Steering Knuckle Enlarged Wall Portion Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steering knuckles have a large weight due to high wall thickness and low hollow portion ratio, which hinders weight reduction and increases deformation risk.
Innovation Solution
A steering knuckle design with an enlarged portion on the peripheral wall surrounding a hollow portion, enhancing the hollow portion's volume and area, and integrating a closed structure around the extending axis to improve rigidity and strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If wall thickness is increased to improve rigidity, then strength is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating an enlarged portion at the end portion of the peripheral wall with different thickness characteristics. This localized structural variation allows the wall to have greater thickness where needed (at the end portion) while maintaining thinner walls in other areas, thus improving rigidity at critical locations without proportionally increasing overall weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dimensional variation by creating an enlarged portion that extends in a direction intersecting the extending axis. This dimensional change allows the structure to gain rigidity in specific directions without uniformly increasing wall thickness throughout, thereby achieving strength improvement with minimal weight penalty.
2Weight of moving object
If hollow portion ratio is increased to reduce weight, then weight is reduced, but rigidity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by applying local quality through the enlarged portion structure. The peripheral wall has varying thickness - thinner in most areas to maintain low weight, but with a localized enlarged portion at the end that provides enhanced rigidity. This allows the hollow portion ratio to remain high for weight reduction while critical areas maintain sufficient thickness for rigidity.
3Weight of moving object
If wall thickness is uniformly reduced to achieve weight reduction, then weight is reduced, but stress concentration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses stress concentration by implementing local quality through the enlarged portion at the end portion of the peripheral wall. This localized thickening provides structural reinforcement at the area most susceptible to stress concentration, allowing the rest of the wall to maintain reduced thickness for weight reduction while critical areas resist stress concentration.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle steering knuckle includes a body part to which an axle is attached, an arm portion including one end integrally connected with an outer periphery of the body part and spreading outwardly from the body part along an extending axis, and a connecting portion configured to be connected with a vehicle component. The arm portion includes a first portion, a second portion, and a hollow portion. The first portion including a peripheral wall configured to enclose around the extending axis. The second portion including a peripheral wall including an opening partially opened around the extending axis. At a cross-section intersecting the extending axis, an end portion of the peripheral wall of the second portion on a side of the opening includes an enlarged portion which is enlarged in width as compared with side portions adjacent to the end portion.