Bifurcated Suspension Upper Arm with Variable Cross-Section
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suspension devices face a trade-off between achieving high rigidity and weight reduction, with increased dimensions leading to higher manufacturing costs and limited design freedom.
Innovation Solution
The suspension device features an upper arm with bifurcated arm portions of varying cross-sectional areas, where the rear arm portion has a larger cross-sectional area than the front, and a rebound stopper is provided to absorb shocks, allowing for increased rigidity and weight reduction while maintaining design flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the dimension of the upper arm is increased to increase rigidity, then the rigidity is improved, but the weight and manufacturing cost are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The upper arm employs non-uniform cross-sectional areas along its length, with the distal end portion having a larger cross-sectional area than intermediate portions. This local quality variation concentrates material where rigidity is most needed (at the wheel connection point) while reducing weight in less critical areas, resolving the contradiction between overall rigidity and weight reduction
2Strength
If the dimension of the upper arm is increased to increase rigidity, then the rigidity is improved, but the manufacturing cost is increased
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing non-uniform cross-sectional areas rather than uniformly increasing the entire upper arm dimension, the patent achieves the required rigidity with minimal material usage. This localized material distribution reduces manufacturing cost compared to a uniform dimensional increase while still meeting the rigidity requirement
3Strength
If the dimension of the upper arm is increased to increase rigidity, then the rigidity is improved, but the layout of other members is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The non-uniform cross-sectional area design allows the upper arm to maintain compact overall dimensions while providing sufficient rigidity through strategic material placement. This compact configuration preserves design freedom for arranging other suspension members and components around the upper arm
Solution Approach 2:
The patent varies the cross-sectional area along the length of the upper arm (adding dimensional variation to an otherwise one-dimensional member), enabling rigidity optimization without increasing the overall envelope dimensions, thus maintaining design freedom for other components
Data Source
AI summary
A suspension device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure which is equipped with an upper arm which is supported by a knuckle of the vehicle wheel so as to be capable of oscillation, and also supported by a side member which extends in the vehicle front-rear direction so as to be capable of oscillation, wherein: the upper arm has a tip end section positioned at the outside end in the vehicle widthwise direction, and also has arm sections which fork from the tip end section toward the inside in the vehicle widthwise direction; and the upper arm is formed in a manner such that the cross-sectional area of one arm section is greater than the cross-sectional area of the other arm section.