Automatic Steering Tower Layout for Compact Work Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing work vehicles face challenges in accommodating a motor and gear case for automatic steering due to limited space around the steering wheel, making it difficult to place these components efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a steering tower with the motor positioned under the steering wheel and laterally adjacent to the steering shaft, allowing for a compact arrangement of the motor and gear case, which are vertically aligned and supported by the gear case, eliminating the need for a dedicated support member. This configuration maintains a large open space and prevents the steering tower from becoming larger in the front-back direction, thus not disturbing the driver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the motor is placed at the base portion of the steering wheel, then the automatic steering mechanism can be implemented, but the space is limited and it is difficult to accommodate the motor
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is repositioned from the horizontal plane (base portion of steering wheel) to a different spatial arrangement under the steering wheel and laterally adjacent to the steering shaft, utilizing three-dimensional space more effectively. This dimensional repositioning allows the motor to be accommodated without occupying valuable horizontal space around the steering wheel.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the gear case is placed around the base portion of the steering wheel, then the gear mechanism can be housed, but the space is limited and it is difficult to place the gear case
Solution Approach 1:
The gear case is repositioned to a location under the steering wheel and laterally adjacent to the steering shaft, utilizing vertical and lateral space rather than horizontal space around the steering wheel base. This spatial reconfiguration allows the gear case to be accommodated in an previously underutilized area.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the steering tower is made larger in the front-back direction to accommodate the motor, then the motor can be housed, but it may disturb the driver
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly enlarging the steering tower in the front-back direction, the motor is positioned laterally adjacent to the steering shaft, utilizing the lateral space within the existing steering tower footprint. This localized spatial utilization avoids increasing the overall steering tower dimensions that would encroach on the driver's space.
4Area of stationary object
If the motor and gear case are placed in a compact vertical arrangement, then space utilization is improved, but the support structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The gear case is designed to serve dual functions: housing the gear mechanism and providing structural support for the motor. By merging the support function into the existing gear case structure, no additional dedicated support members are needed, thus avoiding increased structural complexity while achieving compact vertical arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
A work vehicle includes an automatic steering mechanism to automatically steer a vehicle body so that the vehicle body travels on a target travel path. The automatic steering mechanism includes a motor to drive a steering shaft to rotate, and is in a steering tower. The motor is under a steering wheel and laterally adjacent to the steering shaft.