Swingable Rear Wheel Geometry for Three-Wheel Turning Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional three-wheeled vehicles face challenges in improving turning performance due to limitations in the design of rear wheel suspension, particularly where rear wheels do not swing or have ground contact points that shift away from the swing axis during turning.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle design featuring a swingable rear wheel supported by a coupling member that allows the rear wheel to pivot closer to the swing axis during turning, maintaining ground contact points below the axis to enhance turning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the rear wheel is made swingable to improve turning performance, then the turning performance is improved, but the ground contact point shifts away from the swing axis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the swing mechanism by positioning the swing axis above the ground contact point. This vertical offset creates a geometric relationship where the rear wheel's swing motion naturally keeps the ground contact point aligned with the swing axis, resolving the horizontal misalignment issue while maintaining turning performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the key parameter of the swing mechanism by positioning the swing axis at a specific height above the ground contact point rather than at ground level. This parameter change in the vertical direction fundamentally alters the swing geometry, ensuring that during left-right swinging, the ground contact point remains directly below the swing axis, thus eliminating the horizontal shift problem.
2Device complexity
If the rear wheel does not swing to maintain structural simplicity, then the device complexity is reduced, but the turning performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the rigid, fixed rear wheel suspension into a dynamic swingable structure. The rear wheel is allowed to swing left and right relative to the vehicle body through a swing mechanism, enabling the vehicle to adapt its wheel position during turning operations, thereby significantly improving turning performance while maintaining acceptable structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle including a first member rotatably supporting a rear wheel, a second member disposed in front of the first member, and a coupling member disposed between the first member and the second member and fixed to the first member and the second member to support the first member and the second member swingably in a left-right direction about an axial line in a front-rear direction. The coupling member is provided so that a position of the post-swing ground contact point is closer to the axial line than a position of the post-swing ground contact point in the left-right direction before the first member swings, the ground contact point being a center in an area on a surface of the rear wheel in contact with a road surface, the post-swing ground contact point being the ground contact point after the first member swings about the axial line.