Central Chassis Joint With Contactless Roll and Pitch Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing central joint devices for chassis components, particularly three-point links in vehicles, lack effective contactless detection of roll and pitch motions, leading to potential wear and separation issues that can compromise vehicle stability and safety.
Innovation Solution
A central joint device with a magnetic sensor unit comprising a non-contacting encoder and sensor element, arranged to detect roll and pitch motions relative to each other, integrated into the housing and joint pin units, allowing for contactless monitoring and minimizing wear, and capable of detecting vibrations and separation for early warning systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If contactless detection is implemented using magnetic sensor units, then wear is reduced and reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensor components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based detection systems with a magnetic sensor unit that operates contactlessly. The magnetic sensor unit includes a magnet arranged on the joint pin unit and a magnetic field sensor arranged on the housing unit, eliminating mechanical contact between detection components while enabling detection of roll and pitch motions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the moving joint pin unit and the stationary housing unit. The magnet generates a magnetic field that extends through space to the magnetic field sensor, enabling contactless transmission of motion information without direct physical contact between sensor components.
2Reliability
If encoder and sensor elements are arranged spaced apart and movable relative to each other, then contactless detection is achieved minimizing wear, but measurement precision may be affected by relative movement and spacing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical contact between encoder and sensor elements with a magnetic field-based detection system. The magnet fixed to the joint pin unit and the magnetic field sensor fixed to the housing unit maintain a spaced-apart arrangement while enabling precise detection of relative motions through magnetic field interactions without physical contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional mechanical contact detection to three-dimensional magnetic field detection. The magnetic field sensor detects variations in the magnetic field generated by the magnet in multiple spatial dimensions as the joint pin unit moves relative to the housing unit, enabling precise measurement of roll and pitch motions despite spatial separation.
3Reliability
If magnetic sensor units are integrated into housing and joint pin units, then early separation alerts can be provided enhancing safety, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection system into two separate segments: the magnet is integrated into the joint pin unit while the magnetic field sensor is integrated into the housing unit. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and assembled independently, then integrated together, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while enabling early separation detection through the relative positioning of these segmented components.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic sensor unit serves multiple functions: it detects roll motions, pitch motions, and potential separation between the joint pin unit and housing unit. By integrating both the magnet and magnetic field sensor into the respective components, the system provides comprehensive monitoring capabilities without requiring separate detection systems for each function.
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
Enables reliable detection of roll and pitch motions, reduces wear, and provides early separation alerts, enhancing user safety and comfort by integrating data for ride height control, roll stabilization, and steering assistance.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor unit (5) is provided for contactless detection of roll motions and pitch motions of the housing unit (3) and of the joint pin unit (4) relative to one another
Implementation Method 2
The sensor unit (5) comprises at least one sensor element (7). The encoder element (6) and the sensor element (7) are arranged to be spaced apart from one another and movable relative to one another
Data Source
AI summary
A central joint device for chassis components (2), particularly three-point link, is suggested. The central joint device comprises at least one housing unit (3), at least one joint pin unit (4) which is movably supported at least partially inside of the housing unit (3), and at least one sensor unit (5), particularly a magnetic sensor unit, which is provided for contactless detection of roll motions and pitch motions of the housing unit (3) and of the joint pin unit (4) relative to one another. The sensor unit (5) comprises at least one encoder element (6) and at least one sensor element (7). The encoder element (6) and the sensor element (7) are arranged to be spaced apart from one another and movable relative to one another.