Connecting Shoes for Variable Chassis Ground Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing commercial vehicle chassis designs cannot flexibly combine modules with different track widths and ground clearances, limiting their modular flexibility and adaptability.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates connecting shoes with adjustable flange surfaces and U-profiles that allow for varying ground clearance and track widths, enabling the combination of high-floor and low-floor modules, as well as modules with different longitudinal beam section sizes, through angled and rotatable connections that provide additional stabilization and rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional rigid connecting structures are used to connect longitudinal beam sections, then structural stability is maintained, but flexibility in combining modules with different ground clearances and track widths is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting shoe incorporates rotatable and adjustable components that allow dynamic reconfiguration of the chassis structure. The connecting shoe can be rotated about its longitudinal axis and adjusted to different angles, enabling the same connecting structure to accommodate modules with different ground clearances and track widths while maintaining structural stability through controlled mechanical connections
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed-angle connecting shoes are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the ability to achieve variable ground clearance and track width is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting shoe is designed as a multi-functional component that serves multiple purposes: it connects longitudinal beam sections, provides rotation capability about its longitudinal axis, allows angular adjustment, and accommodates different ground clearance requirements. This universal design eliminates the need for multiple specialized connecting components for different module configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting shoe is divided into distinct functional segments: the body portion for connection, the rotatable mechanism for orientation adjustment, and the flange surfaces for module attachment. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity
3Strength
If additional reinforcements are added to achieve stability with modular connections, then structural rigidity is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting shoe design uses the modular components themselves to provide structural reinforcement. The rotatable and adjustable mechanisms are integrated into the connecting shoe structure, eliminating the need for separate reinforcement elements. The flange surfaces and connection geometry are designed to inherently provide the necessary rigidity through the modular components' own structural properties
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The commercial vehicle has a chassis frame including an elongate carrier with two modular elongate carrier sections (1, 2). Ends of the carrier sections are connected with each other by connecting shoes (3, 4). The carrier sections are arranged in different levels of height. The shoes bridge height differences between the ends of the sections. The shoes include flange surfaces (5-9) bridging the height differences. Shoe parts are connected with each other by transverse carriers. A hole pattern receives fastening screws and rivets for connecting the flange surfaces.