Rear Suspension Assembly With Toe-Controlled Trailing Arm Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rear suspension assemblies for utility vehicles experience significant toe changes during suspension travel, particularly when the vehicle rebounds or is at full compression, leading to misalignment of the rear wheels.
Innovation Solution
The proposed rear suspension assembly includes a trailing arm with a joint allowing one degree of freedom, upper and lower radius rods, and a suspension member configured to control the toe of the rear ground-engaging members. The suspension member is operably coupled to the trailing arm and the frame assembly, with specific couplings and positions designed to minimize toe change.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a trailing arm and radius rod are used in the rear suspension assembly, then the suspension can support vehicle weight and provide basic wheel control, but the rear wheels experience significant toe change during suspension travel, especially at rebound and full compression
Solution Approach 1:
The trailing arm is divided into two separate arms (first trailing arm and second trailing arm) that can pivot independently relative to the frame assembly. This segmentation allows each arm to control toe alignment independently, reducing overall toe change during suspension travel while maintaining structural strength and support capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension assembly incorporates pivotable joints that allow the trailing arms to dynamically adjust their position and angle during suspension travel. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to maintain optimal toe alignment across different suspension states (rebound, compression, neutral) rather than being fixed in a single configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the rear suspension allows full travel for off-road performance, then the vehicle can navigate rough terrain, but the rear wheels toe in or toe out during rebound and compression, reducing vehicle stability
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the trailing arm control into independent first and second trailing arms, each with its own pivot point and radius rod, the system can accommodate full suspension travel while each arm independently maintains toe alignment. This segmentation prevents the coupled movement that causes toe change in single-arm designs.
Solution Approach 2:
Radius rods serve as intermediary elements between the trailing arms and the ground-engaging members (wheels). These rods transmit forces and constrain movement in a way that allows full suspension travel while preventing excessive toe change, acting as mediators that decouple the vertical motion from lateral wheel rotation.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple trailing arm configuration is used, then the suspension assembly is easier to manufacture and maintain, but it cannot effectively control toe change during suspension travel
Solution Approach 1:
The trailing arm system is segmented into multiple independent components (first trailing arm, second trailing arm, radius rods) that can be manufactured separately using standard fabrication processes. This modular segmentation maintains ease of manufacture while enabling precise toe alignment control through the coordinated action of multiple simple components rather than one complex component.
Data Source
AI summary
A utility vehicle includes a rear suspension assembly which has a trailing arm generally extending longitudinally. The trailing arm includes a joint along a longitudinal length of the trailing arm. Also, the rear suspension assembly includes an upper radius rod extending in a generally lateral direction relative to a centerline of the vehicle. Additionally, the rear suspension assembly includes a lower radius rod extending in a generally lateral direction relative to the centerline of the vehicle. The rear suspension assembly further includes a suspension member configured to control toe of the at least one rear ground-engaging member.