Deformation Sensors on Chassis Control Arms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern motor vehicles with assistance systems often fail to alert drivers to chassis component defects, such as bent tie rods or deformed wishbones, leading to reduced service life and potential accidents, as existing overload detection methods are unreliable due to compensation effects and unclear measurement variables.

Innovation Solution

A deformation detection system using multiple sensors arranged in different planes to form a cage around the chassis component, with axial tension minimization and radially elastic fastening, ensuring direct error detection and compensation avoidance, and placement at areas of lowest structural stability for precise deformation measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If force or angle measuring units are used to detect chassis overload, then the system can identify potential overloading conditions, but the measurement reliability is reduced due to compensation effects between multiple control arms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverload detection reliabilityVSAvoiddeformation measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the measurement function by placing individual sensors on separate control arms rather than using a single force or angle measuring unit. This segmentation allows direct measurement of deformation on each component independently, eliminating the compensation effect where deformations of multiple control arms cancel each other out in force or angle measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical force or angle measuring units with deformation sensors that directly measure physical deformation of the control arm. This substitution provides more direct and reliable measurement of the actual structural change, avoiding the indirect inference required by force or angle measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If a single sensor is used to detect chassis component overload, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement reliability decreases due to lack of redundancy and error detection capability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor system complexityVSAvoiddetection system reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by positioning sensors at specific locations on the control arm structure where deformation occurs. The sensor arrangement follows the local geometric characteristics of the control arm, with sensors placed to detect deformation in different planes and directions, optimizing measurement quality without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the sensor is positioned away from the area of lowest structural rigidity for easier mounting, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the measurement precision of deformation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor mounting easeVSAvoiddeformation detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-positioning the sensor exactly at the area of lowest structural rigidity on the control arm, where deformation is most pronounced. This preliminary placement ensures maximum measurement sensitivity from the outset, allowing detection of even minor overloads before they progress to critical damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 provides reliable overload detection by directly indicating chassis geometry changes or damage, reducing unnecessary repairs and enhancing driver feedback on vehicle condition, thereby improving safety and maintenance efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the sensor is designed as a deformation detection sensor for a single chassis component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeformation detection: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP3601948B1Overload recognition system on a chassis part
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • EP3601948B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3601948B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3601948B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Disclosed is an overload recognition device for a bar-type chassis part, comprising a sensor that senses an expected state variable of the chassis part, characterized in that the sensor is in the form of a deformation-sensing sensor for an individual chassis part.