Variable-Diameter Wheel Assembly for Terrain Clearance and Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fixed-diameter wheels limit vehicle performance and terrain negotiability, as they restrict top velocity and ground clearance, making it difficult to navigate uneven surfaces and obstacles.
Innovation Solution
An expandable wheel design featuring a rim disc with radially extending channels and drive members that pivot outward when a rotational force is applied, increasing circumference and providing enhanced ground clearance and grip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed-diameter wheels are used, then the vehicle structure is simple, but the top velocity is limited and terrain negotiability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel transitions from a static fixed-diameter structure to a dynamic variable-diameter structure. The drive members can pivot between contracted and expanded positions, allowing the wheel to adapt its circumference and ground clearance dynamically based on terrain conditions, thereby improving terrain negotiability while maintaining structural feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel is divided into multiple independent drive members that can move relative to each other. Each drive member is pivotally connected to the rim disc and can independently change position, enabling the wheel to expand or contract its effective diameter in segments rather than as a monolithic structure
2Length of stationary object
If larger wheels are used to increase ground clearance, then the vehicle can negotiate uneven surfaces better, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using permanently large wheels that increase complexity, the invention uses drive members that can dynamically extend outward to increase ground clearance only when needed. The drive members pivot from a contracted position (normal operation) to an expanded position (obstacle negotiation), providing large ground clearance on-demand without permanently increasing structural complexity
3Speed
If the wheel circumference is increased to improve top velocity, then the vehicle speed increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel circumference is made variable through the pivotal drive members. During normal operation, the drive members remain contracted to maintain a smaller effective circumference for better acceleration and propulsion efficiency. When higher speeds are needed, the drive members can expand outward to increase the effective wheel circumference, thereby increasing top velocity without permanently increasing structural 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 expandable wheel allows for increased top velocity and improved terrain negotiability by expanding to accommodate obstacles, preventing 'bottoming out' and getting stuck, while maintaining propulsion efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Each sliding lever is slidably connected to a rim disc channel and a sliding lever disc channel via a sliding lever channel pin
Implementation Method 2
When a rotational force is applied to the sliding lever disc, the sliding lever channel pins travel from the drive ends of the rim disc channels and sliding lever channels to the axle ends of the rim disc channels and sliding lever channels to pivot the drive members to move from a contracted position to an expanded position
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable wheel (100) assembly attached to a vehicle includes a circular rim disc (200) operable to receive a plurality of drive members (300) about its circumference. The drive members (300) are pivotally connected to the rim disc (200) and expand outward from the rim disc (200) via sliding levers (500) when a rotational force is applied to the rim disc (200). As a result, the drive members (300) increase the ground clearance and enhance the ability for the vehicle to negotiate variable terrain while also increasing the top velocity of the vehicle. The expandable wheel (100) assembly contracts to a circumferential closed position when the rotational force is removed.