Rear Axle Carrier Spring Link Positioning for Bearing Load Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing rear wheel suspension systems face challenges in accommodating electric motor propulsion units, which require more installation space and increased loading on rear axle carrier bearings, leading to complex and costly designs.
Innovation Solution
A rear axle system with an H-shaped or U-shaped rear axle carrier, featuring a spring link configured as a control arm in a lower link plane, attached in front of the center of the longitudinal carrier's bearing points, reduces loading on the rear axle carrier bearings by optimizing the arrangement of the propulsion unit and wheel control links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the spring link is attached far toward the rear on the longitudinal carrier to accommodate the propulsion unit, then the installation space for the propulsion unit is improved, but the loading on the rear axle carrier bearings increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attaching the spring link at the conventional rear position to accommodate the propulsion unit, the invention inverts the arrangement by attaching the spring link at a position far toward the front on the longitudinal carrier. This inversion resolves the contradiction by simultaneously providing installation space for the propulsion unit at the rear while reducing the lever arm and thus the loading on the rear axle carrier bearings.
2Volume of moving object
If the spring link is attached far toward the rear on the longitudinal carrier, then the propulsion unit can be accommodated, but the bearings become more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional spring link attachment position from the rear to the front of the longitudinal carrier. This inversion reduces the moment arm acting on the rear bearings, allowing for smaller, simpler, and less expensive bearing designs while still accommodating the propulsion unit in the rear region.
3Force
If the spring link is attached in front of the center of the bearing points, then the loading on rear bearings is reduced, but the arrangement of the propulsion unit becomes more constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies the inversion principle by positioning the spring link attachment far toward the front of the longitudinal carrier, which is the opposite of the conventional rear attachment position. This front attachment position reduces rear bearing loading while the rearward-shifted propulsion unit placement provides sufficient installation space, thus resolving both aspects of the contradiction.
Data Source
AI summary
A rear axle of a two-track vehicle includes a plurality of wheel-control links with at least one spring link for supporting a bearing spring on a vehicle body of the vehicle, which wheel-control links connect a rear wheel of the vehicle to a rear axle carrier. The rear axle carrier includes at least two longitudinal members oriented at least approximately in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and at least one crossmember oriented at least approximately in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The rear axle carrier is attached to the vehicle body via two bearing points on each side of the vehicle, as viewed with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle. The spring link and at least one of the wheel-control links are attached to the longitudinal member. The attachment of the spring link to one longitudinal member in each case is arranged, as viewed in the travel direction of the vehicle, upstream of the center of the distance between the bearing points arranged on a common side of the vehicle.