Countersteering Rear Axle Torsionally Soft Supporting Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rear vehicle axles, particularly compound link and trailing arm types, exhibit oversteering tendencies under lateral force, requiring more complex constructions like elastic pivot bearings for stabilization, which are not structurally durable.
Innovation Solution
A countersteering rear axle design featuring two torsionally soft but bending-resistant supporting elements above and below the wheel center, inclined similarly to the virtual steering axle inclination, with upper and lower linkage elements connecting the wheel carrier to torsion supporting elements on the axle body, providing structural durability and allowing slight torsion under lateral force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elastic pivot bearings with swing plate are used to achieve countersteering effect, then the axle has stabilizing effect, but the construction is extremely high-expenditure and structurally not durable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the supporting elements by using bend-resistant but torsionally soft construction with specific inclination angles. This allows the elements to provide structural durability through bending resistance while enabling countersteering effect through controlled torsional deformation, eliminating the need for complex elastic pivot bearings.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting elements are designed with differentiated local properties: bend-resistant to maintain structural integrity and durability, but torsionally soft to allow the necessary rotational movement for countersteering. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between durability and functional complexity.
2Strength
If supporting elements are made bend-resistant to ensure structural durability, then longitudinal and vertical forces are adequately supported, but torsional stiffness prevents desired slight torsion under lateral force
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting elements are designed with specific geometric parameters and material properties that create anisotropic mechanical behavior: high bending stiffness through appropriate cross-sections and arrangements, but controlled torsional softness that allows slight torsion under lateral forces while maintaining overall structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction principles where multiple supporting elements with different orientations and properties work together to achieve combined bend-resistant and torsionally soft characteristics, resolving the contradiction between strength and flexibility.
3Reliability
If four elastic pivot bearings are integrated to achieve countersteering, then wheel steering stability is improved, but the construction becomes extremely high-expenditure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of countersteering from the complex elastic pivot bearing assembly and implements it through simpler bend-resistant but torsionally soft supporting elements with specific inclinations, significantly reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining wheel steering stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive elastic pivot bearings with simpler, more cost-effective supporting elements that achieve the same stabilizing function through geometric design and material selection rather than complex mechanical components.
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
This design achieves a simpler, structurally durable countersteering effect with reduced torsional stiffness, enhancing understeer stability and toe-in steering behavior, particularly during braking, while maintaining bending resistance against longitudinal and vertical forces.
Implementation Method 1
two torsionally soft but bending-resistant supporting elements... Because of the bending resistance of these supporting elements arranged as indicated above, a sufficiently structurally durable support is provided with respect to longitudinal forces as well as vertical forces acting upon the wheel or upon the wheel carrier. However, as a result of the torsional softness of these elements, a desired slight torsion of the wheel or the wheel carrier under the influence of lateral force becomes possible
Data Source
AI summary
A countersteering rear vehicle axle, which under the effect of a lateral force upon the wheel that is outside during cornering and is fastened to a wheel carrier, causes a rotating movement of this wheel carrier about a virtual steering axle inclination in the toe-in direction. The wheel carrier is supported by supporting elements on an axle body extending essentially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Above and below the wheel center, in each case, two torsionally soft but bend-resistant supporting elements are provided which are essentially equally inclined with respect to the vertical direction. An upper linkage supporting element is supported, on the one side, on the wheel carrier and, on the other side, on an upper torsion supporting element which is supported on the axle body. A lower linkage supporting element is supported on the wheel carrier, on the one side, and on a lower torsion supporting element, on the other side.