Independent Rear Suspension Lifting Device for Heavy Vehicles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rear suspension systems for heavy vehicles face challenges in reducing longitudinal extension, minimizing stress on the main frame, and maintaining ground clearance, especially when raising a pusher axle, which often interferes with the propeller shaft and reduces vehicle ground clearance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an individual rear suspension system using a combination of lower and upper wishbone brackets, air bellows, and lifting bellows, where the air bellows are positioned outside the vehicle frame and the lifting bellows inside, supported by a sub-frame assembly fixed to a single frame bracket, allowing for independent wheel movement and reduced longitudinal extension without transferring loads to the main frame, thus avoiding interference with the propeller shaft and enhancing ground clearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pusher axle is positioned below the propeller shaft to avoid interference, then the propeller shaft clearance is improved, but the vehicle ground clearance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the air bellows laterally outside the vehicle frame rather than longitudinally below the propeller shaft. This dimensional change allows the suspension system to achieve the necessary clearance for the propeller shaft while maintaining adequate ground clearance, as the lifting mechanism operates in a different spatial plane.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sub-frame assembly as an intermediary structure that supports the wishbone brackets and bellows. This sub-frame acts as a mediator between the main vehicle frame and the suspension components, allowing the air bellows to be positioned laterally while still providing the necessary support and clearance functions.
2Length of moving object
If the air bellows are positioned inside the vehicle frame, then the ground clearance is improved, but the longitudinal extension of the suspension is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The air bellows are repositioned from a longitudinal arrangement inside the frame to a lateral arrangement outside the frame. This dimensional reconfiguration allows the suspension to achieve ground clearance improvements while minimizing longitudinal extension, as the bellows now operate in the lateral dimension rather than consuming longitudinal space.
3Strength
If the suspension loads are transferred to the main frame, then the structural strength is improved, but the stress on the main frame is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-frame assembly serves as an intermediary load-bearing structure between the suspension components and the main vehicle frame. It supports the wishbone brackets and bellows, absorbing and distributing suspension loads locally rather than transferring them directly to the main frame, thereby reducing main frame stress while maintaining overall structural strength.
4Reliability
If the pusher axle is raised to improve driveability, then the wear on axle components is reduced, but the axle interferes with the propeller shaft
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism using lateral air bellows enables the pusher axle to be raised without the longitudinal extension that would cause interference with the propeller shaft. The lateral positioning of the bellows allows vertical lifting action while maintaining adequate horizontal clearance from the propeller shaft path.
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
This solution provides a compact and efficient rear suspension arrangement that reduces stress on the vehicle's main frame, allows for larger fuel tanks, and improves ground clearance by isolating loads within a sub-frame assembly, preventing interference with the propeller shaft and enabling better handling on rough roads.
Implementation Method 1
The suspension further comprises an air bellows and a lifting bellows
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An independent suspension (1) and an independent suspension arrangement (20) for a liftable rear axle of a heavy vehicle. The independent suspension comprises a lower wishbone (2) and an upper wishbone (3) hingedly suspended in a support assembly (11) and a hub carrier (4), and an air bellows (6) and a lifting bellows (7), where the air bellows (6) is arranged outside of a plane defined be the web (31) of a main frame beam (30) and the lifting (7) bellows is arranged inside of a plane defined be the web (31) of a main frame beam (30). The independent suspension arrangement (20) comprises a left wheel suspension (21), a right wheel suspension (22) and at least one sub-frame assembly (23) extending between the left and right wheel suspensions (21, 22), where the left and right wheel suspensions (21, 22) are mounted directly to the sub-frame assembly (23). The advantage of the invention is that an independent rear suspension is obtained, which is suitable for use as a pusher axle suspension for a heavy vehicle.