Monolithic Connecting Bracket for Vehicle Link Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle designs face challenges in managing torsional stresses on the link supporting portion, leading to potential enlargement in size due to concentrated stress at the welding portion between the boss and main pipe, particularly when different forces are applied to the front wheels during turns or uneven road surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle design featuring a monolithic connecting bracket with a turning supporting portion, connecting portion, right reinforcement wall, and left reinforcement wall, which disperses torsional moments and reduces stress on the welding portion, preventing the enlargement of the link supporting portion's diameter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a frustum-shaped boss portion is used to mitigate stress concentration at the welding portion, then the stress concentration is reduced, but the link supporting portion diameter is enlarged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress concentration resistanceVSAvoidlink supporting portion diameter
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The boss portion is segmented into multiple sections (first boss portion and second boss portion) with different functions. The first boss portion maintains the frustum shape for stress mitigation, while the second boss portion has a constant diameter that matches the main pipe, preventing unnecessary diameter enlargement of the link supporting portion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the boss structure are given different geometric properties tailored to their specific functions. The first boss portion uses a frustum shape (larger diameter at base) specifically at the welding location to reduce stress concentration, while the second boss portion uses a constant diameter to avoid enlarging the overall link supporting portion diameter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the base portion diameter is enlarged to facilitate welding, then the welding strength is improved, but the vehicle size is enlarged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding strengthVSAvoidvehicle size
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The boss portion is divided into two functional segments: the first boss portion with enlarged diameter for welding strength, and the second boss portion with constant diameter that prevents overall size enlargement. This segmentation allows localized welding strength enhancement without global size increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The diameter enlargement is applied locally only where needed for welding (at the first boss portion base), while the rest of the structure (second boss portion and link supporting portion) maintains its original diameter to avoid vehicle size enlargement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3372481B1vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.08.26 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3372481B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3372481B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3372481B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A body frame 21 has a main frame 4, a link supporting portion 212 and a connecting bracket 70 that connects a front portion of the main frame 40 and the link supporting portion 212. The connecting bracket 70 has a turning supporting portion 212d that supports the lower cross member 52, a connecting portion 71 that connects a front portion of the main frame 40 and the link supporting portion 212 together and a right reinforcement wall portion 72 and a left reinforcement wall portion 73 that extends in an up-and-down direction to connect the turning supporting portion 212d and the connecting portion 71 together. The connecting bracket 70 including the turning supporting portion 212d, the connecting portion 71, the right reinforcement wall portion 72 and the left reinforcement wall portion 73 is a monolithic part.