Independent Rear Suspension Dynamic Toe-In Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rear wheel suspensions have limited dynamic toe-in adjustment capabilities, which affect the vehicle's dynamic response during braking and accelerating, leading to suboptimal handling and stability.

Innovation Solution

An independent rear wheel suspension design featuring a single wheel control arm and wishbone with strategically positioned and designed bearing devices, allowing for dynamic wheel control angle adjustment through flexible and rigid components, enhancing toe-in adjustment and overall vehicle dynamics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional multi-link rear wheel suspension with upper wishbone and lower trapezoidal link is used, then the structural stability is maintained, but the dynamic toe-in adjustment capability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedynamic toe-in adjustment capabilityVSAvoidsuspension linkage complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension system is divided into functionally independent segments: the lower wheel control arm handles primary wheel guidance and support, while the upper wishbone provides additional stability. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, improving dynamic toe-in adjustment without requiring complete redesign of the entire suspension system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic toe-in adjustment by making the wheel control angle adjustable during vehicle operation. The wheel control arm and wishbone are designed with specific geometric relationships and bearing arrangements that allow the toe-in angle to change dynamically in response to vehicle motion, rather than being fixed throughout operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If the lower wheel control arm and upper wishbone are designed with flexible bearing devices, then the dynamic response during braking and accelerating is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedynamic response speedVSAvoidbearing position precision
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different bearing devices are implemented at different locations in the suspension system. The inner bearings and outer bearings have different flexibility characteristics tailored to their specific functional requirements. This local differentiation allows the system to achieve overall dynamic responsiveness while managing manufacturing precision requirements through targeted design at each bearing location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The bearing devices are designed with specific flexibility parameters that can be adjusted during design and manufacturing. By carefully selecting bearing stiffness, damping characteristics, and geometric parameters, the system achieves optimal dynamic response while keeping manufacturing precision within practical limits through parameter optimization rather than extreme precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the wheel control arm and wishbone are designed to provide dynamic wheel control angle adjustment, then the vehicle handling is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle handlingVSAvoidwheel guidance mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the wheel control arm and wishbone into an integrated wheel guidance mechanism where both components work together to provide dynamic toe-in adjustment. Rather than adding separate adjustment mechanisms, the design merges the control functions into the existing structural elements, improving handling while limiting the increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lower wheel control arm and upper wishbone are designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural support, guide wheel motion, enable dynamic toe-in adjustment, and contribute to vehicle stability. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components, thereby improving handling without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The design improves dynamic toe-in adjustment and vehicle response by providing better control and handling characteristics, including increased lateral stiffness, camber stiffness, and wheel caster stiffness, reducing understeer and enhancing cornering stability.

Implementation Method 1

these are at least partially elastically deformable elastomer bearings or rubber-metal sleeve bearings, whereby the type of elastic deformability on the respective bearings can be selected in the sense of the fulfilling purpose

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the bearings used here can be of different designs. Preferably, these are at least partially elastically deformable elastomer bearings or rubber-metal sleeve bearings

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2591927B1Independent rear wheel suspension of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2015.07.01 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC
  • EP2591927B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2591927B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

To simplify the construction of conventional independent motor vehicle rear suspensions, the invention proposes an independent rear suspension (1) of a motor vehicle (8, 9) with a wheel guidance device (4), with a wheel hub carrier (5) and with a dynamic wheel steering angle adjustment (10), in which the wheel hub carrier (5) is mounted on the motor vehicle side by means of the wheel guidance device (4), wherein the wheel guidance device (4) has only a single wheel steering arm (6) with a front inner wheel steering arm bearing (13), with a front outer wheel steering arm bearing (14), with a rear inner wheel steering arm bearing (15) and with a rear outer wheel steering arm bearing (16) and a single control arm (7) with an inner control arm bearing (19) and with an outer control arm bearing (20), and the dynamic wheel steering angle adjustment (10) is formed by the single wheel steering arm (6) and the single control arm (7).