Rear Axle Support Assembly Flange Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rear axle support assemblies in all terrain vehicles face challenges in providing a rigid and cost-effective connection between the axle tubes and the final gear assembly, leading to increased assembly time and stress on components.
Innovation Solution
A rear axle support assembly featuring a swing arm assembly with a first and second support arm, where the second axle tube includes an axle tube mount flange that is releasably attached to both the axle support bracket and the rear final gear assembly, positioned laterally between them for direct contacting engagement, enhancing rigidity and reducing assembly complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If intermediate flanges and bolts are used to connect the axle tube to the final gear assembly, then the assembly is easier to manufacture, but the connection rigidity decreases and assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate flange component from the connection system. Instead of using a separate flange piece with multiple bolt holes, the axle tube itself is configured with an integrated flange that directly engages with the final gear assembly housing, eliminating the need for intermediate connecting elements and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining connection strength
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the axle tube and its mounting flange into a single integrated component. The flange is formed as part of the axle tube structure rather than being a separate piece, which simplifies the overall assembly and reduces the number of parts needed while improving connection rigidity
2Reliability
If multiple bolts and intermediate flanges are used for connection, then the connection is more reliable, but the assembly time and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates intermediate flange components and reduces the number of fasteners required. The direct engagement between the axle tube flange and the final gear assembly housing removes unnecessary intermediate elements that would require additional alignment and fastening operations, thereby reducing assembly time while maintaining connection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using multiple small fasteners distributed across an intermediate flange, the patent inverts the approach by using a single integrated flange structure on the axle tube that directly interfaces with the housing, simplifying the fastening process and reducing assembly steps
3Adaptability or versatility
If a complex multi-component connection system is used, then the connection is more adaptable, but the device complexity increases and service life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes intermediate flange components from the connection system, reducing the total number of parts. This simplification decreases assembly complexity and potential failure points while maintaining the necessary adaptability through the integrated flange design on the axle tube
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the axle tube and mounting flange into a single integrated component, reducing the number of separate parts that need to be assembled and managed. This integration simplifies the overall device complexity while maintaining connection adaptability through the flange's direct engagement capability
Data Source
AI summary
A rear axle support assembly includes a swing arm assembly, a second axle tube, and a rear final gear assembly. The swing arm assembly includes a first support arm, a second support arm laterally spaced from the first support arm, a first axle tube attached to the first support arm, and an axle support bracket attached to the second support arm. Each of the first and second axle tubes is configured to receive an axle therewithin. The second axle tube includes an axle tube mount flange. The first axle tube is releasably attached to the rear final gear assembly. The axle tube mount flange is positioned laterally between, and is releasably attached to each one of, the axle support bracket of the swing arm assembly and the rear final gear assembly, and in direct, contacting engagement with the rear final gear assembly.