Modular Suspension Strut Mount for Vehicle Body Adaptability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current motor vehicle body structures require a large number of different components to accommodate various spring strut positions, leading to high production, logistics, and assembly costs, with limited design freedom for adapting to different vehicle types and wheel track widths.

Innovation Solution

A modular body structure with interchangeable spring strut mounting modules featuring distinct dome designs and connection geometries allows for flexible spring strut positioning, enabling cost-effective production of different vehicle variants with minimal additional components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If different spring strut positions are implemented using individual spring strut mounts for each vehicle type, then the spring strut position can be precisely adapted to specific vehicle requirements, but the number of different body components increases significantly, leading to high production, logistics, and assembly costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespring strut position adaptationVSAvoidnumber of body components
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a single spring strut mount body structure that can accommodate multiple spring strut positions through interchangeable mounting modules. The mount body serves multiple functions by integrating different mounting modules, each designed for specific vehicle types or wheel track widths, thereby reducing the total number of unique body components while maintaining adaptability across different vehicle configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the spring strut mount into a permanent mount body and interchangeable mounting modules. The mounting modules can be detached and replaced depending on the required spring strut position, allowing precise adaptation without requiring completely different mount structures for each vehicle type

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If adapter parts are used to achieve different spring strut positions, then design flexibility is improved, but the structural integrity and force introduction into the body may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespring strut position variationVSAvoidforce introduction quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the mounting module with the mount body structure to create an integrated assembly. The mounting module is designed to work in conjunction with the mount body, combining their structural strengths to provide both adaptability and robust force introduction. This integration ensures that forces from the spring strut are effectively transferred to the vehicle body without compromising structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If spring strut mounts are designed individually for each vehicle type, then optimal spring strut positioning is achieved, but production efficiency and cost-effectiveness decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespring strut position precisionVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the mounting module interchangeable rather than fixed. This allows the same mount body to be dynamically reconfigured for different vehicle types by simply changing the mounting module, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while significantly improving production efficiency and reducing inventory complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2555962B1Modular body structure of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2014.11.19 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP2555962B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2555962B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2555962B1 patent drawingFigure 3A-A~4B-B

AI summary

The invention relates to a body structure of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one suspension strut receiving element. According to the invention, an at least partially modular body structure (1) comprises a first suspension strut receiving module (4) having a defined dome shape (5) and connecting elements (17, 18) with a defined connection geometry for connecting to associated body structure elements (13, 14). At least one other suspension strut receiving module (8) is provided for the assembly, said module having the same connection geometry but a different dome shape (9) in order to vary the body structure (1) in terms of the position of the suspension strut.