Independently Steered Work Vehicle for Slope Holding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing work vehicles struggle to maintain a stable stop position on inclined terrain for extended periods without increasing component complexity, and they face challenges in traversing irregular surfaces effectively.
Innovation Solution
The work vehicle employs a controller to independently steer and orientate drive wheels differently on each side, generating lateral friction to prevent rotation and maintain position, and features specialized tread patterns and auxiliary wheels for improved traction on uneven terrain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical parking brake is mounted to maintain stop position on inclined land, then the stop position can be maintained for long periods, but the number of components increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive wheels themselves provide the parking brake function by being oriented at different angles, allowing one wheel to resist the vehicle's tendency to slide downhill. The system uses its own existing components (drive wheels and steering mechanism) to achieve the parking brake function without adding dedicated braking components.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive wheels serve dual purposes: propulsion/steering during movement and parking brake during stationary periods. By enabling the steering mechanism to orient wheels at different angles while stopped, the same wheel assembly performs both driving and braking functions, eliminating the need for separate parking brake components.
2Reliability
If drive wheels are oriented at different angles while stopped, then stop position is maintained through friction, but the vehicle cannot move straight efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel orientations are dynamically adjusted based on the vehicle's operational state. During movement, all wheels are oriented at the same angle for efficient straight travel. When stopped, the steering mechanism dynamically reorients wheels at different angles to maintain position. This dynamic switching between configurations resolves the contradiction between travel efficiency and stop position maintenance.
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 vehicle effectively maintains its stop position on inclined surfaces without additional brakes and enhances traversal on irregular terrain through enhanced wheel interaction and traction mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
each of the right and left drive wheels interacts a force with each other in directions different from the rotation directions, and receives a reaction force in a lateral skidding direction from the ground. That is, when the drive wheel is about to roll, friction occurs between the drive wheel and the ground.
Data Source
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AI summary
A work vehicle including: a vehicle body 1 having a loading portion that is able to load a load; a plurality of drive wheels 2 each located in front and rear on both right and left sides of the vehicle body 1, and configured to be steered separately; a steering angle detection unit 32 configured to detect respective orientations of the plurality of drive wheels 2; and a controller C configured to perform drive control for driving each of the plurality of drive wheels 2 and control for changing the respective orientations of the plurality of drive wheels 2 separately. The controller C is configured such that the respective orientations of a first drive wheel 2 located on one of right and left sides of the vehicle body 1 among the plurality of drive wheels 2 and a second drive wheel 2 located on the other of the right and left sides of the vehicle body 1 among the plurality of drive wheels 2 are different from each other when the drive control is stopped.