Vehicle Chassis Assembly with Outrigger Subassembly for Fatigue Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle chassis designs face challenges in supporting heavy armored cabs while maintaining structural integrity and reducing compliance and fatigue in frame rails, especially under increased load forces from added armor.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle chassis assembly includes frame rails, an outrigger subassembly, a subframe, skid plate, mounting plate, and axle assembly, with the outrigger subassembly supporting the cab and featuring a linkage and downtube configuration to distribute load forces and reduce fatigue in the frame rails, and the subframe and skid plate facilitating axle mounting and vibration damping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If armor is added to the vehicle, then protection capability is improved, but load forces on frame rails increase causing increased fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The chassis is divided into multiple load-bearing components including frame rails, outrigger subassemblies, subframes, and crossmembers. This segmentation distributes the heavy armor loads across multiple discrete structural elements rather than concentrating them on the frame rails alone, reducing fatigue in any single component.
Solution Approach 2:
The outrigger subassemblies extend laterally from the frame rails in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, creating a three-dimensional load distribution network. This dimensional addition allows loads to be transferred from the frame rails to additional support structures positioned at different spatial locations.
2Reliability
If heavy armored cab is supported, then protection is improved, but compliance and fatigue in frame rails increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cab support function is segmented across multiple structural elements: the frame rails provide primary support, while outrigger subassemblies, subframes, and crossmembers provide secondary and tertiary support. This distributes the compliance-reducing function across multiple components rather than relying on the frame rails alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The outrigger subassemblies and subframes are pre-positioned and rigidly connected to the frame rails before the vehicle operates. This preliminary structural configuration ensures that load paths are established in advance, reducing compliance under dynamic loading conditions during vehicle operation.
3Force
If outrigger subassembly is added to support cab, then load distribution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outrigger subassembly integrates multiple functions into a single structural unit: it provides cab support, distributes loads to the frame rails, and connects to the subframe and skid plate. This merging of functions reduces the total number of separate components needed compared to implementing each function with a separate component.
Solution Approach 2:
The outrigger subassembly serves multiple purposes: it supports the cab weight, distributes dynamic loads during vehicle operation, provides mounting points for additional equipment, and works in conjunction with the subframe and skid plate. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by having one component perform several roles.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle chassis assembly having first and second frame rails. The vehicle chassis assembly may have an outrigger subassembly that may support a cab of the vehicle and may be disposed on the first and second frame rails. The vehicle chassis assembly may have an axle assembly that may be fixedly mounted to a mounting plate that may be fixedly mounted to a subframe that may be fixedly disposed on the first and second frame rails.