Vehicle Suspension Inverted Wishbone Trailing Link
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle suspension systems often compromise between ride comfort and handling, requiring a high parts count that increases cost, weight, and complexity, while providing inadequate camber and toe control, especially in compact vehicle designs.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight suspension system featuring an inverted wishbone and a trailing link configuration with a reduced parts count, including an inverted wishbone with a single chassis attachment and two hub carrier attachments, and a trailing link extending forward to reduce material usage and weight, while maintaining effective camber and toe control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional multi-link suspension system is used, then ride comfort and handling are improved, but device complexity and parts count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system is segmented into distinct functional components: the support arm handles lateral location and primary suspension, the trailing link specifically controls toe and camber, and the spring/damper strut provides vertical support. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, achieving reliable ride comfort and handling while reducing overall complexity compared to traditional multi-link systems that require multiple arms for each function.
2Manufacturing precision
If more suspension arms and links are added, then camber and toe control is improved, but weight and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The trailing link is extracted as a separate, dedicated component specifically for controlling toe and camber parameters. By isolating this function into a single specialized link rather than relying on a complex multi-link arrangement, the system achieves precise camber and toe control while minimizing the number of parts and overall weight. The trailing link works in conjunction with the support arm to provide the necessary geometric control without requiring additional heavy components.
3Volume of moving object
If a compact suspension design is used, then space utilization is improved, but camber and toe control capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The trailing link is positioned and oriented in a specific spatial dimension, extending rearward from the support arm at an optimized angle. This dimensional arrangement allows the trailing link to effectively control toe and camber parameters without requiring additional lateral or vertical space. The support arm's lateral extension combined with the trailing link's rearward extension creates an efficient space utilization that maintains precise camber and toe control within a compact footprint suitable for modern vehicle designs.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle suspension comprises an assembly of a hub carrier and a support arm, the support arm being attached to the hub carrier at two points spaced from each other in the direction of travel and extending inwardly therefrom to a support arm attachment point for fixing to a chassis, and a trailing link extending from the assembly in a direction transverse to that of the support arm, toward a trailing link attachment point for fixing to the chassis. The trailing link preferably extends from the assembly in a forward direction, and is preferably connected directly to the hub carrier. A strut can extend upwardly toward an attachment point for fixing to a chassis, to provide a spring and damper. The support arm can comprise a pair of arms extending divergently from the attachment point to each of the two points. The hub carrier can include a pivot pin extending in a fore/aft alignment, passing through two pivot points on the support arm thereby to define the two points. The appropriate end of the pivot pin provides a convenient location for attaching the trailing link to the hub carrier. The invention further relates to a vehicle, comprising a chassis and at least two wheels, one on each side of the vehicle, each wheel being attached to the chassis via such a suspension.