Three-Wheel Vehicle Frame Layout for Tighter Turning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing three-wheeled vehicle design with steps inside the rear wheels increases vehicle width, compromising turning performance.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle design with a single front wheel and a pair of rear wheels, where the front frame is swingably connected to the rear frame via a connecting portion, allowing the front wheel to incline during turns, and the steps are positioned to avoid widening the vehicle, enhancing stability and turning radius.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the pair of steps are arranged inside the left and right rear wheels, then the vehicle width increases, but the turning performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a swingable front frame that can rotate relative to the rear frame about a longitudinal axis, allowing the front wheel to dynamically adjust its orientation during turns. This dynamic configuration enables the front wheel to achieve a larger turning angle compared to fixed configurations, thereby improving turning performance without requiring increased vehicle width
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle is divided into separable front and rear frames connected by a swingable mechanism. This segmentation allows the front frame to independently rotate relative to the rear frame, enabling the front wheel to achieve a larger effective turning angle and improving turning performance without increasing overall vehicle width
2Ease of operation
If the front wheel is made steerable with larger turning angle, then the turning performance improves, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering function is merged with the swingable frame mechanism. The front frame's rotation about the longitudinal axis inherently provides the steering action, combining the steering mechanism with the frame structure itself rather than using a separate, complex steering system. This integration achieves larger turning angles while maintaining relatively simple structure
Solution Approach 2:
The swingable front frame serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, enables steering through rotation about the longitudinal axis, and allows for dynamic adjustment during turns. This multi-functionality achieves improved turning performance without requiring additional dedicated steering components, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A
AI summary
A vehicle (100) includes a single front wheel (1) arranged on a center line extending in a front-rear direction, two rear wheels (2) arranged on a left side and a right side of the center line, a steering part (14) arranged above the front wheel (1), a placement part (25) on which feet of an occupant are placed, a first member rotatably supporting the front wheel (1) and supporting the front wheel (1) in a steerable manner by the steering part (14), a second member (20) arranged behind the first member (10) to rotatably support the two rear wheels (2), and a connecting part (7) connecting the first member (10) and the second member (20) swingably in a left-right direction about an axial line extending in the front-rear direction. The placement part (25) is supported by the second member (20).