Vehicle Front Frame Suspension Housing Load Dispersion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle front body structures struggle to effectively restrain deformation of suspension housings under load from dampers, particularly due to limited shaping flexibility in manufacturing methods and the need for enhanced rigidity to maintain damper posture.

Innovation Solution

A front vehicle body structure design featuring a suspension housing with distinct first and second supporting parts fixed to the front frame at different positions in the vehicle width direction, allowing load transmission and dispersion to prevent deformation, along with an inclined damper posture and additional reinforcement elements like coupling panels to enhance stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the suspension housing is made more rigid to resist deformation from damper loads, then the structural strength improves, but the weight of the suspension housing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to loadVSAvoidweight of suspension housing
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension housing is divided into multiple functional sections: a first supporting part for mounting the damper, a second supporting part for mounting the link member, and a coupling part connecting these sections. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently for strength-to-weight ratio, enabling the housing to resist deformation while maintaining lightweight construction through targeted reinforcement only where structurally necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If the suspension housing is made more rigid to maintain damper posture, then the stability of the damper mounting improves, but the complexity of the housing structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of damper postureVSAvoidcomplexity of housing structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling part integrates multiple functions: it connects the first and second supporting parts, provides mounting positions for link members, and serves as a load transmission pathway. By merging these functions into a single integrated component rather than separate parts, the design achieves stable damper posture without increasing overall structural complexity, as the coupling part naturally provides the necessary rigidity through its design as a load-bearing connection element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If the suspension housing is designed with multiple supporting parts at different positions, then the ability to disperse loads improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload dispersion capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The first and second supporting parts are pre-positioned at optimally spaced locations on the suspension housing during the design phase, establishing load dispersion pathways before actual loading occurs. This preliminary arrangement of support elements allows the housing to naturally disperse loads through its structural geometry without requiring complex assembly procedures or specialized manufacturing processes, as the load-dispersing configuration is built-in from the start.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11225288B2Front vehicle body structure of vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.01.18 MAZDA MOTOR CORP
  • US11225288B2 patent drawing
  • US11225288B2 patent drawing
  • US11225288B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A suspension having a first link member that is coupled to a front wheel and a second link member that is located on a rear side of the first link member is mounted to a suspension housing. The suspension housing has a first supporting part that supports the first link member and a second supporting part that is provided on a rear side of the first supporting part and supports the second link member. The front frame has a first fixing portion to which the first supporting part is fixed and a second fixing portion to which the second supporting part is fixed, and the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are provided at positions different from each other in a vehicle width direction.