Axle Guide Console for Adjustable Lifting Force Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing axle lift devices for vehicles, particularly in heavy-duty commercial vehicles, face mechanical stress due to permanent connection of air springs to chassis components, and require adjustable dimensions and geometries to accommodate different driving heights and angles, which is not efficiently addressed by current designs.

Innovation Solution

A console with two holding parts supported on either side of the axle guide, connected by a tension element acting as a transverse axis below the wishbone, allows for easy installation and adjustment of the lifting device, enabling safe transmission of lifting forces and accommodating various vehicle-specific requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the air spring is permanently connected to the bracket welded to the axle guide, then the lifting device provides stable support, but the air spring and lifting device experience high mechanical stress during chassis deflection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestable supportVSAvoidmechanical stress on lifting device
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting device is divided into two mechanically separate main components: a force element (membrane cylinder) fastened under the support, and a pressure receptacle forming an abutment on the wishbone. This segmentation allows the force element to remain fixed while the pressure transmission only occurs when actuated, reducing continuous mechanical stress on the connection points during chassis deflection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the same wishbones are combined with supports of different heights and air bags with different angles, then the lifting device can accommodate different vehicle types, but the pivoting range varies and requires different dimensions and geometries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of different vehicle typesVSAvoidadjustment of dimensions and geometries
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The console is designed with adjustable characteristics including adjustable height and adjustable angle of the abutment for the pressure transmission. This allows the lifting device to be adapted to different vehicle types and driving height requirements without changing the fundamental structure, maintaining versatility while reducing the complexity of complete redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Strength

If the pressure receptacle is integrated into the cast material of the axle guide, then the structure is rigid and stable, but the design cannot be easily adjusted for different vehicle requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural rigidityVSAvoidadjustability for different vehicle requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure receptacle is separated from the axle guide as a distinct console component that can be independently designed and adjusted. This allows the axle guide to maintain its structural integrity while the console can be customized with different abutment positions, heights, and angles to suit various vehicle requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The console serves as a universal interface between the lifting device and the axle guide, capable of accommodating multiple configurations through its adjustable characteristics. This single component can adapt to different vehicle types and driving height requirements, eliminating the need for multiple specialized designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2647512B1Axle guide
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 BPW BERGISCHE ACHSEN KG
  • EP2647512B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2647512B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5B
  • EP2647512B1 patent drawingFigure 6A~6C

AI summary

The wishbone (5) has a pressure retainer (15A) formed at a wishbone-side component of an axle lift for contact of a force link of the axle lift, where the wishbone-side component serves as a rigid console (15) fastened at the wishbone. Components of the console are designed as a holding element (21) and another holding element supported against respective sides of the wishbone and a pulling element (25) connecting the holding elements. The pulling element pressurizes the holding elements with force aligned against each other. The retainer is formed at an intermediate piece.