Leaf Spring Suspension with Half-Axle Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Leaf spring suspension systems, such as the Hotchkiss drive, suffer from high unsprung mass and coupled wheel motion, leading to vertical deflection and wind-up during heavy cornering and acceleration, and lack independent suspension benefits.
Innovation Solution
A leaf spring suspension system with a chassis rail and half leaf springs fixedly coupled to the rail and vehicle axle, incorporating a hinge assembly for stress relief and adjustable mounting to control windup and stiffness, allowing for independent suspension and reduced unsprung mass.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a solid axle with Hotchkiss drive is used, then axle control is provided, but unsprung mass is high and coupled wheel motion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The solid axle is divided into separate left and right half-axles, allowing independent suspension of each wheel while reducing unsprung mass. Each half-axle can move independently, eliminating the coupled wheel motion problem of the solid axle design.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension system transitions from a rigid solid axle to a dynamic configuration where half-axles can move independently. The leaf spring arrangement allows each half-axle to respond independently to road conditions, providing dynamic adaptation while maintaining axle control.
2Device complexity
If a solid axle is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but vertical deflection and wind-up occur during heavy cornering and acceleration
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the solid axle into half-axles mounted on independent leaf springs, the system eliminates the wind-up and vertical deflection problems. Each half-axle is supported by its own leaf spring assembly, allowing independent movement and preventing the coupled deflection issues of the solid axle.
Solution Approach 2:
The leaf spring assembly acts as an intermediary between the half-axle and the vehicle frame. This intermediary component absorbs and manages the forces during cornering and acceleration, preventing direct transmission of wind-up and vertical deflection forces to the axle.
3Stability of the object's composition
If parallel leaf spring arrangement is used, then axle control is improved, but independent suspension benefits are lost and unsprung mass remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The parallel leaf spring arrangement is reconfigured so that each leaf spring assembly supports only one half-axle, enabling independent suspension. This segmentation allows each wheel to move independently while maintaining the axle control benefits of the leaf spring design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static parallel leaf spring arrangement to a dynamic independent suspension configuration. Each half-axle can move independently through its own leaf spring assembly, providing the adaptability and versatility of independent suspension while maintaining axle control.
4Force
If heavy vehicles use stacked leaf springs, then load is spread over larger chassis region, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of stacking leaf springs vertically to handle heavy loads, the invention distributes the load across multiple half-leaf springs arranged in parallel along the chassis. This dimensional change from vertical stacking to horizontal distribution maintains load-spreading capability while reducing complexity.
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 improved axle control, reduced power hop, and independent suspension, while maintaining load leveling and minimizing frame changes, effectively addressing the drawbacks of high unsprung mass and coupled wheel motion.
Implementation Method 1
a hinge assembly operatively coupled to the leaf spring and to the vehicle axle, the hinge assembly rotatable about the vehicle axle during displacement of the leaf spring
Implementation Method 2
Leaf spring systems have for many years been used for the suspension of wheeled vehicles. The central element of a leaf spring suspension system for a vehicle is termed a 'semi-elliptical' spring configured as an arc-shaped length of spring steel
Data Source
AI summary
A leaf spring suspension system for a vehicle includes a chassis rail. Also included is a leaf spring fixedly coupled proximate a first end and proximate a second end of the leaf spring to the chassis rail. Further included is a half leaf spring fixedly coupled to the chassis rail proximate a first end of the half leaf spring and fixedly coupled to a vehicle axle proximate a second end of the half leaf spring.