Integrated Steering Suspension Upright for Interface Stress Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
The interface between the wheel hub unit and the suspension upright in steering suspensions experiences high stresses, leading to issues like slippage, locking, noise, corrosion, and increased production costs due to inefficient material use and asymmetrical component requirements for left and right sides of the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A single, integrally machined component for the steering suspension featuring a radially outer ring of the wheel hub unit with a flange and steering arm, which reduces stress at the interface and allows for symmetrical use on both sides of the vehicle by optimizing material distribution and simplifying the design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If press-fit coupling or flanged connection is used to connect the wheel hub unit and suspension upright, then the connection can be assembled, but high stresses at the interface cause slippage, locking, loosening, noise generation and corrosion over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the outer ring of the wheel hub unit and the suspension upright into a single integrally formed component. This eliminates the interface between two separate parts, thereby removing the source of high stresses, slippage, locking, and corrosion that plagues conventional press-fit or flanged connections. The integral structure ensures uniform stress distribution throughout the component.
2Strength
If the outer ring and suspension upright are made as separate components with an interface, then assembly is possible, but the material use is not optimized as both faces must withstand the same stresses, doubling the material required and increasing weight
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the outer ring and suspension upright into one integral component, the patent eliminates the need for duplicate material on both sides of an interface. The single continuous structure optimizes material distribution, allowing the component to withstand stresses efficiently without requiring doubled material quantity, thereby reducing overall weight.
3Reliability
If the outer ring and suspension upright are fully integrated, then interface stresses are eliminated, but service costs and machining problems increase
Solution Approach 1:
While the outer ring and suspension upright are integrally formed to eliminate interface stresses, the patent incorporates a separable wheel hub assembly that can be removed from the suspension upright. This segmentation allows the wheel hub unit to be serviced independently without requiring complete disassembly or complex machining of the integrated structure, thereby reducing service costs and machining complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If asymmetric components are used for left and right sides of the vehicle, then the specific steering requirements for each side are met, but production costs and complexity increase due to requiring different components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates asymmetric features directly into the integral component design, such as the steering arm configuration and mounting interface geometry, which are molded or formed into the single piece during manufacturing. This allows a single component design to accommodate both left and right side steering requirements through proper orientation, eliminating the need for separate left-specific and right-specific components while maintaining the necessary asymmetric functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering suspension of a vehicle includes a suspension upright and a mechanical component consisting of a radially outer ring of a wheel hub unit or of a rolling bearing forming part of a wheel hub unit. The outer ring is provided integral in one piece with a flange and a steering arm, extending radially cantilevered from the outer ring and the flange, with which it is also integral in one piece. On the side opposite to the steering arm the flange is integral in one piece with a pair of axially drilled radial lugs, configured to support, in use, a brake caliper.