Aluminum Cast Front Spring Bracket Weight Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing front spring brackets for trucks are heavy, limiting payload capacity and increasing front axle load, which is a concern for reducing overall vehicle weight and improving payload efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Designing the front spring bracket using aluminum cast components or alloys, particularly for the side parts and cross members, to significantly reduce weight while maintaining installation space and load-bearing capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If conventional materials (cast iron) are used for the front spring bracket, then the structural strength and load-bearing capacity are sufficient, but the weight of the front spring bracket is high, reducing payload capacity and increasing front axle load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight of front spring bracketVSAvoidload-bearing capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from cast iron to aluminum alloy, fundamentally altering the density parameter to reduce weight. This material substitution enables the front spring bracket to achieve approximately 50% weight reduction while maintaining structural integrity through optimized aluminum alloy composition and casting design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs aluminum alloy as a composite material solution, combining aluminum with specific alloying elements to create a material that offers both reduced weight and sufficient strength. The aluminum alloy provides an optimal balance between weight reduction goals and mechanical strength requirements for the front spring bracket application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If the front spring bracket weight is reduced to increase payload capacity, then the payload capacity and fuel efficiency improve, but the front axle load must be adequately supported

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepayload capacityVSAvoidfront axle load support
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

By changing the material density parameter from cast iron to aluminum alloy, the overall vehicle weight is reduced, directly increasing payload capacity. The front spring bracket weight reduction specifically decreases front axle load, allowing for improved payload distribution and potentially enabling higher payload capacities while maintaining axle load compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2257459B1Front spring bracket for a truck
Publication Date: 2014.07.23 MERCEDES BENZ GROUP AG
  • EP2257459B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a front spring bracket (18) for a truck, wherein said bracket can be attached to the front end of a vehicle frame (10) and comprises a side part (20) associated with a respective longitudinal frame carrier (12, 14) of the vehicle frame (10), which are connected to each other by way of at least one cross-member (22), wherein at least parts (20) of the front spring bracket (18) are configured as aluminum castings.