Link Guard Design for Motorcycle Shock Absorber Weight Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing link mechanism protection structures for saddle type vehicles increase unsprung weight due to the coverage required for the link mechanism, which is not efficiently managed by traditional skid plates.
Innovation Solution
A link mechanism protection structure that includes a link guard specifically designed to cover the shock absorber rod and arm, with a unique configuration of bent front end, mud-discharging holes, and string-like members for support, minimizing the guarded area and weight while enhancing rigidity and preventing mud accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a skid plate is used to cover the link mechanism, then protection against collision with muddy water, sand, and rock is improved, but the unsprung weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The link guard is divided into multiple segments including a main body portion, a front end portion that bends upward, and side portions. This segmentation allows protection to be focused on specific vulnerable areas (rod portions and shock absorber arm) rather than covering the entire link mechanism, thereby reducing unnecessary weight while maintaining effective protection where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The link guard provides localized protection by positioning the front end portion to bend upward and cover the rod portions, and the side portions to cover the shock absorber arm. This local quality approach ensures that protection is applied precisely where collision with muddy water, sand, and rock is most likely to occur, rather than providing uniform coverage that would increase overall weight.
2Reliability
If the link guard covers a wider area to provide better protection, then reliability is improved, but the weight and complexity of the guard increases
Solution Approach 1:
The front end portion of the link guard is designed to bend upward dynamically, creating an enveloping shape that adapts to the space around the rod portions. This dynamic configuration allows the guard to provide comprehensive protection coverage without requiring a larger, heavier static structure, thereby maintaining reliability while controlling weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The link guard extends in multiple dimensions including upward bending at the front end, lateral extension of side portions, and forward extension to cover the rod portions. This multi-dimensional configuration allows the guard to provide comprehensive protection coverage by utilizing spatial arrangement rather than simply increasing the overall size and weight of the guard.
3Weight of moving object
If the link guard is designed to be compact and lightweight, then unsprung weight is reduced, but the area of protection may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The front end portion of the link guard bends upward to form a curved, enveloping shape that follows the contour of the rod portions. This curvature allows the compact guard to provide effective protection by conforming to the three-dimensional space around the components, maximizing protected area within a compact and lightweight structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The link guard is positioned to nest around the rod portions and shock absorber arm, with the front end portion bending upward to envelop the rod portions and side portions extending laterally to cover the arm. This nesting configuration allows comprehensive protection of multiple components within a compact guard structure, maintaining both weight efficiency and protected area.
Data Source
AI summary
A link mechanism includes a shock absorber rod pivotally supported in an upwardly and downwardly swingable manner on a body frame. A shock absorber arm is disposed between a pair of left and right rod portions constituting the shock absorber rod. A front end portion of the shock absorber arm is connected to a lower end portion of a shock absorber unit, a rear upper end portion is connected to a swing arm, and a rear lower end portion is connected to a rear end portion of the shock absorber rod. A link guard covers at least an area from a front end portion of the shock absorber rod to the front end portion of the shock absorber arm on the lower side thereof to be fixed to and to spread over the pair of left and right rod portions.