Steered Wheel Knuckle Support Structure for Compactness
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Solution Overview
Problem
In straddle-type vehicles with hub steering, the increase in steering bearing size leads to a corresponding increase in the knuckle member size, resulting in reduced flexibility due to potential interference with other components, necessitating a solution to maintain compactness and prevent size expansion.
Innovation Solution
A steered wheel support structure featuring a knuckle member with two supported sections on either side of the axle support section, angularly displaceable around the steering axis, supported by a cantilevered member from the vehicle body, allowing the sections to overlap with the axle and reduce protrusion, thereby maintaining compactness and preventing size increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the size of the steering bearing is increased to support the knuckle member, then the load-bearing capacity and stability are improved, but the size of the knuckle member increases correspondingly, leading to interference with other components and reduced design flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The knuckle member is divided into multiple sections: an axle support section and two supported sections disposed on both sides in the upward and downward direction. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently, enabling the supported sections to face the axle and reduce protruding amount while the axle support section provides structural stability for bearing support.
Solution Approach 2:
The two supported sections are disposed on both sides in the upward and downward direction of the axle support section, utilizing the vertical dimension to arrange components. This dimensional arrangement allows the supported sections to face the axle when viewed from the upward and downward direction, reducing the radial protrusion while maintaining structural integrity and stability.
2Strength
If the size of the knuckle member is increased to accommodate larger steering bearings, then the support capacity is improved, but the flexibility of vehicle design is reduced due to interference with other members in the radial space
Solution Approach 1:
The knuckle member is segmented into an axle support section and two supported sections, allowing the supported sections to be positioned to face the axle. This segmentation enables the support capacity to be maintained through proper structural arrangement while reducing the overall radial size and eliminating interference with other members.
Solution Approach 2:
By arranging the supported sections in the upward and downward direction to face the axle, the design utilizes vertical spacing to reduce radial protrusion. This dimensional arrangement maintains support capacity while improving adaptability and reducing interference with other vehicle members.
3Volume of moving object
If the supported sections are positioned to face the axle and overlap with it in the forward and rearward direction, then the protruding amount is reduced and compactness is achieved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The knuckle member is divided into an axle support section and two supported sections, with the supported sections positioned to face the axle. This segmentation achieves compactness by reducing the protruding amount in the radial direction while maintaining a relatively simple structural configuration that is easy to manufacture and assemble.
Data Source
AI summary
A steered wheel support structure of a vehicle, includes a knuckle member which supports an axle of a steered wheel and a support member which is coupled to a vehicle body and supports the knuckle member from a first side in a vehicle width direction in such a manner that the knuckle member is angularly displaceable around a steering axis line, the knuckle member includes: an axle support section which supports the axle; and two supported sections disposed on both sides in the upward and downward direction, of at least a portion of the axle support section, the two supported sections facing each other and being apart from each other in the upward and downward direction, and the two supported sections are supported by the support member in such a manner that the two supported sections are angularly displaceable around the steering axis line relative to the support member.