Off-Highway Vehicle Rear Suspension Zero Toe Camber Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Recreational off-highway vehicles face challenges in maintaining zero toe change and zero camber change through the full suspension stroke, which can affect handling due to wheel orientation changes during suspension travel, leading to scrub issues.
Innovation Solution
A rear suspension assembly with a solid rear axle, trailing arms, dual shock absorbers, and a rear differential is designed to maintain zero toe and camber changes, minimizing scrub through the full suspension stroke by using a propeller shaft with articulating sections that adjust relative to each other to accommodate suspension movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If suspension assemblies with large travel are used to handle rough terrain, then the vehicle can operate over uneven surfaces, but wheel orientation changes (camber and toe) adversely affect handling
Solution Approach 1:
The trailing arm suspension system allows dynamic adjustment of wheel orientation through controlled movement of the trailing arms relative to the vehicle frame. As the suspension travels, the trailing arms pivot at strategic points to maintain consistent camber and toe angles, enabling the system to adapt to terrain changes while preserving handling characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension geometry is designed with specific linkages and pivot points that change the relationship between suspension travel and wheel orientation parameters. By carefully selecting pivot locations and arm lengths, the system maintains zero camber change and zero toe change throughout the suspension stroke, resolving the contradiction between travel and handling
2Duration of action of moving object
If the wheels move up and down through full suspension stroke, then the suspension handles terrain variations, but scrub increases as wheels slip along the ground plane
Solution Approach 1:
The trailing arm geometry is designed to dynamically control wheel path during suspension compression and extension. The pivot points and arm configurations ensure that the wheel contact patch remains stationary relative to the ground plane throughout the suspension stroke, eliminating scrub while maintaining full suspension travel
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension geometry is pre-configured with specific trailing arm lengths and pivot locations that anticipate and prevent scrub during suspension movement. By carefully designing the linkage geometry before operation, the system inherently maintains zero scrub throughout the suspension stroke without requiring active control
Data Source
AI summary
A recreational off-highway vehicle includes a vehicle frame, at least one front wheel, a pair of rear wheels, a solid rear axle, a pair of trailing arms, a rear differential and a motor. The solid rear axle rotatably supports the rear wheels at its opposite ends. Each of the trailing arms is pivotally connected to the vehicle frame and the solid rear axle. A shock absorber is coupled between the vehicle frame and each of the trailing arms. The rear differential is supported on the solid rear axle and connected to the rear wheels. The transmission has a propeller shaft connected to the rear differential to drive the rear wheels. The motor is connected operatively to the transmission. The propeller shaft includes first and second drive sections that articulates relative to each other. The second drive section is connected to the rear differential.