King Pin Suspension Mount Adapter Reducing Axle Housing Size
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional suspension configurations for heavy-duty vehicles require bulky shock absorbers due to their mounting on the axle housing, limiting wheel travel and increasing the size of the axle housing due to a large moment arm.
Innovation Solution
Mounting the shock absorber directly to a king pin coupled to the axle housing, allowing the knuckle to rotate relative to the king pin, reduces the moment arm and enables a more compact axle housing while providing greater wheel travel by moving the shock absorber to an outboard location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the shock absorber is mounted to the axle housing in a traditional configuration, then the shock absorber can accommodate road load inputs, but the shock absorber becomes bulky and difficult to package within limited space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a king pin as an intermediary component between the knuckle and axle housing. The shock absorber is mounted to the king pin rather than directly to the axle housing, allowing the king pin to serve as a mediator that transmits road load inputs while enabling a more compact shock absorber configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mounting location of the shock absorber from an inboard position on the axle housing to an outboard position on the king pin. This spatial repositioning in another dimension (further from the axle housing centerline) allows the shock absorber to be more compact while still effectively accommodating road load inputs through the extended moment arm.
2Length of moving object
If the shock absorber is mounted inboard on the axle housing, then the shock absorber can be supported by bearings and fasteners, but the amount of wheel travel is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The king pin serves as an intermediary mounting point that extends the shock absorber's effective position outward. This allows the shock absorber to achieve greater wheel travel capability while the support structure (bearings and fasteners) remains on the king pin, which is itself supported by the axle housing.
3Length of stationary object
If the shock absorber is mounted inboard on the axle housing, then the mounting structure is simplified, but the moment arm on the axle housing increases undesirably
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing the king pin as an intermediary component, the patent transfers the shock absorber mounting from the axle housing to the king pin. This reduces the moment arm on the axle housing (allowing for a smaller axle housing) while the mounting structure complexity is maintained on the king pin through the use of bearings and fasteners.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the king pin is fixed to the knuckle and rotatably mounted on the axle housing, then the king pin can rotate relative to the axle housing, but the knuckle cannot rotate relative to the king pin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the mounting configuration dynamic by allowing the knuckle to rotate relative to the king pin through a bushing or bearing element. This dynamic capability enables both the king pin to rotate relative to the axle housing and the knuckle to rotate relative to the king pin, providing the necessary adaptability for steering operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A king pin is used to couple a knuckle and axle housing together in a steer axle assembly. The king pin is fixed to the axle housing and the knuckle is supported for rotation relative to the king pin. The king pin includes a cylindrical body portion and a suspension mount portion formed about one end of the cylindrical body portion. A shock absorber is mounted to the suspension mount portion of the king pin.