Integrated Suspension Support for Axle Lift Spring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing auxiliary axle set-ups with air suspensions face challenges in distributing the pressure from anchor bars and lift springs due to their complex construction and the curvature of drop axles, leading to structural weight and cost issues, as well as reduced flexibility and increased pressure concentration.
Innovation Solution
A support device using thin plates in an inverted 'V' format to attach anchor bars and lift springs, allowing for elastic deformation and reducing the support's role in bearing vertical loads, thus enabling a lighter and more economical construction that integrates the anchor bar and lift spring supports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If separate supports are used for anchor bars and lift spring, then attachment functionality is provided, but device complexity and structural weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the anchor bar support and lift spring support into a single integrated support structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate supports, reducing device complexity and structural weight while maintaining all necessary attachment functionalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated support structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it supports both the anchor bars and the lift spring, provides attachment points for suspension components, and accommodates the cardan passage. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed.
2Strength
If multiple attachment points with welding are used, then secure attachment is achieved, but pressure concentration on the axle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated support distributes attachment points across its structure, segmenting the load paths. This segmentation allows the support to manage stresses from anchor bars and lift spring separately, preventing concentration of pressure on any single point of the axle.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the support occupies larger areas for attachment, then attachment stability is improved, but the support behaves like a structural part and must be extremely strong and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin plate structure for the integrated support that provides sufficient attachment stability through its geometry and elastic deformation characteristics. This thin plate design avoids the need for heavy structural construction while maintaining stable attachment of suspension components.
4Reliability
If the support is made extremely strong to withstand pressures, then durability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the support by using thin plate geometry with specific dimensional relationships. This parameter change allows the support to achieve necessary durability through elastic deformation and geometric design rather than through heavy material construction, simplifying the overall system.
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
The solution provides a lightweight, economical, and flexible support system that absorbs axle deformations without transferring significant pressure to the anchor bar and lift spring, simplifying the axle set-up and reducing pressure concentration, while accommodating various axle types and sizes.
Implementation Method 1
connection between the axle and the support's upper part where the anchor bars and lift spring are attached is accomplished by extremely low rigidity to vertical flexing, in such a manner that it may deform elastically, absorbing the axle deformations
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle suspension includes at least one anchor bar, at least one axle lift spring, an auxiliary drop-type axle which may be selectively lifted or lowered and a single, integrated support attaching the at least one axle lift spring and the at least one anchor bar to the auxiliary drop-type axle, wherein the single, integrated support provides the only attachment of the at least one axle lift spring and the at least one anchor bar to the auxiliary drop-type axle, and wherein the support includes an open area configured to allow the passage of a cardan.