Adjustable Suspension Mount Links for Vehicle Ride Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional systems for adjusting the ride height of land vehicles face limitations in capability, often requiring significant effort and resulting in detrimental effects on ride quality, wheel positioning, and steering alignment.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable suspension mount system with pivotally attached links that allow for the expansion or replacement of mount links to raise or lower the wheel relative to the frame, minimizing impacts on wheelbase and steering alignment, and utilizing a panhard linkage or triangulation to control the straight axle's position without traditional panhard bars.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional systems are used to adjust ride height, then ride height can be altered, but significant effort is required and adjustment capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension mount uses a link mechanism with pivot points that allows dynamic adjustment of ride height. The link can rotate about pivot points to change the position of the axle relative to the frame, enabling ride height adjustment from a low position to a high position without requiring significant effort or disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension mount is divided into separate components: a link with defined pivot points, an axle, a frame, and a wheel assembly. This segmentation allows the link to independently rotate and adjust the ride height while maintaining connections to other components, facilitating easy adjustment capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional systems are used to adjust ride height, then ride height can be changed, but ride quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The link mechanism maintains dynamic connectivity through pivot points that allow smooth rotation and movement. This dynamic connection preserves ride quality by enabling the suspension to absorb shocks and maintain proper wheel alignment while adjusting ride height, unlike rigid traditional systems that compromise ride quality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional systems are used to adjust ride height, then ride height can be altered, but wheel positioning and steering alignment are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The link mechanism with pivot points provides dynamic adjustment that maintains proper wheel positioning and steering alignment. As the link rotates to change ride height, the pivot points ensure that the wheel remains properly positioned relative to the frame, preventing adverse effects on steering alignment that occur with traditional adjustment systems.
4Adaptability or versatility
If ride height is increased to improve off-road capability, then obstacle traversal ability improves, but vehicle stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The link mechanism enables dynamic ride height adjustment, allowing the vehicle to achieve a high position for off-road capability when needed. The pivot-based connection maintains proper geometric relationships that preserve vehicle stability even at increased ride heights, unlike fixed traditional systems that compromise stability.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an adjustable suspension mount system that includes a first mount link pivotally attached to a mount feature and extending to a device used to support a load on a first wheel, the first mount link pivotally attached to the device. The mount feature is attached to or integrated into the frame of the vehicle. The system further includes a second mount link pivotally attached to at least one of the mount feature and a second mount feature, the second mount link extending to the first mount link, the second mount link pivotally attached to the first mount link. Further disclosed is a vehicle including the system, and a kit including the components to provide the system for a vehicle.