Lower-side spring-receiving member with ridge portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spring-receiving members, particularly the lower-side type, fail to adequately follow the deformation of suspension springs, leading to gaps that allow foreign matter to enter and cause corrosion and breakage, and result in discomfort for crew members due to uneven load distribution.
Innovation Solution
A lower-side spring-receiving member with a partially annular shape, featuring a base end portion, a slope portion with varying thickness, and a holding portion, including a recess portion with ridge portions that compress to apply a reaction force when a spring load is applied, preventing gaps and improving followability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the recessed volume of the recess portion is increased to prevent damage to the spring seating portion, then the protection function is improved, but the followability to suspension spring deformation deteriorates and gaps are formed
Solution Approach 1:
The recess portion is designed with non-uniform depth, being deeper at the center and shallower toward the peripheral edges. This local variation in geometry allows the center to provide protection while the shallower peripheral regions maintain contact with the suspension spring, ensuring followability and preventing gap formation.
2Reliability
If the recessed volume of the recess portion is increased to protect the spring seating portion, then the protection function is improved, but foreign matter entry and corrosion are facilitated due to gap formation
Solution Approach 1:
The recess portion features a depth gradient from center to periphery, with the shallower peripheral regions acting as barriers that prevent foreign matter from entering the gap between the suspension spring and spring-receiving member, while still providing protection to the seating portion.
3Reliability
If the recessed volume of the recess portion is increased, then the protection function is improved, but the reaction force magnitude decreases and bottom-touching uncomfortableness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The recess portion has varying depth with shallower regions at the periphery that maintain better contact with the suspension spring. This configuration preserves reaction force magnitude and prevents excessive bottom-touching uncomfortableness while still protecting the seating portion through the deeper central region.
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
This configuration enhances the spring-receiving member's ability to follow suspension spring deformation, prevents foreign matter entry, reduces corrosion and breakage, and improves the drive feeling by distributing loads more evenly, reducing discomfort for crew members.
Implementation Method 1
the ridge portion is deflected and compressed to apply a reaction force on the suspension spring when the spring load is applied on the lower-side spring-receiving member
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3E
AI summary
A lower-side spring-receiving member (36) of a suspension device (10), receiving a suspension spring (18) structured to have a rising section (T) at a lower side of the suspension spring (18), the lower-side spring-receiving member (36) having a partially annular shape and including: a base end portion (ST) arranged at one end of the lower-side spring-receiving member (36) wherein an end of the suspension spring (18) is inserted into the base end portion (ST); a slope portion (SL) arranged at the other end of the lower-side spring-receiving member (36) and having a thickness in a cross-sectional view varying so as to follow a shape of the rising section (T) of the suspension spring (18); and a holding portion (HL) that is arranged between the base end portion (ST) and the slope portion (SL) and holds the suspension spring (18), wherein the slope portion (SL) has a recess portion (Nk) formed on its bottom-surface; the recess portion (Nk) includes a ridge portion (Rd), and the ridge portion (Rd) is formed in a substantially mountain shape in a cross-sectional view taken along a radial direction of the partially annular shape and may be or may not be in contact with a mounting surface (44) when no spring load of the suspension spring (18) is applied.