Shock Absorber Mounting Structure for Alignment and Corrosion Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle suspension systems face misalignment and corrosion issues due to the use of separate weld-on studs or brackets for attaching shock absorbers, which increase costs and weight, and may result in incomplete attachment of shock absorbers to the vehicle body.
Innovation Solution
Integrally forming locating ribs and attachment bosses on the vehicle body's longitudinal structural members to position and secure shock absorbers during assembly, eliminating the need for additional parts and reducing material differences that cause corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate weld-on studs or brackets are used to attach shock absorbers, then the shock absorber can be secured to the vehicle body, but misalignment and corrosion issues occur due to material differences and additional parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the shock absorber mounting function directly into the longitudinal structural member by integrally forming locating ribs and attachment bosses as part of the body structure. This eliminates separate weld-on studs or brackets, removing the material differences that cause corrosion and the additional parts that can misalign. The mounting features are now monolithic with the structural member, ensuring proper alignment and eliminating galvanic corrosion between dissimilar materials.
2Reliability
If separate weld-on studs or brackets are used, then shock absorber attachment is achieved, but the number of parts increases leading to higher costs and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the shock absorber mounting functionality into the longitudinal structural member itself. The locating ribs and attachment bosses are integrally formed with the structural member, eliminating the need for separate weld-on studs, brackets, or other intermediate components. This reduction in part count directly lowers manufacturing costs and reduces overall assembly weight while maintaining secure shock absorber attachment.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If integrally formed locating ribs and attachment bosses are used, then alignment and corrosion resistance are improved, but the structural member design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the structural member design by adding specific geometric features (locating ribs and attachment bosses) to the longitudinal structural member. While these features increase design complexity, they are integrally formed rather than requiring separate components. The segmentation of functions within the monolithic structure achieves proper alignment and corrosion resistance without the need for multiple separate parts, ultimately simplifying the overall assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
Shock absorber assembly structures are disclosed. An example shock absorber disclosed herein includes a shock absorber mount coupled to an end of the shock absorber, the shock absorber mount including a recess to receive a locating rib of a vehicle body, and an aperture to receive a fastener to couple the shock absorber mount to an attachment boss of the vehicle body.