Modular Radius Rod Brace Plate for Fastener Access and Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brace plates for Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs) either require all radius rods to be detached to access individual rods, compromising force distribution between fasteners, or allow access to individual rods but fail to distribute forces effectively across separate fasteners.
Innovation Solution
A modular brace plate assembly comprising a top plate, bottom plate, and bridge plate that allows access to individual radius rods without detaching all rods, while maintaining rigidity by sharing forces across multiple fasteners through contoured recesses and fasteners, enabling single-person assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a unitary plate body is used to cover all fasteners, then force distribution between fasteners is optimized, but all radius rods must be detached to access any individual radius rod
Solution Approach 1:
The brace plate is divided into multiple separate plates (first brace plate, second brace plate, third brace plate) that can be independently installed and removed. Each plate covers a subset of fasteners, allowing individual radius rods to be accessed by removing only the relevant plate rather than the entire brace plate assembly.
2Ease of operation
If separate plates are used to cover different portions of radius rods, then access to individual radius rods is facilitated, but force distribution between all fasteners cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate brace plates are combined to work together as a unified system. The first, second, and third brace plates collectively cover all fasteners coupling the radius rods to the chassis, distributing forces across the entire assembly while maintaining the ability to access individual rods by removing only specific plates.
3Strength
If a unitary brace plate is used, then force distribution is maximized, but assembly and disassembly requires multiple people due to complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The brace plate system is segmented into multiple independent plates that can be assembled and disassembled separately. This reduces the complexity of handling the entire assembly, allowing single-person operation while maintaining force distribution capabilities through the coordinated arrangement of multiple plates.
Data Source
AI summary
A brace plate assembly for a vehicle with a top right radius rod fastened to the chassis with a fastener, a top left radius rod fastened to the chassis, a middle right radius rod fastened to the chassis, a middle left radius rod fastened to the chassis, a bottom right radius rod fastened to the chassis and a bottom left radius rod fastened to the chassis, the brace assembly including a top plate coupled with the top right and left radius rods to the chassis, a bottom plate coupled with the bottom right and left radius rods to the chassis, and a bridge plate coupled with the middle right and left radius rods to the chassis and wherein the bridge plate is coupled to the top plate and the bottom plate.