Rocking arm structure providing additional-wheel support and device having the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12447786-B2
Application number	US-202217939100-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2022
Priority date	Dec 22, 2021
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

A rocking arm structure includes an arm body, a motive wheel assembly connected to the arm body, a caster wheel assembly connected to the arm body, and a shaft assembly connected to the arm body and disposed between the motive wheel assembly and the caster wheel assembly. The two wheel assemblies are configured to revolve in a same direction around the shaft assembly and for example allow a 4-wheeled vehicle/robot to become a 6-wheeled vehicle for stability as required during changes of terrain.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rocking arm structure comprising:
an arm body;
a directional wheel assembly connected to the arm body;
a steering wheel assembly connected to the arm body; and
a shaft assembly connected to the arm body and disposed between the directional wheel assembly and the steering wheel assembly, wherein the directional wheel assembly and the steering wheel assembly are configured to revolve in a same direction around the shaft assembly;
wherein the arm body comprises a first plate, a second plate, and a third plate; the second plate is connected between the first plate and the third plate; the first plate comprises a second plate portion, the third plate comprises a fourth plate portion, a height of the second plate portion relative to the third plate is equal to a height of the fourth plate portion relative to the third plate; the steering wheel assembly is mounted on the second plate portion and the fourth plate portion.

2. The rocking arm structure according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft assembly comprises a connecting seat, a shaft, and a fastener; the connecting seat defines a through hole, the shaft is rotatably received in the through hole and connected to the arm body.

3. The rocking arm structure according to claim 2 , wherein the shaft assembly further comprises at least one bearing disposed in the through hole, and the shaft is rotatably disposed in the at least one bearing.

4. The rocking arm structure according to claim 3 , wherein the shaft comprises a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion connected to the first shaft portion, the second shaft portion is connected to the arm body; the first shaft portion comprises a convex block on a surface of the first shaft portion facing the second shaft portion; the second shaft portion comprises a fastening portion protruding from one of the at least one bearing away from the first shaft portion; the shaft assembly further comprises a first fastener fixed to the fastening portion, thereby causing the at least one bearing to be fixed between the first fastener and the convex block.

5. The rocking arm structure according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one bearing comprises two bearings; a flange protrudes from an inner wall of the through hole; the flange is disposed between and abuts against the two bearings.

6. The rocking arm structure according to claim 4 , wherein a protrusion is provided on an end surface of the first shaft portion away from the second shaft portion; the arm body defines a protrusion inserted into a mounting hole of the arm body.

7. The rocking arm structure according to claim 2 , wherein the connecting seat comprises a first seat portion and a second seat portion connected to each other, an outer diameter of the first seat portion is smaller than an outer diameter of the second seat portion; the connecting seat further comprises a first reinforcing rib, each of adjacent sides of the first reinforcing rib is connected to the first seat portion and the second seat portion respectively.

8. The rocking arm structure according to claim 1 , wherein the directional wheel assembly comprises a directional wheel and a driver, the driver is connected to the directional wheel and the arm body, the driver is configured to drive the directional wheel to rotate.

9. The rocking arm structure according to claim 1 , wherein the steering wheel assembly comprises a steering wheel and a connecting member; the connecting member comprises a first connecting end and a second connecting end opposite to each other; the first connecting end is connected to the arm body, the second connecting end is connected to the steering wheel.

10. A device comprising:
a main body; and
a rocking arm structure comprising:
an arm body;
a directional wheel assembly connected to the arm body;
a steering wheel assembly connected to the arm body; and
a shaft assembly connecting the arm body to the main body, the shaft assembly disposed between the directional wheel assembly and the steering wheel assembly, wherein the directional wheel assembly and the steering wheel assembly are configured to revolve in a same direction around the shaft assembly;

wherein the arm body comprises a first plate, a second plate, and a third plate; the second plate is connected between the first plate and the third plate; the first plate comprises a second plate portion, the third plate comprises a fourth plate portion, a height of the second plate portion relative to the third plate is equal to a height of the fourth plate portion relative to the third plate; the steering wheel assembly is mounted on the second plate portion and the fourth plate portion.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the shaft assembly comprises a connecting seat, a shaft, and a fastener; the connecting seat defines a through hole, the shaft is rotatably received in the through hole and connected to the arm body.

12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the shaft assembly further comprises at least one bearing disposed in the through hole, and the shaft is rotatably disposed in the at least one bearing.

13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the shaft comprises a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion connected to the first shaft portion, the second shaft portion is connected to the arm body; the first shaft portion comprises a convex block on a surface of the first shaft portion facing the second shaft portion; the second shaft portion comprises a fastening portion protruding from one of the at least one bearing away from the first shaft portion; the shaft assembly further comprises a first fastener fixed to the fastening portion, thereby causing the at least one bearing to be fixed between the first fastener and the convex block.

14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one bearing comprises two bearings; a flange protrudes from an inner wall of the through hole; the flange is disposed between and abuts against the two bearings.

15. The device according to claim 13 , wherein a protrusion is provided on an end surface of the first shaft portion away from the second shaft portion; the arm body defines a protrusion inserted into a mounting hole of the arm body.

16. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the connecting seat comprises a first seat portion and a second seat portion connected to each other, an outer diameter of the first seat portion is smaller than an outer diameter of the second seat portion; the connecting seat further comprises a first reinforcing rib, each of adjacent sides of the first reinforcing rib is connected to the first seat portion and the second seat portion.

17. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the directional wheel assembly comprises a directional wheel and a driver, the driver is connected to the directional wheel and the arm body, the driver is configured to drive the directional wheel to rotate.

18. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the steering wheel assembly comprises a steering wheel and a connecting member; the connecting member comprises a first connecting end and a second connecting end opposite to each other; the first connecting end is connected to the arm body, the second connecting end is connected to the steering wheel.

Assignees

• Futaijing Prec Electronics Yantai Co Ltd
• Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kao Chen-Ting
• Lee Chih-Cheng
• Wu Chiung-Hsiang
• Yen Sheng-Li
• Zhang yu-cheng
• Chao Chen
• Hsieh Chang-Ju

Classifications

• B60G7/001 Primary

  Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features (B60G7/006 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60G7/02

  Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle {(B60G7/006 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60G2500/32

  of only one vehicle part or side · CPC title

• B60G9/003 Primary

  the axle being rigidly connected to a trailing guiding device · CPC title