Telescopic Steerable Wheel Mounting for Variable Track Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural vehicles with steerable wheels face challenges in adjusting track width to navigate between crop rows without damaging crops, as existing systems require separate mechanisms for steering and track width adjustment, increasing part count and assembly costs.
Innovation Solution
A dual telescopic axle arrangement with integrated actuators for both steering and track width control, allowing simultaneous extension or retraction of axles to maintain constant steering angle and adjust track width, eliminating the need for dedicated steering apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate mechanisms are used for steering and track width adjustment, then steering control and track width control can be independently optimized, but the part count increases and assembly costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the steering mechanism and track width adjustment mechanism into a single integrated telescopic axle assembly. The inner axle can both steer relative to the outer axle and move transversely to adjust track width, eliminating the need for separate mechanisms and reducing part count while maintaining independent control capabilities through a unified actuation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic axle assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: steering the wheel, adjusting track width, and supporting vehicle weight. The inner axle serves both as a steering element and a track width adjustment element, making the system universal and eliminating the need for dedicated separate apparatus for each function.
2Ease of operation
If separate mechanisms are used for steering and track width adjustment, then each mechanism can be optimized for its specific function, but assembly costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the steering and track width adjustment functions into a single telescopic axle assembly with one inner axle and one outer axle, the patent reduces the number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled. This integration lowers assembly costs while maintaining the ability to independently control both steering and track width through coordinated actuation of the same mechanical elements.
3Device complexity
If a single axle arrangement is used for steering and track width control, then part count is reduced, but robustness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The axle assembly is segmented into an outer axle and an inner axle that can move independently relative to each other. The outer axle provides structural support and mounting points, while the inner axle performs both steering and track width adjustment. This segmentation allows the single-axle system to maintain robustness by distributing functions across two connected components rather than relying on a single overloaded element.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner axle is designed to be dynamic, capable of both steering rotation and transverse movement for track width adjustment. This dynamic design allows the simplified single-axle arrangement to maintain robustness by enabling the inner axle to adapt its configuration based on operational requirements, rather than requiring multiple static components.
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel-mounting assembly for a utility vehicle includes a chassis and a wheel support assembly mounted to respective outboard ends of first and second telescopic axle assemblies. The first and second telescopic axle assemblies are laterally spaced from one another and are each secured to the chassis. The first and second telescopic axle assemblies each include a respective actuator arranged to control extension and retraction thereof for steering and track-width control.