Axle Bridge Layout for Electric Drive Space in Commercial Chassis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing axle structures in commercial vehicles face challenges in providing sufficient space for electric drives while maintaining safe handling characteristics and driving comfort, particularly due to space constraints and conflicting design requirements.
Innovation Solution
The axle structure incorporates a U-shaped swing arm formed by control arms connected via an axle bridge, allowing for space optimization by eliminating a conventional axle tube, and utilizes suspension struts to maintain desired wheel geometry and absorb forces, with features like molecular and axial joints for enhanced flexibility and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a conventional axle tube structure is used, then structural strength and stability are ensured, but sufficient space for electric drive components cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The axle structure is divided into separate control arms that are connected via an axle bridge, replacing the conventional unified axle tube. This segmentation creates space between the control arms for electric drive components while maintaining structural integrity through the bridge connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The axle bridge connects control arms in a spatial arrangement that utilizes the dimension perpendicular to the wheel axis, creating a U-shaped swing arm configuration. This dimensional reorganization provides volume for electric drives without compromising the load-bearing capacity of the axle structure.
2Force
If the axle bridge is constructed rigidly, then transverse forces are distributed effectively, but unilateral deflection of control arms is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The axle bridge is designed with controlled flexibility parameters that allow it to maintain rigidity for effective force distribution while permitting limited unilateral deflection of control arms. The bridge can carry out torsional movements to a small extent, changing its structural parameters dynamically to balance force transmission and deflection requirements.
3Stability of the object's composition
If control arms are connected via axle bridge on the side facing away from pivot bearings, then better track guidance is achieved, but space in the region of the wheel axis is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of connecting control arms on the side facing the pivot bearings, the axle bridge connects them on the opposite side, inverting the conventional arrangement. This inversion achieves better track guidance through the U-shaped swing arm configuration while the connection geometry is optimized to preserve space in the wheel axis region for electric drive components.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an axle structure (6) for a commercial vehicle chassis having a wheel axle (R), the spatial position of which is determined by axes of rotation of at least two wheels (16) arranged on opposite sides of the axle structure (6). In order to create an axle construction (6) that leaves sufficient installation space to provide the commercial vehicle (2) with an electric drive in the area of the axle construction (6) and that nevertheless enables safe driving behaviour and a high level of driving comfort, according to the invention the steering arms (8) on the side of the wheel axle (R) facing away from the pivot bearings (10) are connected to one another via an axle bridge (22) and a fastening bracket (24) for connecting steering rods (26) is formed in the centre area of the axle bridge (22).