ObjectiveThe forestry power chassis generally makes open-air operation in the complex and changeable terrain, therefore it needs to have good adaptability and large and stable wheel contact force with the ground. In China, the research on special vehicle chassis in forest area is relatively weak, and the foreign forestry special vehicle chassis has certain limitations in practical application.

MethodIn this paper, we designed a new type of forest hinged mechanism, which is able to pitch, steer and side flip based on the movement principle and advantages of the multi-DOF parallel platform, and incorporate Creo Parametric and Adams/View for modeling and kinematic optimal design to assess the obstacle-navigation performance of the articulated mechanism, make co-simulation of common and parallel hinged chassis climbing slope and crossing obstacle at different obstruction levels. Through the curve of the height of the chassis centroid and the contact force curve of the wheel and the ground, we can analyze the obstacle-crossing performance of parallel articulated chassis and comparing it with common chassis.

ResultThe maximum steering and pitch angle of the parallel hinged mechanism increased after the optimized design. When the parallel hinged chassis crossed obstacle, its surface adhesion and maximum climbing angle and obstacle height were larger and it can ensure good obstacle-crossing ability within a certain scope of height.

ConclusionThe parallel hinged chassis obstacle-navigation performance is better than that of ordinary rigid connection chassis, and the parallel hinged mechanism is suitable for forestry power chassis.