Sliding Frame Mount for Vehicle Transport Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for transporting larger commercial vehicles, such as trucks and SUVs, require costly and complex modifications to lower ride height, compromising durability and ease of repair, and involve compressing suspension systems which can introduce new failure modes.
Innovation Solution
A sliding frame mount assembly with a screw jack member and strap system that temporarily relocates the rear leaf spring to lower the vehicle's ride height for transport, allowing quick and efficient height adjustment without compressing the suspension system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If hydraulic or air springs replace leaf spring suspensions to lower vehicle height, then vehicle height is reduced for transport, but reliability and ease of repair deteriorate due to complexity and susceptibility to failure in harsh environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the shackle position along the frame rail to change vehicle height. The shackle can be moved to different positions (lower for transport, upper for operation) providing dynamic adaptability without changing the suspension type, maintaining reliability while achieving height adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the suspension system by repositioning the shackle along the frame rail. This parameter change (shackle position) directly affects vehicle height and ride quality, allowing the same robust leaf spring suspension to provide different height configurations without compromising reliability.
2Length of moving object
If hydraulic systems are used to compress suspension for transport, then vehicle height is reduced, but device complexity increases due to costly and complex equipment and frame modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the height adjustment function from complex hydraulic systems and implements it through a simple mechanical shackle repositioning mechanism. The shackle moves along the frame rail to achieve height change, eliminating the need for hydraulic or air spring systems and their associated complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The shackle acts as an intermediary element between the leaf spring and the frame. By repositioning this intermediary component along the frame rail, the system achieves height adjustment without requiring complex suspension modifications or additional active systems.
3Length of moving object
If suspension is compressed to lower vehicle height, then transport height requirement is met, but new failure modes are introduced due to restrained stored energy
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of compressing the suspension to lower height, the invention inverts the approach by repositioning the shackle forward along the frame rail. This allows the suspension to remain in its natural extended state while achieving the lower height configuration, eliminating the risk of restrained stored energy and associated failure modes.
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
Enables the lowering of vehicle ride height for transport without sacrificing durability, ease of use, ease of repair, or vehicle performance, and eliminates the need for restraining high spring and damper forces, facilitating faster and more reliable transport processes.
Implementation Method 1
rotating a threaded component of the screw jack member in a first direction to apply tension to the strap and to relieve tension on at least one fastener securing the sliding frame mount assembly to the frame
Implementation Method 2
a shackle, the shackle comprising a top shackle mount pivotally coupling the shackle to the body and a lower shackle mount configured to attach to a leaf spring, wherein the body slideably engages an associated frame of an associated vehicle to raise and lower the associated vehicle via rotation of the shackle
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for lowering the height of a wheeled vehicle for cargo height constraints during transportation. The rear leaf spring shackle on each side of the vehicle is connected to a sliding frame mount. In the transport configuration, fasteners are removed from the sliding frame mount, and the mount slides forward, rotating the rear leaf spring shackle from a near vertical to a near horizontal position, effectively lowering the height of the vehicle. To return the vehicle to the ride configuration, a screw jack member is attached to the sliding frame mount and a rear attachment point on the vehicle, pulling the sliding frame mount back, aligning attachment points of the mount with the frame member in the original position. The fasteners are reinstalled to lock the sliding frame mount into the ride configuration.