Curved Vehicle Trailer Frame Front Module
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle frame front modules for trailers have angular designs with numerous vertical weld seams, leading to increased thermal distortion, manufacturing costs, and potential damage to connecting lines during turns, as well as higher fracture points and manufacturing time.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle frame front module with a curved design featuring first and second vertical webs with straight and curved sections, reducing the number of vertical weld seams and introducing a support plate to minimize damage to connecting lines, while maintaining structural integrity through top and bottom chords forming longitudinal beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If an angular design with cross members is used, then structural stability is achieved, but the number of vertical weld seams increases leading to thermal distortion and manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing the angular front module design with a curved front end configuration. The curved design eliminates the need for multiple vertical weld seams between cross members and longitudinal members, while maintaining structural stability through the continuous curved geometry that distributes thermal loads more evenly.
2Strength
If an angular design with multiple weld seams is used, then structural integrity is maintained, but manufacturing time and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple separate weld seams into a single integrated curved structure. By combining the front end components into a unified curved design, the number of welding operations is reduced, thereby decreasing manufacturing time and production costs while preserving structural integrity through the continuous geometry.
3Ease of manufacture
If an angular design is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but connecting lines are more prone to damage during turns
Solution Approach 1:
The curved front end design creates more space and a smoother geometry that reduces the risk of connecting lines (hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical) being pinched or damaged during turning operations. The curved configuration eliminates sharp angles that could act as hooking points, thereby improving reliability of the connecting lines while maintaining ease of manufacture.
4Strength
If an angular design with cross members is used, then structural rigidity is achieved, but thermal distortion from multiple weld seams increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved front end design reduces thermal distortion by eliminating multiple vertical weld seams that generate heat during welding. The continuous curved geometry distributes thermal loads more evenly throughout the structure, preventing localized thermal distortion while maintaining structural rigidity through the optimized curved configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a vehicle frame front module (100) of a vehicle frame (200) for a vehicle trailer. The disclosed vehicle frame front module (100) has a first vertical web (118) with a first straight section (112) and a first arcuate section (114) and a second vertical web (128) with a second straight section (122) and a second arcuate section (124). The first arcuate section (114) and the second arcuate section (124) are connected to each other and thus form an arcuate vehicle frame front module (100) in plan view.