimally for weight distribution while maintaining proper steering angles to prevent tire twisting and rubbing
3Adaptability or versatility
If special and expensive constructions are used for drawn vehicles with high load capacity, then the steering mechanism can handle more axles, but the cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal steering mechanism centered around the cable sheave that can accommodate different numbers and configurations of steered axles. The same basic mechanism structure serves multiple functions - steering front axles, rear axles, or combinations thereof - eliminating the need for special constructions for different vehicle types
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables flexible configuration by allowing parameters such as the number of steered axles, their positions, and steering ratios to be adjusted without changing the fundamental mechanism design. The hydraulic system can be configured to provide appropriate force multiplication for different axle configurations
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 allows for a significant increase in the number of steerable axles, reducing tire wear and fuel consumption, extending tire life, minimizing environmental impact, and enhancing safety by improving weight distribution and reducing blind spots, while maintaining a compact and lightweight design suitable for various vehicle types.
Implementation Method 1
A cable whose first end is connected to a first side of the rocker and whose second end is connected to a second side of the rocker, whereby an interjacent part of the cable is placed around the second bearing part to transmit the rotation of the second slewing bearing part to a rotation of the rocker
Implementation Method 2
A tackle at each end of the cable, consisting of two or more pulleys, where at least one pulley of each tackle can be coupled to the drawn vehicle, hereinafter the fixed pulley, and a least one pulley of each tackle is on the rocker, hereinafter the movable pulley
Implementation Method 3
The force required to steer the steered axles is thus developed by the relative bending movement between the tractor unit and the drawn vehicle when taking a bend
Data Source
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AI summary
A steering mechanism for a drawn vehicle to steer one or more turnable steered axles that at least has: ° A slewing bearing. ° A rocker that is fitted around a vertical shaft and is turnable. ° A cable whose ends are connected to the rocker on either side of the vertical shaft and which is fitted around the slewing bearing to transmit a turn of the slewing bearing to the rocker; and, ° A tackle at each end of the cable with a fixed pulley that can be coupled to the drawn vehicle, and a movable pulley on the rocker.