Wheel Assembly with Jamming Particle Deformable Chamber

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wheels struggle to overcome obstacles taller than one-third of their diameter due to limited deformation and traction capabilities, especially when encountering steps or irregular surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A wheel assembly featuring deformable chambers filled with a transition substance comprising jamming particles and interstitial gas, which can transform between a fluid state for deformation and a rigid state for increased purchase on obstacles, utilizing an actuator to evacuate gas and rigidify the substance upon encountering an obstacle, and revert to a fluid state post-overcoming the obstacle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the wheel uses a conventional rigid structure, then it maintains structural stability, but it cannot effectively overcome obstacles taller than one-third of its diameter

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to overcome obstaclesVSAvoidobstacle height limit

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The wheel assembly employs a transition substance that can dynamically change its state between fluid and rigid. When encountering an obstacle, the substance transforms from fluid to rigid state, enabling the wheel to adapt its structure to overcome obstacles taller than conventional wheels can handle, thus resolving the contradiction between structural stability and adaptability to varying obstacle heights

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state parameter of the transition substance within the deformable chamber. By evacuating interstitial gas to transform the substance from fluid to rigid state, the wheel can overcome obstacles beyond the conventional one-third diameter limit, while maintaining structural integrity through controlled parameter changes rather than permanent structural modification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the wheel uses a deformable chamber with transition substance, then it can overcome larger obstacles, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobstacle overcoming capabilityVSAvoidwheel structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the deformable chamber, transition substance, and actuator into an integrated wheel assembly system. The deformable chamber contains the transition substance that directly interacts with obstacles, while the actuator is integrated to control the substance's state transformation, reducing overall system complexity compared to separate components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The actuator controls the physical state parameter of the transition substance by evacuating or introducing interstitial gas. This parameter-based control mechanism simplifies the system compared to mechanical actuators, as it uses gas pressure changes to trigger the fluid-rigid transformation of the transition substance, thereby managing complexity through intelligent material behavior

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Force

If the transition substance is rigidified by evacuating interstitial gas, then it provides increased purchase on obstacles, but energy is consumed for gas evacuation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraction force on obstacleVSAvoidenergy for actuator operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The actuator operates periodically, evacuating interstitial gas only when obstacle detection sensors indicate the need for increased traction. This periodic operation rather than continuous operation reduces energy consumption while maintaining the ability to provide increased purchase on obstacles when required, resolving the contradiction between force generation and energy use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Enables the wheel assembly to effectively overcome obstacles taller than conventional limits by maintaining conformal deformation and providing enhanced traction and shock absorption, allowing for smoother navigation of irregular surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

a transition substance comprising jamming particles and an interstitial gas, and an actuator configured to transform the transition substance between: a fluid state in which the deformable chamber can deform into a conformal state

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJamming transition:

Implementation Method 2

a rigid state in which the transition substance is rigidified by evacuation of the interstitial gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas evacuation:

Data Source

PatentUS11602955B2Wheel assembly

Publication Date: 2023.03.14 AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE LTD

AI summary

This disclosure relates to a wheel assembly (1) comprising a wheel, a deformable chamber (6) containing a transition substance (15) comprising jamming particles and an interstitial gas, and an actuator (14) configured to transform the transition substance (15) between a fluid state in which the deformable chamber (6) can deform into a conformal state as the wheel encounters an obstacle during use, and a rigid state by evacuation of the interstitial gas in which the transition substance is rigidified to maintain the deformable chamber (6) in said conformal state to provide increased purchase on said obstacle.