Angled Cross Member Support Assembly for Commercial Vehicle Chassis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional support arrangements for commercial vehicle frames face challenges during assembly due to manufacturing tolerances, requiring increased effort and complicating the replacement of cross members, which involves spreading the frame longitudinal members.

Innovation Solution

The support arrangement features angled cross member connection areas and support brackets, allowing for quick installation and replacement without spreading the frame, using a V-like or arrow-like configuration and screw connections for easy alignment and tolerance compensation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional cross member structure with support parts is used, then the cross member can be connected to longitudinal frame members, but assembly requires spreading the frame longitudinal members and increases assembly effort due to manufacturing tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly processVSAvoidframe spreading requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection areas are inclined at a predetermined angle (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the longitudinal direction of the cross member, creating a V-like or arrow-like configuration. This angular orientation in a different dimensional aspect allows the cross member to be installed without spreading the frame longitudinal members, transforming the assembly process from a linear constraint problem to an angular alignment solution that accommodates manufacturing tolerances naturally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of repair

If the cross member is fixed with support parts and screw connections, then reliable fixing is achieved, but replacement of the cross member requires removing the entire cross member assembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecross member replacementVSAvoidreplacement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The support parts are designed as separate, detachable components that can be independently removed from the longitudinal frame members. This segmentation allows the cross member to be replaced by simply removing the support parts and extracting the cross member, without needing to remove the entire cross member assembly or spread the frame longitudinal members, significantly reducing replacement time and effort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional support parts are used, then the cross member can be fixed, but manufacturing tolerances require increased assembly effort and possible frame spreading

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetolerance compensationVSAvoidassembly effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The inclination angle of the connection areas is specifically designed to accommodate typical manufacturing tolerances of frame longitudinal members. By changing the geometric parameter (inclination angle) of the connection areas, the system naturally compensates for dimensional variations in the frame members, allowing assembly without requiring frame spreading or excessive adjustment effort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2246240B1Support assembly for the chassis of a commercial vehicle
Publication Date: 2013.09.11 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE
  • EP2246240B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

Cross-member link-up areas (10,11) and with them allocated mounting-bracket link-up areas (7,8) are inclined/tilted towards the longitudinal direction of cross-members at a preset angle in such a way that opposing cross-member link-up areas and with them allocated mounting-bracket link-up areas are set up like a V or like an arrow.