Automatic Tilting Vehicle Lock Device Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic tilting vehicles face challenges in promptly confirming the completion of switching the lock device from the unlock to the lock position, especially when the vehicle is tilted, due to the opposing rotation direction caused by gravity, which delays the confirmation of the lock device's position change.
Innovation Solution
The control unit is configured to gradually increase the force for rotating the rotary shaft, determining the lock pin's position based on specific angle and force reference values, and to rotate the actuator in the direction that aligns with the tilt angle increase or decrease, allowing quicker engagement or disengagement with the lock holder's teeth, thereby facilitating prompt confirmation of the lock or unlock position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lock device is switched from unlock position to lock position while the vehicle is tilted, then the gravity causes the rotary shaft to rotate in the opposite direction, but this delays the confirmation of switching completion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of gravity (which causes opposite rotation and delays confirmation) into a beneficial effect by detecting the tilt angle and intentionally rotating the rotary shaft in the direction that increases the tilt angle. This alignment ensures that gravity assists rather than opposes the rotation, enabling prompt confirmation of switching completion even when the vehicle is tilted.
2Reliability
If the rotary shaft is rotated in the direction opposite to gravity's action, then the lock pin can engage with the teeth, but the confirmation of engagement cannot be terminated promptly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the adverse effect of gravitational opposition into a solution by detecting the vehicle's tilt angle and rotating the rotary shaft in the direction that increases the tilt angle. This causes gravity to act in the same direction as the rotation, ensuring both reliable lock pin engagement with the teeth and prompt confirmation of the switching operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback by detecting the tilt angle of the vehicle and using this information to control the rotation direction of the rotary shaft. The control unit adjusts the rotation based on the detected tilt angle, ensuring that the rotary shaft rotates in the direction that increases the tilt angle, thereby aligning gravitational force with the rotation direction for efficient and reliable locking.
3Device complexity
If the lock device switching is performed without considering the tilt angle, then the structure remains simple, but the switching confirmation is delayed when the vehicle is tilted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tilt angle detection mechanism that provides feedback to the control unit. Based on the detected tilt angle, the control unit adjusts the rotation direction of the rotary shaft to increase the tilt angle, ensuring that gravity assists the rotation. This feedback-based approach maintains structural simplicity while eliminating the time delay in switching confirmation that would otherwise occur when the vehicle is tilted.
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
This configuration enables more rapid confirmation of the lock or unlock position, even when the vehicle is tilted, by aligning the rotary shaft's rotation with the tilt angle's direction, thus improving the efficiency of the lock and unlock processes.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator that rotates a rotary shaft about the swing axis to swing the swing member about the swing axis
Implementation Method 2
a swing member swingable about a swing axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, an actuator that swings the swing member about the swing axis
Implementation Method 3
When the swing member swings about the swing axis, the pair of connecting rods vertically move in opposite directions to each other, so that the front wheels move up and down in opposite directions relative to a vehicle body, thereby the vehicle inclines in a lateral direction
Implementation Method 4
when the automatic tilting vehicle is in a tilted state when the vehicle completes traveling, in a situation where the lock device is switched from the unlock position to the lock position, a tilt angle of the vehicle is increased by an action of the gravity, and accordingly, the rotary shaft of the actuator rotates
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
An automatic tilting vehicle which includes left and right wheels supported by wheel carriers, a vehicle tilting device and a control unit. The vehicle tilting device includes a swing member, an actuator that swings the swing member, a pair of connecting rods that are pivotally attached to the swing member and the wheel carriers, and a lock device that is configured to selectively prevent the swing of the actuator. The control unit is configured, when an ignition switch changes from ON to OFF, to switch the lock device from an unlock position to a lock position and to rotate the swing member by the actuator in a direction in which a tilt angle of the vehicle increases.