V-base knuckle for toe angle control and to reduce NVH in vehicle suspension

Abstract

The invention attached to the knuckle is called the V-base knuckle, which consists of 1. knuckle 2. V-plate 3. knuckle clamp 4. knuckle bushing parts 5. base clamps and 6. base. Its function is to provide better independent control of the toe angle and reduce noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) compared to the conventional suspension. The V-base knuckle is applicable to various types of vehicle suspension, such as torsion beam, trailing arm, semi-trailing arm, multi-link, and wishbone suspension.

Description

[0001] V-B ASE KNUCKLE FOR TOE ANGLE CONTROL AND TO REDUCE NVH IN VEHICLE SUSPENSION

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention is related to the field of automotive engineering, specifically to automotive parts used in vehicle suspension systems, particularly focusing on controlling the toe angle and reducing noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH).

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] Economical vehicle suspensions, such as torsion beam, trailing arm, and semi-trailing arm suspension are prone to noise, vibration, harshness (NVH), and also toe-out angle. In the past, there were several ways to solve this problem, mainly focusing only on modifications of the component attached to a knuckle, detailed as follows:

[0006] AUS patent publication number US 4,536,007 with the title of invention “VEHICLE REAR SUSPENSION MECHANISM” disclosed a system consisting of one knuckle and three rubber bushings. Toe angle control is provided by the mounting positions of the three rubber bushings, applicable to semi-trailing arm, multi-link, and de-dion axle suspension.

[0007] A US patent publication number of US 2010 / 0052271 Al with the title of invention “TORSIONALLY FLEXIBLE AXLE WITH ACTIVE CONTROL OF THE STEERING ANGLE USING A HYDROELASTIC JOINT” disclosed a system consisting of one knuckle, two articulations, and one bushing. Toe angle control is provided by the mounting positions of the two articulations, applicable to torsion beam suspension.

[0008] AUS patent publication number of US 2013 / 0056947A1 with the title of invention “COUPLED TORSION BEAM AXLE WITH SWING JOINT” disclosed a system consisting of one knuckle, one swing joint, and one bushing. Toe angle control is provided by the mounting positions of the swing joint, applicable to torsion beam suspension.

[0009] AUS patent publication number of US 2016 / 0375934A1 with the title of invention “WHEEL SUSPENSION WITH A VIRTUAL STEERING AXLE” disclosed a system consisting of one knuckle and three elastic bearings. Toe angle control is provided by the mounting positions of the three elastic bearings, applicable to torsion beam suspension.

[0010] The above inventions provide varying degrees of toe angle control through a unique mechanism and NVH reduction through bushing. However, the present invention which consists of one knuckle, one V-plate, and one bushing offers enhanced control of the toe angle through the use of virtual arms of the V-plate, with more control of the toe angle and reduced NVH through bushing, applicable to a torsion beam, trailing arm, semi-trailing arm, multi-link, and wishbone suspension.

[0011] Summary of the Invention

[0012] The present invention provides an advanced knuckle named V-base knuckle, consisting of six main components namely knuckle, V-plate, knuckle clamp, knuckle bushing parts, base clamps, and base. It provides flexible design allowing optimal installation across various suspension types. The V-base knuckle provides better performances in controlling the toe angle and reduction of noise, vibration, and harshness compared to the conventional suspension. The V-base knuckle is applicable to multiple suspension configurations, such as torsion beam, trailing arm, semi -trailing arm, multi-link, and wishbone suspension.

[0013] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0014] Economical vehicle suspensions, such as torsion beam, trailing arm, and semi-trailing arm often suffer from issues like noise, vibration, harshness, and also toe-out angle. Therefore, this present invention solves these problems occurred in torsion beam, trailing arm, semi-trailing arm suspension, and also provide more independently control of the toe angle and NVH in multi-link and wishbone suspension.

[0015] According to the FIG. 2-5, the present invention is integrated with trailing arm (13) as shown in FIG. 2, 3, 4 and linked to wishbone (14) as shown in FIG. 5 applicable on the left side of various suspension types.

[0016] The present invention is attached to the knuckle named V-base knuckle, comprising the following 6 main parts: knuckle (1), V-plate (2), knuckle clamp (3), knuckle bushing parts (4, 5, 6, 7), base clamps (8) and base (9) as shown in FIG. 1. Its function is to control the toe angle and reduce noise, vibration, and harshness. The V-base knuckle is applicable to various types of vehicle suspension, such as torsion beam as shown in FIG. 2, trailing arm as shown in FIG. 3, multi-link as shown in FIG. 4, having two rotating axes (11) linked to two lateral linkage arms (not shown), and wishbone suspension as shown in FIG. 5, having three rotating axes (11) linked to wishbone and one lateral linkage arm (not shown).

