Side-Member Suspension Structure for Fewer Parts and Higher Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle suspension systems require numerous parts and assembly processes, leading to increased weight, complexity, and reduced fuel efficiency, while also necessitating gaps for interference avoidance and additional cushioning members, which compromise rigidity and steering stability.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle skeleton structure where suspension arms are directly attached to side members, eliminating the need for separate suspension members, and integrating drive motors and suspension components with the side members, thereby reducing parts and assembly steps, and enhancing rigidity and steering stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a separate suspension member is used to attach suspension arms to the side member, then the suspension system can be assembled with pre-mounted drive motors and suspension arms, but the number of parts increases, vehicle weight increases, and assembly processes become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension member is merged with the side member into a single integrated structure. The side member directly provides the mounting function for suspension arms without requiring a separate suspension member, thereby reducing the number of parts and simplifying the overall structure while maintaining assembly workability
2Ease of manufacture
If a separate suspension member is used between the side member and suspension arm, then the suspension system can be modularly assembled, but the vehicle weight increases and fuel efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension member and side member are combined into a single integrated component. This eliminates the weight of the separate suspension member while maintaining the modular assembly capability through direct mounting of suspension arms to the integrated side member structure
3Ease of manufacture
If gaps are provided between the side member and suspension member to avoid interference, then the suspension system can be assembled, but the dimension in vehicle width and up-down direction is reduced, compromising rigidity and steering stability
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the suspension member with the side member, the interference problem is eliminated entirely. The integrated structure allows the side member to extend fully in the vehicle width and up-down directions without requiring gaps for interference avoidance, thereby maximizing rigidity and steering stability
4Object-affected harmful factors
If cushioning members are provided between the suspension arm and suspension member, and between the suspension member and side member (double vibration isolation), then vibration isolation is improved, but the number of parts increases and the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension member and side member are merged into a single integrated structure, eliminating the need for cushioning members between them. This reduces the number of parts and structural complexity while maintaining vibration isolation through the inherent damping properties of the integrated structure
Data Source
AI summary
In the vehicle skeleton structure, a pair of left and right suspension arms are respectively attached to a pair of left and right side members. The pair of left and right side members are skeletal members respectively extending in the vehicle front-rear direction at both end portions in the vehicle width direction in the vehicle front portion or the vehicle rear portion. This eliminates the need for a suspension member, thereby realizing a so-called suspension member-less body, which makes it possible to reduce the number of components. As a result, the assembly process can be reduced.