Leaf Spring Suspension Layout for Vehicle Body Vibration Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional suspension devices with leaf springs transmit vibrations from wheels to the vehicle body, compromising riding comfort and steering stability.

Innovation Solution

A suspension device featuring a belt-shaped leaf spring supported by first and second arms, with a coupling member that rotatably couples these arms, and holding parts that secure the leaf spring at positions between the coupling points, preventing direct vibration transmission to the vehicle body.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the leaf spring is attached to the member that supports the vehicle body, then the suspension device can support the vehicle body, but the vibration from the wheels is transmitted to the vehicle body through the member

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle body supportVSAvoidvibration transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The leaf spring is divided into multiple sections with different support points. One end is held by the first arm, the other end by the second arm, and an intermediate portion is supported by the member. This segmentation allows the system to support the vehicle body while isolating vibration transmission paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediate portion of the leaf spring acts as an intermediary element between the arms and the member. By supporting this intermediate portion on the member rather than directly attaching the ends, the system mediates the force transmission to reduce vibration while maintaining support functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the leaf spring is made of fiber reinforced plastics, then the vibration absorption capability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration absorptionVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The leaf spring is made of fiber reinforced plastics, a composite material that combines the strength and stiffness of fibers with the matrix material. This provides excellent vibration absorption capabilities while maintaining structural integrity. The belt shape and intermediate support configuration work synergistically with this material choice to achieve both performance and manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Effectively suppresses vibration transmission from wheels to the vehicle body, enhancing riding comfort and steering stability by absorbing vibrations through the leaf spring's deformation without affecting the supporting member.

Implementation Method 1

a leaf spring (14) that extends in a belt shape... the leaf spring's deformation without affecting the supporting member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11820185B2Suspension device

Publication Date: 2023.11.21 NHK SPRING CO LTD

AI summary

The suspension device according to the present invention is provided with a leaf spring extending in a belt shape, a first arm, a second arm, and a coupling member for rotatably coupling the first arm and the second arm, wherein: a first holding part for holding one end of the leaf spring and a second holding part for holding the other end of the leaf spring are provided; and the first and second arms each support the leaf spring by at least one portion that is different from the one end or the other end of the leaf spring.