[0017] A knuckle (1) or wheel hub carrier is a solid part in which other main parts, such as a wheel hub, brake parts, a V-plate (2), a knuckle clamp (3), and / or knuckle bushing parts (4, 5, 6, 7), and / or rotating axes or pivot joints (11) are attached to or integrated with a knuckle (1). A knuckle (1) features a curved surface that fits a curved surface of V-plate (2) at common axes c-c and d-d.

[0018] A V-plate (2) has the original shape of being flat, rectangular, and made of flexible material, the same as a leaf spring. It was cut, drilled, and bent to form six vertical or near-vertical sections resembling a V-shape at common axes a-a, b-b, c-c, d-d, e-e, and f-f, which does not need to be symmetrical with parts of both ends, having a function to virtual arms at common axes b-b to c-c and d-d to e-e when viewed from top. Both ends of the V-plate (2) have a curved surface that fits a curved surface of two V-plate brackets (10) of a base (9) on both ends at common axes a-a, b-b, e-e, and f-f, and the middle has a curved surface that fits a curved surface of the knuckle (1) at common axes c-c and d-d. Two virtual arms at common axes b-b to c-c and d-d to e-e have a parallel or convergence angle (12) at the knuckle (1) side. A V-plate (2) is attached to the knuckle (1) and a knuckle clamp (3) with bolts and to two V-plate brackets (10) of the base (9) on both ends and base clamps (8) with bolts along a curved surface. A V-plate (2) cannot move away from common axes at a-a, b-b, c-c, d-d, e-e, and f-f due to common curved surfaces, pressing, drilling, and bolts. A V-plate (2) provides a function of controlling the amount of toe angle obtained from the relative length and convergence angle (12) of both virtual arms at common axes b-b to c-c and d-d to e-e. A knuckle clamp (3) is a solid plate with or without knuckle bushing parts (4, 5, 6, 7) whose function is to press the V-plate (2) against the knuckle (1) with bolts along a curved surface at common axes c-c and d-d.

[0019] In the event of attaching other main parts, such as drum brake parts, to a knuckle (1), V-plate (2), or knuckle clamp (3), if they are attached to a V-plate (2), a curved surface is provided to fit the curved surface of the V-plate (2) at common axes c-c and d-d.

[0020] Knuckle bushing parts (4, 5, 6, 7) consists of bushing socket (4), bushing (5), and bushing holder (6, 7). A bushing socket (4) and bushing holder (6, 7) are attached to or integrated with one of three main parts, namely knuckle (1), knuckle clamp (3), or base (9), separately or uniquely. Attaching or integrating can be selected in 4 ways from 6 ways, as shown in FIG. 6a-6f, effective as shown in FIG. 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and non-effective as shown in FIG. 6e, 6f. According to FIG. 1-5, and FIG. 6d, a bushing socket (4) is integrated with the knuckle clamp (3), and the bushing holder (6, 7) is attached to or integrated with the base (9). A bushing holder (6, 7) has two types which are fix holder (6) and adjust holder (7). A fix holder (6) has one end holding the bushing (5) and the other end integrated with the base (9) by welding as shown in FIG. 2, 3. An adjust holder (7) is a typical toe -adjust bolt that extends the body towards the head to hold the bushing (5) and the other end attached to the base (9) by bolt as shown in FIG. 1 , 4, 5 whose function is to initial alignment and setting of the toe angle. A bushing (5) installed in a bushing socket (4) functions in absorbing shock, noise, vibration, and harshness from the knuckle (1).

[0021] A base clamp (8) is a solid plate whose function is to press V-plate (2) against two V-plate brackets (10) of the base (9) on both ends with bolts along a curved surface at common axes a-a, b-b, e-e, and f-f.

[0022] A base (9) is a solid part comprising two V-plate brackets (10) on both ends, knuckle bushing parts (4, 5, 6, 7), and / or rotating axes or pivot joints (11), and / or other main parts, such as a damper bracket, sway bar bracket, or spring seat attached to it, or integrated into one part. Two V-plate brackets (10) integrated with a base (9) on both ends by welding as shown in FIG. 2-5 or integrated into one part on both ends as shown in FIG. 1. Two V-plate brackets (10) have a curved surface to fit a curved surface of V-plate (2) at common axes a-a, b-b, e-e, and f-f. A base (9) is integrated with one end of a trailing arm (13) as shown in FIG. 2, 3, 4 and linked by rotating axes or pivot joints (11) to one end of a wishbone (14) as shown in FIG. 5.

