Quadricycle Suspension Isolates Engine Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current quadricycles are limited by their small dimensions and weight, which restricts passenger capacity, comfort, and safety, while also making it difficult to absorb engine vibrations, leading to discomfort and mechanical stress, and pose challenges in urban parking and access.
Innovation Solution
A four-wheeled vehicle design with a tubular frame, a hybrid engine unit positioned at the rear, and a unique suspension system that transfers engine stresses to the rear wheels, allowing for a compact and comfortable layout to accommodate three people, improved safety, and enhanced maneuverability and parking capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the overall dimensions of the quadricycle are reduced to meet mass limits and improve maneuverability, then the vehicle becomes more suitable for urban transport and parking, but the passenger capacity and comfort are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a conventional longitudinal seating arrangement to a transverse (side-by-side) seating configuration. This allows three occupants (driver and two passengers) to sit abreast rather than in sequence, effectively utilizing the vehicle's width dimension to accommodate more people without increasing the vehicle's length. The driver's seat is positioned centrally with passengers seated laterally on either side, transforming the spatial utilization from one-dimensional (length-based) to two-dimensional (width-based) arrangement.
2Weight of moving object
If the overall dimensions and weight are reduced, then the vehicle meets strict mass limits and improves maneuverability, but the ability to insulate and filter engine vibrations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary elastic element (spring or damper) positioned between the engine and the vehicle frame. This intermediary component acts as a vibration isolator, absorbing and filtering engine vibrations before they can be transmitted to the frame and occupants. The elastic element serves as a mediator that decouples the vibration source from the structure, allowing the vehicle to maintain low weight while still providing effective vibration insulation.
3Area of moving object
If the vehicle width is reduced to improve compactness and parking capability, then the vehicle becomes more manoeuvrable in urban areas, but the comfort and accessibility for occupants deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for reduced width by optimizing the vertical dimension and door configuration. The door is designed to open in a direction that maximizes accessibility to the centrally positioned driver's seat, utilizing the vertical clearance and lateral space efficiently. The compact width is offset by the innovative door opening mechanism and centralized seating arrangement, which together improve access to the cockpit without requiring increased vehicle width.
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 design achieves a compact and comfortable vehicle that can accommodate three people, reduces engine vibration stress on the frame, and optimizes urban mobility and parking, providing a balance of agility and safety.
Implementation Method 1
capable of directly transferring most of the stresses generated by the engine unit thereof to the wheels, so as to reduce the stresses that are usually transmitted to the frame
Data Source
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AI summary
Herein described is a vehicle (10) comprising a bearing frame (12) of the tubular trestle type, two front steered wheels (14, 16), two rear wheels (18, 20) with fixed axis (144), an engine unit (22), steering means (24) through which it is possible to operate on the front wheels (14, 16), a front suspension unit (26), connecting the frame (12) to the front wheels (14, 16), a rear suspension unit (28), connecting the frame (12) to the rear wheels (18, 20), a transmission unit, interposed between the engine unit (22) and the axle shafts of the rear wheels (18, 20), a seat (44) for the driver of the vehicle (10), arranged at a central position with respect to such vehicle (10), and at least two seats (44') for the passengers of the vehicle (10) adjacent to each other, arranged laterally and receded according to a predefined distance with respect to the seat (44) for the driver of the vehicle (10). The engine unit (22) is elastically constrained with respect to the rear suspension unit (28) through at least one suspension mechanism (72, 74; 84, 90, 92), which provides a first level for filtering the stresses generated by the operation of the engine unit (22) and so that such rear suspension unit (28) is capable of supporting the overall weight of the engine unit (22). In turn, the rear suspension unit (28) is elastically constrained to the frame (12) through at least one auxiliary suspension mechanism (96, 98) which, alongside the elasticity of the tyres of the rear wheels (18, 20), forms a second level for filtering the stresses generated by the operation of the engine unit (22). In the respective rebound and roll motions with respect to the frame (12) of the vehicle (10), the rear suspension unit (28) is vertically guided and constrained transversely by a leaf -spring- shaped flexible element (122). The rear suspension unit (28) is fixed to the frame (12) by means of only two bushings (138, 132), so as to reduce the times and costs of assembling the vehicle (10).