Vehicle Front Suspension Asymmetry Reduces Steering Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current suspension systems for vehicles face challenges in minimizing lateral distance between handling and ride axes, leading to undesirable torques and feedback in the steering mechanism during turning, braking, and acceleration.
Innovation Solution
The proposed front suspension system incorporates offsetting at least one of the ride links relative to the handling links to minimize the lateral distance between the handling and ride axes, thereby reducing feedback and improving steering stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the suspension system uses conventional alignment of handling and ride links, then the structure is simpler, but lateral distance between handling and ride axes increases causing undesirable torques and steering feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by intentionally offsetting the ride links laterally relative to the handling links. Specifically, the ride links are positioned at different lateral distances from the vehicle centerline compared to the handling links, creating an asymmetric configuration that minimizes the lateral distance between the handling axis and ride axis intersections on the ground plane. This asymmetric arrangement directly reduces the scrub radius and unwanted steering torques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses the steering feedback problem by moving from a conventional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration. The ride links are positioned at different vertical heights and lateral positions relative to the handling links, utilizing the vertical dimension to optimize the intersection points of the axes on the ground plane. This dimensional approach allows minimization of lateral distance between axes while maintaining proper suspension geometry.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the lateral distance between handling and ride axes is minimized, then steering stability improves, but the suspension geometry becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric positioning of ride links relative to handling links creates optimized suspension geometry. The ride links are laterally offset and vertically positioned to achieve minimal lateral distance between axis intersections, thereby maximizing steering stability while the asymmetric design itself becomes the geometric solution rather than an added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by optimizing specific geometric parameters of the suspension links - particularly the lateral and vertical positions of the ride links relative to the handling links. This localized geometric optimization at critical intersection points achieves improved steering stability without requiring complex changes to the entire suspension system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A front suspension assembly and a front suspension system for a vehicle are disclosed. A tire includes an outer surface having a contact patch center point being a point on a tire center axis. A first handling link and a first ride link are coupled to a wheel carrier above a first plane. A second handling link and a second ride link are coupled to the wheel carrier below the first plane. A handling axis intersects both of a first and second distal end of the first and second handling links respectively. A ride axis intersects both of a third and fourth distal end of the first and second ride links respectively. At least one of the first and second ride links is disposed offset from respective first and second handling links to minimize a lateral distance between the handling and ride axes along the ground plane.