Preload Collar Compresses Vehicle Suspension Spring for Lift

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle suspension systems face challenges in easily and effectively providing lift to the vehicle body, as stock springs often fail to optimize ride performance and lift the vehicle body sufficiently.

Innovation Solution

A preload collar device, shaped as an annular ring, is fixedly coupled to a shock absorber and compresses the vehicle suspension spring, forcing it towards the upper end of the shock absorber, thereby providing lift to the vehicle body by preventing the spring's bottom end from extending to the lower end of the shock absorber.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If stock suspension springs are used, then the vehicle suspension system is simple, but the vehicle body cannot be lifted sufficiently and ride performance is not optimized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of adding liftVSAvoidsuspension system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension system is segmented into modular components: the existing shock absorber and spring remain intact, while a separate preload collar device is added. This allows the lift function to be added without redesigning the entire suspension system, maintaining simplicity while enabling adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The preload collar acts as an intermediary component between the shock absorber and the spring. It interfaces with both components, applying preload to the spring while allowing the existing suspension components to remain unchanged. This mediator approach enables lift addition without complex system redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Force

If the preload collar compresses the spring away from the lower end of the shock absorber, then the vehicle body is lifted, but the spring's bottom end cannot extend to the lower end of the shock absorber

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespring preload forceVSAvoidspring extension length

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The preload collar applies preliminary compressive force to the spring, pre-loading it before the vehicle encounters road conditions. This preliminary action ensures the spring starts in a compressed state, providing immediate lift and optimizing the spring's working range during vehicle operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 preload collar device simplifies the process of adding suspension lift by effectively compressing the spring, lifting the vehicle body relative to the wheels and ground, and can be used with various shock absorbers and spring sizes, enhancing ride performance.

Implementation Method 1

The preload collar may compress the vehicle suspension spring away from a lower end of the shock absorber, and wherein the vehicle suspension spring is forced towards an upper end of the shock absorber.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS20230226869A1Preload collar for a vehicle suspension system

Publication Date: 2023.07.20 WESTCOTT DESIGNS INC

AI summary

A preload collar for a vehicle spring is described. The preload collar is coupled to the shock absorber of a vehicle so that the lower end of the vehicle spring is pressing against the preload collar. The preload collar does not allow the lower end of the vehicle spring to extend toward the ground, or toward the lower end of the shock absorber, as much as it normally would. This pre-loading of the vehicle spring provides suspension lift to the vehicle.