Swing-Link Vehicle Chassis for Stable Narrow-Vehicle Cornering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Narrow vehicles face challenges in maintaining lateral stability during cornering, particularly on roads with lateral slopes, due to issues with centrifugal force and transverse inertia, which existing solutions like geometric, force, incline, and shifting methods fail to adequately address without increasing vehicle width, complexity, or cost.
Innovation Solution
A compact vehicle design incorporating a lateral shift mechanism using swing-link mechanisms, all-wheel steering, wide split wheels, and horizontal displacement of the center of gravity to compensate for centrifugal forces, reducing the turning corridor while maintaining stability and maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If geometric methods are used to expand the wheelbase and reduce the height of the vehicle's center of gravity, then lateral stability during cornering is improved, but the vehicle width increases resulting in congestion and reduced maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by implementing an active lateral shift mechanism that dynamically adjusts the vehicle body position during cornering. The control system activates the lateral shift mechanism to move the vehicle body in the direction of the turn, compensating for centrifugal force. This dynamic adjustment provides lateral stability without requiring a permanently wider vehicle configuration, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and width.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the center of gravity is lowered to create greater stability during turns, then lateral stability is improved, but ground clearance is reduced thereby limiting accessible areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the dynamics principle by implementing an active lateral shift mechanism that moves the vehicle body laterally during cornering rather than permanently lowering the center of gravity. The control system activates this mechanism to shift the center of gravity in the direction of the turn, providing stability without reducing ground clearance, thus allowing the vehicle to access areas with obstacles or uneven terrain.
3Stability of the object's composition
If force methods are used with air shock absorbers to adjust suspension stiffness, then stability during turns is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by implementing a lateral shift mechanism that utilizes the vehicle's existing motion and centrifugal force during cornering to automatically shift the vehicle body laterally. The control system activates the mechanism based on detected cornering conditions, and the mechanism itself generates the stabilizing effect without requiring additional power sources or complex active control systems, thereby reducing manufacturing cost compared to active suspension systems.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the Bose Suspension Stability System is used to raise and lower wheels to keep the vehicle body level, then stability during turns is improved, but the critical device becomes heavy and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by implementing a lateral shift mechanism that passively utilizes centrifugal force and vehicle motion during cornering to shift the vehicle body laterally. The mechanism requires minimal actuation force and no heavy motors, relying instead on the natural physics of cornering to generate the stabilizing effect, thus avoiding the weight and cost penalties of the Bose system.
5Ease of operation
If all-wheel steering is used to control turning radius, then maneuverability is improved, but mechanism complexity and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the merging principle by combining the lateral shift mechanism with the existing all-wheel steering system. The lateral shift mechanism works in conjunction with the steering system to provide enhanced stability during turns, rather than operating as a separate complex system. This integration allows the vehicle to maintain good maneuverability while adding stability capability without proportionally increasing complexity.
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 high cornering stability and maneuverability with a reduced turning corridor, comparable to conventional cars but in a compact form, without the need for additional power or complex systems, and provides enhanced safety and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
the weight of the movable part is shifted in the direction of a turn to compensate for the centrifugal force
Implementation Method 2
compensates for the centrifugal force and the transverse component of the inertia force
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a minimum size, maneuverable, comfortable, safe, and inexpensive compact vehicle, having a higher level of cornering/turning stability than the current state of the art. The inventive design may be applied to two-, three-, and four- (or more) wheeled vehicles. The invention may be utilized in the design of the main components of vehicles providing an increased stability during turning, even at high speeds, based on fixed and moveable chassis portions which swing in relation to one another and novel linking mechanisms connected with large and/or wide wheel portions.