Omnidirectional Wheel With Direct Worm-Driven Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing omnidirectional wheels require additional installation space and have inefficiencies in power transmission and contact surface area for conveying goods.
Innovation Solution
An omnidirectional wheel design with rollers directly driven by a drive worm, featuring a combination of worm drive and helical toothing, and rollers arranged at specific angular offsets and heights, with varying material properties and mounting methods to enhance compactness, efficiency, and contact surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional gearwheel and worm shaft transmission is used, then the omnidirectional wheel can be driven, but additional installation space is required between center shaft and rollers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the intermediate gearwheel transmission stage and connects the worm shaft directly to the roller threads, eliminating the need for additional installation space between the center shaft and rollers while maintaining the driving function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the driving function and the threaded roller structure into a single integrated component, where the worm shaft directly engages with the roller threads, combining the transmission mechanism and the conveying element to reduce overall device volume
2Loss of energy
If conventional transmission mechanisms are used, then power can be transmitted to rollers, but power loss increases due to additional transmission stages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate gearwheel transmission stage that causes power loss, creating a direct drive connection between the worm shaft and roller threads to minimize energy transmission losses
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a continuous power transmission path from the worm shaft directly to the roller threads without interruption or additional transmission stages, ensuring maximum power efficiency throughout the drive system
3Volume of moving object
If rollers are positioned closer to center shaft for compactness, then installation space is reduced, but contact surface area for conveying goods is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions rollers at an angular offset from the center shaft rather than directly adjacent to it, utilizing the radial dimension to achieve both compactness and adequate contact surface area through optimized geometric arrangement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the angular offset parameter between rollers and center shaft to achieve the optimal balance between compactness and contact surface area, adjusting this geometric parameter to satisfy both size and functional requirements
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 design achieves a compact, efficient, and effective omnidirectional wheel with reduced power loss and increased contact surface for conveying goods, allowing for precise control and conveyance of objects.
Implementation Method 1
the rollers are directly driven by the drive worm
Implementation Method 2
combination of worm drive and helical toothing
Implementation Method 3
high contact surface between the rollers and the goods to be conveyed
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an omnidirectional wheel (10) with a center shaft that extends along a center shaft rotational axis (A12) and a bearing drum (24) that can be rotated about a bearing drum rotational axis, at least three first-set rollers that are mounted on the bearing drum (24) such that they can be rotated about a first-set roller rotational axis (A14.i), which extends transversely to the center shaft rotational axis (A12), are arranged around the center shaft (12) at an angular distance from each other and each have a helical-toothed first-set roller outer thread (18), at least three second-set rollers (16.i), which are mounted on the bearing drum (24) such that they can be rotated about a respective second-set roller rotational axis, which extends transversely to the center shaft rotational axis (A12), are arranged around the center shaft (12) at an angular distance from each other, in particular with a respective angular offset (φ) to the first-set rollers (14.i) and each have a helical-toothed second-set roller outer thread (20), wherein the rollers at least partially protrude above the bearing drum (24) and wherein the omnidirectional wheel (10) is configured in such a way that a rotation of the center shaft (12) about the center shaft rotational axis (A12) relative to the bearing drum (24) effects a rotational movement of the rollers about their respective rotational axis in the same direction of rotation in each case, wherein the center shaft (12) comprises a drive worm (22) that engages with the outer threads.