Steerable Suspension Pneumatic Retractors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Steerable vehicle suspensions face issues with damper failure due to overloading and damage from road debris, which affects the stability and steering performance, especially during high-speed turns and reverse operations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of pneumatic retractors in the steerable vehicle suspension system, which apply a tensile force in response to pressure changes, reducing the need for exposed piston rods and providing a durable solution that resists damage from road debris, while allowing controlled steering and stabilization through a pressure-regulated control system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional dampers with exposed piston rods are used in steerable vehicle suspension, then steering control and stability can be achieved, but the dampers are susceptible to damage from road debris and overloading during high-speed turns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical dampers with pneumatic retractors that use air pressure to apply stabilizing forces to the steering knuckle. The pneumatic system eliminates exposed piston rods by using sealed chambers that receive pressurized air through ports, creating a durable system resistant to road debris while maintaining steering control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractor incorporates a flexible diaphragm or bellows structure that expands and contracts in response to pressure changes. This flexible element replaces the rigid piston rod assembly, providing both protection against debris and the necessary mechanical movement for steering stabilization without exposed vulnerable components.
2Reliability
If pneumatic retractors are used to prevent steering during reverse operations, then vehicle safety is improved, but the system complexity increases due to pressure regulation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts pneumatic pressure based on vehicle operating conditions. During reverse operations, the controller activates to supply pressure that prevents steering, while during forward motion, pressure is reduced or eliminated to allow normal steering. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system complex only when necessary for safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system monitors vehicle speed and direction through sensors and adjusts pneumatic pressure accordingly. When reverse motion is detected, the feedback loop triggers pressure application to the retractors, automatically preventing steering without requiring manual intervention or complex mechanical linkages.
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
The pneumatic retractors enhance the stability and durability of the suspension system by mitigating oscillations and preventing steering during reverse operations, reducing the risk of damper failure and maintaining effective steering performance across various speed ranges.
Implementation Method 1
resistance to rotation of the wheel spindles increases in response to a pressure increase applied to the pneumatic retractors
Implementation Method 2
a self-steering auxiliary axle assembly having an elastic member installed in tension for use as a steering damper on both ends of the axle
Data Source
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AI summary
A steerable vehicle suspension can include an axle, at least one retractor having a length that decreases in response to a pressure increase applied to the retractor, and at least one wheel spindle. Resistance to rotation of the wheel spindle relative to the axle increases in response to the pressure increase applied to the retractor. A method of operating a steerable vehicle suspension of a vehicle can include allowing steering knuckles rotatably mounted at opposite ends of an axle to rotate relative to the axle while the vehicle moves forward, and applying an inwardly directed force simultaneously to each of the steering knuckles. Another steerable vehicle suspension can include two rotatably mounted steering knuckles, and two retractors connected to the steering knuckles. An inwardly directed force is applied by each retractor to a respective one of the steering knuckles in response to pressure applied to the retractors.