Front Fork Contact Structure for Stable Rigidity Under Bending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing front fork designs experience changes in rigidity due to bending loads, affecting braking sensation in motorcycles, as the gap between members shifts from non-contact to contact, altering the fork's stiffness.
Innovation Solution
A front fork design where a tubular outer tube and inner tube are connected via a connecting member with angled surfaces, forming a step and recessed contact portions to maintain contact without end surface contact, thereby stabilizing rigidity under bending loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If gaps are provided between members for assembly, then ease of manufacture is improved, but rigidity changes when members shift from non-contact to contact state under bending load
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting member is designed with a bent shape that preliminarily applies a pre-load force to maintain continuous contact between members. The bending portion is positioned to generate a force that pushes the first and second contact portions into constant engagement, preventing gap formation under bending loads while maintaining assembly ease
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the connecting member by introducing a bent shape with a bending portion. This geometric modification allows the connecting member to generate pre-load forces that maintain continuous contact between tubular members, thereby stabilizing rigidity while preserving assembly ease
2Stability of the object's composition
If members are designed to contact under bending load, then rigidity stability is improved, but braking sensation changes due to rigidity variation
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting member is designed with a bent shape that preliminarily applies a pre-load force to maintain continuous contact between members. The bending portion is positioned to generate a force that pushes the first and second contact portions into constant engagement, preventing gap formation under bending loads while preserving consistent braking sensation
3Ease of manufacture
If end surfaces are used for contact, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but contact is lost under bending load causing rigidity change
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting member is designed with a bent shape that preliminarily applies a pre-load force to maintain continuous contact between members. The bending portion is positioned to generate a force that pushes the first and second contact portions into constant engagement, preventing gap formation under bending loads while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from simple end-surface contact to multi-point contact involving side surfaces. The connecting member is designed with a bent shape that creates contact at multiple locations (first contact portion and second contact portion), adding dimensional complexity to ensure continuous contact under bending loads
Data Source
AI summary
A front fork includes a tubular outer tube, a tubular inner tube which is provided inside the outer tube and is relatively movably connected to the outer tube, and a connecting member which connects a wheel and the inner tube. The inner tube has a first contact portion which has a first surface and comes into contact with the connecting member. The connecting member includes a second contact portion having a second surface and coming into contact with the first contact portion and a space forming portion which forms a space in an axial direction in a state where the first surface of the first contact portion and the second surface of the second contact portion are in contact with each other.