[0023] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a V-base knuckle, which consists of 6 main parts.

[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates a V-base knuckle, which has a base integrated with a left trailing arm of torsion beam suspension.

[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates a V-base knuckle, which has a base integrated with a left trailing arm of trailing arm or semi-trailing suspension.

[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates a V-base knuckle, which has a base integrated with a left trailing arm of multi-link suspension. FIG. 5 illustrates a V-base knuckle, which has a base linked to a left wishbone of wishbone suspension.

[0028] FIG. 6a-6f illustrates one embodiment of attaching or integrating knuckle bushing parts with three main parts, which can be selected in 4 ways from 6 ways.

[0029] Best Mode of the Invention

[0030] As described in the Detailed Description of the Invention.

[0031] Industrial Applicability

[0032] The V-base knuckle is appliable to various types of vehicle suspension, such as torsion beam, trailing arm, semi-trailing arm, multi-link, and wishbone suspension.

Claims

Claims1. AV-base knuckle comprising the following 6 main parts:

1. knuckle 2. V-plate 3. knuckle clamp 4. knuckle bushing parts 5. base clamps and 6. base, functioning in controlling a toe angle and reduce noise, vibration, and harshness in vehicle suspension system.

2. The V-base knuckle, according to claim 1 , wherein a knuckle or wheel hub carrier is a solid part with other main parts and / or knuckle bushing parts and / or rotating axes or pivot joints attached to it or integrated into one structure, featuring a curved surface that fits a curved surface of a V-plate.

3. The V-base knuckle, according to claim 1, wherein a V-plate is originally flat, rectangular, and made of flexible material, and is cut, drilled, and bent vertically or near-vertically, parallelly or near-parallelly at least twice at the knuckle side, resembling a V shape which does not need to be symmetrical with parts of both ends having a function to virtual arms when viewed from top, with both ends of the V-plate having a curved surface that fits a curved surface of two V-plate brackets of a base on both ends, and the middle having a curved surface that fits a curved surface of the knuckle, featuring two virtual arms having a parallel or convergence angle at the knuckle side; a V-plate is attached to the knuckle and a knuckle clamp with bolts and to two V-plate brackets of the base on both ends and base clamps with bolts along a curved surface, a V-plate cannot move away from common axes due to common curved surfaces, pressing, drilling, and bolts; functioning in controlling the amount of toe angle obtained from the relative length and convergent angle of both virtual arms.

4. The V-base knuckle, according to claim 1 , wherein a knuckle clamp is a solid plate with or without knuckle bushing parts, functioning in pressing V-plate against knuckle with bolts along a curved surface.

5. The V-base knuckle, according to claim 1, wherein a knuckle bushing parts comprising bushing socket, bushing, and bushing holder where a bushing socket and bushing holder are attached to or integrated with one of three main parts, namely knuckle, knuckle clamp, or base, separately or uniquely, featuring a bushing installed in a bushing socket function to absorb shock, noise, vibration, and harshness from knuckle.

6. The V-base knuckle, according to claim 1 , wherein a bushing holder can be selected from a fix holder or an adjust holder.

7. The V-base knuckle, according to claim 1 or 6, wherein a fix holder has one end holding the bushing and the other end attached or integrated into one with one of three main parts, namely knuckle, knuckle clamp, or base.

8. The V-base knuckle, according to claim 1 or 6, wherein an adjust holder is a typical toe-adjust bolt that extends the body towards the head to hold the bushing and the other end attached to one of three main parts, namely knuckle, knuckle clamp, or base by bolt, whose function is to initial alignment and setting of the toe angle.

9. The V-base knuckle, according to claim 1 , wherein a base clamp is a solid plate, functioning in pressing the V-plate against two V-plate brackets of the base on both ends with bolts along a curved surface.

10. The V-base knuckle, according to claim 1, wherein a base is a solid part comprising two V-plate brackets on both ends with a curved surface to fit a curved surface of V-plate, knuckle bushing parts, and / or rotating axes or pivot joints, and / or other main parts attached to it, or integrated into one part; a base is attached or integrated with one end of a trailing arm or linked by rotating axes or pivot joints to one end of a wishbone.

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