Air Spring Positioning via Locator Tabs and Retention Straps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles with single rate suspensions face a compromise between roll stability and ride quality due to a fixed spring rate, while variable rate suspensions using air springs are prone to wear and tear, leading to frequent replacements.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle suspension assembly featuring multiple support beams, air springs with locator-tabs and slots, and retention straps that prevent forward and aft movement of air springs, thereby reducing wear and accommodating lateral loads without contacting the bellows, thus extending their service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If air springs are used to achieve variable spring rate, then ride quality and roll stability are improved, but the bellows are susceptible to wear and tear leading to frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The air spring assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the bellows for suspension function, and separate locator tabs with slots for positioning and retention. This segmentation isolates the bellows from contact with structural elements, preventing wear while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Locator tabs and retention straps serve as intermediary elements between the air spring and the suspension structure. These intermediaries transfer positioning and retention functions away from the bellows, protecting the bellows from direct contact and wear with metal components.
2Reliability
If the air spring is restrained to prevent movement, then wear is reduced, but the air spring needs to accommodate lateral loads during suspension articulation
Solution Approach 1:
The locator tabs and slots provide localized positioning at specific points on the air spring, while the bellows itself remains free to deform and accommodate lateral loads. This local quality approach allows different parts of the system to have different degrees of freedom appropriate to their function.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention system allows dynamic movement: the locator tabs are positioned above the cross tube and can move vertically with suspension articulation, while preventing forward and aft movement. This dynamic capability enables the system to accommodate lateral loads while maintaining positioning.
3Ease of operation
If the locator-tab contacts the bellows, then positioning is achieved, but wear and tear of the bellows occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The locator-tab-slot interface acts as an intermediary positioning mechanism that does not involve direct contact between the bellows and metal locator tabs. The slot receives the tab while allowing the bellows to pass through without contact, achieving positioning while protecting the bellows from wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function is extracted from the bellows and assigned to separate components (locator tabs and slots). The bellows is taken out of the positioning interaction entirely, allowing it to focus solely on its suspension function without subject to wear from positioning contacts.
Data Source
AI summary
Vehicle suspension assemblies including air spring assemblies and components of the vehicle suspension assemblies are described. A vehicle suspension assembly that is attachable to a pair of vehicle frame rails includes a pair of support beams and a cross member, such as a cross tube, extending between and connected to the pair of support beams. Each support beam includes a locator-tab and each air spring assembly includes a locator-tab-slot for receiving a locator-tab of a support beam. The cross tube is fastened to the air spring assembly via a retention strap that wraps around portions of the cross tube. The locator-tabs and locator-tab-slots may be operable, alone or in combination with the retention strap, as a lateral restraint. In this regard, the lateral restraint may restrain the air spring from moving in a lateral direction between two frame rails to which the vehicle suspension assembly attaches.