Rigid Axle Upper Trailing Arm Joints for Low Loading Floor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rigid axles in motor vehicles require a larger space between the axle body and the vehicle underbody for compression, limiting their suitability for vehicles with low loading floors, which is a compromise between load requirements, driving dynamics, and comfort.
Innovation Solution
The upper trailing arm joints on the axle body are positioned laterally next to the loading space, allowing a flat design with a deep loading floor, and are connected high on the axle beam, providing robust support and a wide load compartment while maintaining cost-effectiveness and driving dynamics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid axle is used with conventional trailing arm positioning, then load-bearing capacity and structural simplicity are improved, but the space requirement between the axle body and vehicle underbody increases, limiting the loading floor height
Solution Approach 1:
The upper trailing arm joints on the axle body are positioned laterally next to the loading space in the transverse direction rather than only in the longitudinal direction. This transverse positioning allows the compression process to occur in a different spatial dimension, reducing the required space between the axle body and vehicle underbody in the longitudinal direction, thereby enabling a lower loading floor while maintaining load-bearing capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The upper trailing arm joints are arranged within the transverse space next to the loading space, effectively nesting the suspension mechanism within the available lateral space rather than requiring additional longitudinal space, thus optimizing the overall vehicle packaging
2Volume of moving object
If the upper trailing arm joints are positioned laterally next to the loading space, then the loading floor can be lowered and loading space width increased, but the structural complexity of the axle assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper trailing arms serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the rigid axle, enable the reduced loading floor height through their lateral positioning, and contribute to the overall suspension geometry. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity despite the innovative positioning
3Ease of manufacture
If a rigid axle design is used instead of independent wheel suspension, then manufacturing costs and structural simplicity are reduced, but the space requirement for compression increases and loading floor height is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the upper trailing arm joints laterally in the transverse direction, the compression mechanism utilizes lateral space rather than requiring additional longitudinal space between the axle body and vehicle underbody. This dimensional change allows rigid axle designs to achieve lower loading floors without sacrificing the manufacturing simplicity and cost advantages of rigid axles over independent wheel suspensions
Data Source
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AI summary
A motor vehicle (1) comprises a vehicle body (2) which has a cargo space (4) with a loading floor (5) in the area of a rear axle (3) and a rear axle (3) designed as a rigid axle (10).The rigid axle (11) comprises an axle body (11) extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle parallel to a wheel axle (A) and having wheel carriers (12) at its ends, which are rigidly attached to or formed on it, and a lower longitudinal control arm (13) and an upper longitudinal control arm (14) on each side of the wheel, each extending predominantly in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and each pivotably connected to the axle body (11) via an axle body-side joint (15, 17), wherein the axle body-side joints (15) of the lower longitudinal control arms (13) are arranged below the height of the wheel axle (A) and the axle body-side joints (17) of the upper longitudinal control arms (14) are arranged above the height of the wheel axle (A), and wherein the lower longitudinal control arms (13) and the upper longitudinal control arms (14) are each pivotally connected to the vehicle body (2) via a body-side joint (16, 18). are located in front of the wheel axle (A) of the rigid axle (10) in the forward direction of travel of the motor vehicle (1).The axle body-side joints (15, 17) of the upper longitudinal control arms (14) are arranged laterally next to the cargo space (4) of the motor vehicle (1) in the transverse direction of the vehicle.