Commercial Vehicle Chassis Auxiliary Longitudinal Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing commercial vehicle chassis designs face challenges in achieving optimal load-bearing capacity while minimizing weight and material usage, particularly under unfavorable operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
The chassis features auxiliary longitudinal members formed as open sheet metal profiles, supported at a distance from cross members via incompressible elements, allowing for the use of thin sheet metal and reducing direct contact with high reaction forces, thereby enhancing dimensional stability and load distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If solid steel profiles are used for auxiliary longitudinal members, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but weight and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using thin sheet metal profiles (1-6 mm thickness) instead of solid steel profiles for the auxiliary longitudinal members. The sheet metal profiles are formed into open cross-sectional shapes (U-shaped, C-shaped, or L-shaped) that provide sufficient structural strength while dramatically reducing weight compared to solid steel sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction by combining thin sheet metal profiles with support elements (such as rubber blocks, springs, or foam materials) that are arranged between the auxiliary longitudinal members and the cross members. This composite approach allows the thin metal profiles to carry loads while the supportive elements distribute stresses and prevent direct contact between the auxiliary members and cross members, thereby preventing plastic deformation.
2Device complexity
If auxiliary longitudinal members rest directly on cross members, then structural simplicity is improved, but risk of plastic deformation increases due to high reaction forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces support elements (intermediaries) positioned between the auxiliary longitudinal members and the cross members. These support elements can be made of rubber, spring materials, or foam, and they serve to distribute the high reaction forces that occur during vehicle operation, preventing concentrated loads that would cause plastic deformation of the thin sheet metal profiles. This intermediary layer maintains structural simplicity while significantly improving reliability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If thicker sheet metal is used for auxiliary longitudinal members, then dimensional stability is improved, but weight and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes thin sheet metal profiles (1-6 mm) with specifically designed open cross-sectional geometries (U-shaped, C-shaped, or L-shaped) that optimize dimensional stability for the intended load conditions. The open profiles are supported at multiple points along their length by support elements, which prevents excessive deflection and maintains dimensional stability without requiring increased material thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses dimensional stability by transitioning from a single-dimension solution (thicker material) to a multi-dimensional solution. The thin sheet metal profiles are arranged in specific spatial configurations and supported at multiple locations by support elements distributed along the length of the auxiliary longitudinal members. This distributed support system in the third dimension (vertical support spacing) compensates for the reduced material thickness while maintaining overall structural stability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a commercial vehicle chassis that possesses optimal load-bearing capacity with minimized weight and material usage. For this purpose, in a commercial vehicle chassis on which at least one axle of the commercial vehicle (1) is mounted and which comprises at least one longitudinal member (10, 11) and at least one auxiliary longitudinal member (28, 29), each extending in the longitudinal direction (RL) of the commercial vehicle (1), as well as at least one transverse member (15, 16) oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction (RL) of the commercial vehicle (1), which are rigidly connected to the longitudinal member (10, 11) and on which the auxiliary longitudinal member (28, 29) is supported, the auxiliary longitudinal member (28, 29) is formed, according to the invention, as a sheet metal profile open towards the transverse member (15, 16).