Configurable Vehicle Chassis for Multi-Ride-Height Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle chassis designs require multiple frames and complex manufacturing processes to achieve different ride heights, which increases parts and manufacturing complexity, making it impractical to reuse components across various vehicle models with distinct ride and performance requirements.
Innovation Solution
A configurable vehicle chassis system that includes reversible frames, multi-position wheel assembly mounts, and interchangeable components such as electric motorized wheel assemblies and performance packages, allowing for adjustment of ride height and performance needs by coupling different frame subassemblies and bridge portions, enabling common attachment strategies across different vehicle models.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple vehicle frames are manufactured to produce vehicles having different ride heights, then different ride height requirements are met, but parts quantity and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single vehicle frame is designed to serve multiple ride height configurations through reversible bridge portions that can be coupled in different orientations. The bridge portion is configured to couple wheel assemblies to the frame at a first orientation for a first ride height and at a second orientation for a second ride height, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated frames for different ride heights.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge portion is made reversible and reconfigurable, allowing it to dynamically change its coupling orientation. This enables the same structural component to adapt between different ride height positions by reversing the bridge portion's orientation, rather than requiring static, dedicated structures for each configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple vehicle frames are manufactured to produce vehicles having different ride heights, then different ride height requirements are met, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame design incorporates a universal bridge portion that can be manufactured once and used across different ride height configurations. This single component is designed with reversible coupling mechanisms that allow it to function in multiple orientations, simplifying the manufacturing process by eliminating the need to produce and manage multiple specialized frame variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle frame is segmented into modular components including the central frame, wheel assemblies, and reversible bridge portions. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently and then assembled in different configurations, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while enabling multiple ride height options.
Data Source
AI summary
An example vehicle frame subassembly for a vehicle is disclosed herein. The example vehicle frame subassembly includes a first frame portion defining a wheel axle, and a second frame portion extending from the first frame portion at an angle from the wheel axle, the wheel axle at a first height, an end of the second frame portion at a second height different from the first height, the vehicle frame subassembly to configure a vehicle for a selected ride height when the vehicle frame subassembly is implemented in the vehicle, the second height corresponding to the selected ride height.