Integrated Steering-Suspension Layout for Reduced Bump Steer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current suspension and steering mechanisms in vehicles often face challenges in efficiently managing wheel motion and steering, particularly in maintaining contact with the road and reducing shocks, while also providing independent suspension and effective steering capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A novel suspension and steering mechanism that includes a suspension arm, a steering arm, and a steering actuator, where the steering actuator is rotatably coupled with the suspension arm and the steering arm, allowing for movement between extended and retracted positions, and the fixed end of the actuator is positioned within a horizontal cross-section of the suspension arm or a defined triangle, enhancing flexibility and reducing volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the steering actuator is positioned outside the suspension arm cross-section for traditional steering control, then steering capability is achieved, but mechanical volume increases and range of motion is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The steering actuator is positioned within the horizontal cross-section of the suspension arm, nesting the steering mechanism inside the existing suspension structure. This eliminates the need for external steering components and reduces overall mechanical volume while maintaining full steering capability through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension arm serves multiple functions: it provides suspension support and simultaneously houses the steering actuator. This multi-functional design allows the same structural element to fulfill both suspension and steering actuation roles, reducing the need for separate dedicated steering components and increasing design versatility.
2Device complexity
If traditional separate suspension and steering systems are used, then independent suspension is provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension and steering systems are merged into a single integrated mechanism where the suspension arm and steering actuator work as one unified system. This combination reduces the number of separate components and connection points, simplifying the overall system while maintaining independent suspension capability and steering functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system allows the suspension arm to serve dual purposes: maintaining wheel contact with the road and enabling steering motion. This multi-functionality reduces system complexity by eliminating redundant components while inherently providing reliability through the unified design where failure of one function does not necessarily compromise the other.
3Ease of operation
If the actuator operates with large stroke for steering control, then steering range is improved, but bump steering increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering actuator uses a rotational joint design that allows dynamic adjustment of the steering angle through rotation rather than linear extension. This dynamic rotational mechanism provides full steering range while maintaining a compact actuator stroke, eliminating bump steering caused by large linear movements and improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A suspension and steering mechanism for a vehicle including at least one suspension arm, a steering arm, and a steering actuator. The suspension arm includes a wheel mounting end and a base end rotatably coupled with a reference frame via a base axis. The steering arm is coupled with the suspension arm at a rotation point of the steering arm. An actuated end of the steering arm extends toward a first direction from the rotation point. The steering actuator includes an actuating end and a fixed end, and is rotatably coupled at the fixed end with the suspension arm and rotatably coupled at the actuating end with the actuated end of the steering arm. A horizontal location of the fixed end is within at least one of a horizontal cross-section of the suspension arm and a triangle defined by the rotation point and the largest width of the base axis.