Electric Transfer Cart Steering Methods Guide

In contemporary industrial production, the transfer cart is an important material handling equipment, and its flexible steering system directly affects the efficiency and safety of transportation operations. However, in recent years, during communication with customers, Abby has found that many customers still do not understand the steering methods of electric transfer carts. 

Therefore, we intend to provide some valuable references for our customers through the following article, hoping to help them with their choices.

In the field of material handling, common steering methods include differential steering, hydraulic steering, and steering wheel steering. Next, let's understand their working principles, characteristics, and applicable scenarios together to provide a reference for your purchase.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Differential Steering--------------------------------------------------------------------

----Principle

Steering is mainly achieved by adjusting the speed difference of the drive wheels on both sides of the transfer cart . Its structure is similar to that of traditional cart differentials. This steering method does not require a complex steering mechanism, and the turning action is completed by the difference in the speed of the drive wheels on both sides.

-----Main Advantages

1. Simple maintenance: This type of material transfer cart has a simple steering structure, usually composed of a motor, a reducer, and a differential. The overall manufacturing is simple, and the later - stage maintenance cost is relatively low.

2. Flexible steering: It can achieve a small turning radius, and even 360° in - situ steering. It can flexibly move through even in narrow warehouse aisles. Especially in transportation operations in limited spaces, its advantages are more prominent.

3. Low cost: Compared with other steering methods, it is more cost - effective, and the overall price has great advantages.

4. Safe and reliable: Due to the absence of a complex system structure, the electric transfer cart using this steering method has a relatively low failure rate in customer use, which can ensure a long service life.

-----Disadvantages

· Not suitable for heavy - load scenarios: Generally, our transfer carts basically adopt this method for projects below 15 tons, and hydraulic steering is usually adopted for projects over 15 tons, which is more stable.

· Not suitable for precision transportation scenarios: This transfer method is difficult to achieve precise steering, so it is difficult to carry out efficient transportation in some transportation scenarios with high precision requirements.

----Application Scenarios

It is usually suitable for light material transportation scenarios that do not have high space requirements, need to change direction frequently, and need to turn in - situ, such as cargo transfer in the field of warehousing and logistics and transportation operations in ordinary workshops.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hydraulic Steering--------------------------------------------------------------------

----Principle

This part is composed of key accessories such as a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic cylinder. It mainly uses the hydraulic pump to provide power to drive the steering mechanism to steer. The steering wheel guides the material transfer cart to steer under the action of hydraulic pressure.

----Main Advantages

1. Powerful power: Hydraulic steering can provide strong power and achieve accurate steering even under heavy loads.

2. Stable operation: Relying on the hydraulic system, there will be no obvious sense of jerkiness during steering. Even on complex or uneven ground, the heavy - duty transfer cart can be guaranteed to run safely and smoothly.

3. Simple operation: It is usually controlled by remote control + operating handle, which does not require complicated processes, is easy to use, and has low requirements for the road surface.

4. Strong bearing capacity: Our company usually uses this steering method for electric transfer cartsabove 15t. It has good bearing capacity and can carry out heavy - object transportation operations of up to hundreds of tons.

----Disadvantages

· High maintenance cost: The system contains multiple cumbersome components such as hydraulic pumps and hydraulic cylinders, and has a complex structure. Once a failure occurs, the overall maintenance cost and difficulty are relatively high.

· Slow response speed: Compared with differential steering transfer carts, its response speed is slower and is not suitable for work scenarios that require fast steering.

----Application Scenarios 

It is usually suitable for scenarios that require heavy material transportation and industries that require high stability and accuracy. For example, heavy container transportation operations at ports.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Steering Wheel Steering--------------------------------------------------------------------

----Principle

This type of steering is an integrated drive device that uses an independently controlled steering motor to drive the steering wheel and accurately controls the angle of the steering motor to achieve various types of steering.

----Main Advantages

1. Flexible steering: The transfer cart of this type of device can achieve all - round movement, can rotate 360° in place, and can rotate at multiple angles according to transportation needs.

2. Precise control: The advanced control system can accurately control the steering angle of each steering wheel, thereby achieving high - precision steering operations.

3. Space utilization: Generally, this type of product has a compact structure and can effectively utilize space in a variety of complex and narrow transportation scenarios without occupying excessive space.

4. Degree of intelligence: Our company's automated product, the AGV transfer cart, adopts this type of steering to achieve unmanned intervention. It can also be integrated with other automated equipment for intelligent material autonomous transportation operations.

----Disadvantages

· High maintenance cost: It has a high level of technical content, uses a complex control system and independent drive motors and steering motors, resulting in high overall production and maintenance costs.

· High ground requirements: It is not suitable for uneven ground and overly soft and collapsed roads, which will affect the overall steering ability and stability.

----Application Scenarios

It is more suitable for highly intelligent automatic workshops or transportation scenarios that require high accuracy and flexibility, such as modern warehousing operations, where it can be integrated with other management systems to achieve operational optimization.

Summary

Through the above, we can see that each steering method has its unique advantages and different applicable scenarios. When choosing a electric transfer cart, customers should consider the maximum load, table requirements, actual working conditions, steering accuracy requirements, and project budget according to actual transportation needs, and choose a suitable steering system to ensure the efficiency, safety, and reliability of material handling operations.