Flexible Suspension Support for Wheel Load Measurement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support devices for wheel suspension arm assemblies face challenges in effectively supporting wheel loads, leading to high movability of the hub carrier and influencing measurements and adjustments.
Innovation Solution
The support device employs a retaining apparatus suspended on at least one flexible suspension body, which applies a wheel load to the hub carrier and supports the retaining apparatus with a force opposite to the wheel-load direction, allowing for different degrees of freedom of motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the retaining apparatus is rigidly mounted to support wheel loads, then the supporting force is improved, but the friction from mounting bearings influences measurements and adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible suspension body (such as a rubber element or spring) to connect the retaining apparatus to the support device. This flexible connection allows the retaining apparatus to support wheel loads while eliminating the need for rigid mounting bearings, thereby removing the source of friction that would otherwise influence measurements and adjustments of the suspension arm assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible suspension body acts as an intermediary element between the retaining apparatus and the support device structure. It mediates the transmission of wheel loads while allowing free movement in directions relevant to measurement and adjustment, thus decoupling the load-bearing function from the measurement function.
2Ease of operation
If the retaining apparatus is pivotally mounted on suspension bodies, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible suspension body that inherently provides pivoting and movement capabilities without requiring additional pivot bearings or complex mechanical joints. The flexibility of the suspension body itself enables the retaining apparatus to move and adjust as needed, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining ease of operation.
3Device complexity
If no additional bearings are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to support wheel loads effectively is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible suspension body is designed to bear wheel loads effectively through its material properties and structural design. It can deform elastically to absorb and distribute forces, providing adequate load support without requiring additional bearings or complex force transmission mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension body may be constructed from composite materials or materials with specific mechanical properties that combine high load-bearing capacity with flexibility. This allows the single component to simultaneously provide structural support and flexible movement without additional mechanical elements.
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 solution ensures effective support of wheel loads, reducing the need for additional low-friction bearings and allowing for free movability of the retaining apparatus and hub carrier, facilitating precise adjustments and measurements.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one suspension body flexibly yields, in other words, the retaining apparatus suspended on the suspension body is freely movable, apart from deformation force, which is necessary for the suspension body
Implementation Method 2
The stretch resistant and/or tension resistant flexible suspension body can be designed such that it only stretches or distends by a pre-determined extent due to the load from the retaining apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
A support device for use in adjusting and/or measuring a wheel suspension arm assembly. By means of the wheel suspension arm assembly, a hub carrier is movably articulated, with a plurality of degrees of freedom of motion, to a beam. The hub carrier is provided and designed for carrying a wheel of a vehicle. The support device includes a holding apparatus for holding the hub carrier, the holding apparatus having a wheel receptacle for receiving the hub carrier. The holding apparatus can be adjusted between a fixing position, in which the hub carrier is stationarily fixed to the holding apparatus, and a releasing position, in which the hub carrier can be removed from the holding apparatus. The holding apparatus is suspended on at least one flexible suspension element; a force application apparatus is provided for applying a wheel load to the hub carrier in a wheel-load direction, and the at least one suspension element supports the holding apparatus with a supporting force in a supporting-force direction opposite the wheel-load direction and movably bears the hub carrier with different degrees of freedom of motion.