Between-Frame Air Spring Suspension for Trailer Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional truck and trailer suspension systems face conflicts between safety, durability, and cost, with issues such as brake reactivity, dock walk, and inefficiencies in maintaining vehicle stability and cargo capacity due to their design.
Innovation Solution
A compact air spring suspension assembly is positioned between the frame rails of a vehicle, featuring a swing arm assembly and air spring housing that lowers the center of gravity, providing improved stability and reducing stresses on components, while maintaining flexibility and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the air spring is positioned between frame rails, then the center of gravity is lowered and stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the air spring, swing arm assembly, and housing into an integrated unit positioned between the frame rails. The air spring is mounted within the housing structure that also serves as part of the swing arm assembly, merging multiple components into a compact configuration that lowers the center of gravity while maintaining functional independence of each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension assembly is repositioned from a traditional side-mounted configuration to a between-frame-rails configuration, utilizing the vertical space between the frame rails. This dimensional repositioning allows the air spring to operate at a lower height, reducing the center of gravity without adding horizontal complexity to the suspension system.
2Reliability
If the suspension is made more rigid to maintain vehicle line of travel, then safety is improved, but durability decreases due to increased stress from deflections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses air springs instead of traditional mechanical springs, changing the suspension parameter from mechanical elasticity to pneumatic pressure. The air spring provides a softer, more compliant suspension characteristic that absorbs deflections more gently, reducing stress on rigid components while maintaining vehicle stability through adjustable air pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The swing arm assembly incorporates both rigid structural components (for maintaining vehicle line of travel) and flexible elements (the air spring and associated mounting mechanisms). This composite approach allows the system to maintain rigidity where needed for safety while providing flexibility through the air spring to reduce stress on individual components, thereby improving durability.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional trailing arm suspension is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but dock walk occurs due to rotation about single pivot point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rotation mechanism from the suspension assembly itself and relocates it to the wheel hub/steering knuckle area. The swing arm assembly is mounted to rotate about a vertical axis at the wheel hub rather than at the frame connection point, separating the steering/rotation function from the suspension function. This eliminates dock walk caused by rotation about the suspension pivot while keeping the trailing arm configuration for ease of manufacture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances stability, reduces the risk of tipping, allows for a larger cargo capacity, and minimizes dock walk by positioning a significant portion of the suspension assembly above the frame rail, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective suspension system.
Implementation Method 1
a compact air spring suspension assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A suspension system includes a frame mount assembly, a swing arm assembly and an air spring. The trailer includes a rail with top and bottom rail surfaces. The swing arm assembly is pivotally mounted to a pivot about a swing arm pivot axis located above the bottom rail surface when the suspension assembly is mounted to the trailer.