Vehicle Cab Suspension Structure to Prevent Bottoming Out
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cab suspension systems fail to adequately isolate the driver or passenger from vibrations and impacts, leading to discomfort in heavy-duty vehicle applications, as they primarily focus on preventing damage to the vehicle rather than enhancing ride comfort.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle cab suspension system comprising a body with multiple resilient members and projections that control deformation and contact points to absorb and dissipate vibrations and impacts, ensuring a smoother ride by maintaining resilient members in a compressed state and using spacer plates for added stiffness and strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional suspension systems are used, then vehicle damage prevention is achieved, but driver comfort and vibration isolation are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system divides the vibration isolation function into multiple independent resilient members (springs, elastomeric elements, or dampers) positioned at different locations between the vehicle frame and cab. Each resilient member independently absorbs vibrations and impacts, collectively providing comprehensive vibration isolation while maintaining structural integrity and preventing vehicle damage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If resilient members are designed for maximum vibration absorption, then ride comfort improves, but risk of bottoming out increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system employs composite resilient members combining different material properties or structural configurations (such as spring elements combined with elastomeric elements, or progressive rate springs) that provide high vibration absorption during normal operation while maintaining sufficient structural strength to prevent bottoming out under extreme loading conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient members are pre-configured with appropriate stiffness characteristics and pre-load conditions to provide cushioning action before bottoming out can occur. The system design ensures that the resilient members maintain contact and provide damping force throughout the expected range of motion, preventing direct metal-to-metal contact between the frame and cab.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple resilient members are used to improve vibration isolation, then ride comfort increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each resilient member in the suspension system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: supporting vehicle weight, absorbing vibrations, damping impacts, and providing structural linkage between the frame and cab. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity despite using multiple resilient members.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces the transmission of vibrations and impacts to the vehicle cab, enhancing passenger comfort by tuning the suspension performance to specific specifications through controlled contact and deformation, preventing 'bottoming out' and direct force transmission.
Implementation Method 1
resilient members (Fig. 4)... control deformation and contact points to absorb and dissipate vibrations and impacts
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~8
Figure 9~12
AI summary
A vehicle cab suspension (10) is provided with a body (12) having a mounting member (18) positioned at least partially within the body (12). One or more resilient members (20,22) connect the body (12) to the mounting member (18) and are placed in a compressed condition between the body (12) and the mounting member (18) when the vehicle cab suspension is in an unloaded condition. The body (12) may be formed of first and second body pieces (14, 16), each of which may be provided with upper and/or lower projections (38, 40) to restrict movement of the resilient members (20, 22) during use.