Traveling Suction Toy With Eccentric Linkage Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Suction toys face challenges with weight balance and steering precision due to asymmetric weight distribution and unoffset moments, leading to inconsistent steering responses when moving along walls.
Innovation Solution
A suction-generating toy design with a chassis configuration that offsets weight moments by positioning drive motors and auxiliary wheels on opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal axis, coupled with a linkage mechanism to pivot limbs, enabling balanced steering through skid steering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If drive motors and auxiliary wheels are positioned on opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal axis, then steering balance and weight moment offset are improved, but device complexity increases due to the linkage mechanism required to pivot limbs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions drive motors and auxiliary wheels on opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal axis, creating an asymmetric weight distribution that offsets moments during steering. This asymmetric arrangement allows the toy to achieve balanced steering responsiveness by counteracting the natural weight bias toward one side, thereby resolving the contradiction between operational ease and device complexity through strategic component placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary wheels positioned on the opposite lateral side function as counterweights that offset the moment created by the drive motors and primary drive wheels. This counterbalancing arrangement reduces the net moment during steering maneuvers, enabling smoother and more controlled movement along walls and ceilings while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Reliability
If the toy contains all necessary components (fan, wheels, drive motors, control circuits, batteries) with sufficient housing strength, then reliability is improved, but weight increases making it harder to maintain suction adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed as a thin-walled structure that provides sufficient protection for internal components while minimizing weight. This flexible yet protective enclosure maintains the necessary structural integrity to protect the fan, wheels, drive motors, control circuits, and batteries during operation and repeated falls, while keeping the overall weight low enough to maintain effective suction adhesion on vertical surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The toy is divided into distinct functional modules (drive assembly, suction generation system, control electronics, power source) that can be independently optimized for weight and strength. This segmentation allows each component to be sized and constructed only as needed for its specific function, reducing unnecessary mass while maintaining overall reliability.
3Force
If suction force is increased to counteract toy weight, then adhesion to surfaces is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fan generates suction force that is sufficient to counteract the toy's weight and enable adhesion to vertical surfaces, but not excessively high to waste energy. The suction force is optimized to provide just enough adhesion for reliable operation on walls and ceilings, balancing the need for surface attachment with energy efficiency during prolonged use.
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 achieves balanced steering responsiveness and stable adhesion to surfaces, enhancing control and maneuverability of the toy on walls and ceilings.
Implementation Method 1
a motorized fan element that is fluidly coupled to the at least one opening and that is structured to draw air into the at least one opening for producing a low-pressure region thereabout
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a suction-generating toy, comprising a chassis, a fan, a first limb element for pivoting between first and second rotational positions, a first drive motor, a first primary drive wheel, a first auxiliary wheel that is rotatably connected to the first drive motor, and a first linkage element that includes a first end that is connected to an eccentric portion of the first auxiliary wheel such that as the first auxiliary wheel is driven to rotate by the first drive motor, the first end of the first linkage element moves through a first path of motion, and a second end that is coupled to the first limb element such that as the first end moves through the first path of motion, the first linkage element drives the first limb element to pivot between the first and second rotational positions.