Vehicle Suspension Cage with Climber Bolt Adjustment
Solution Overview
Problem
Current suspension adjustment methods for competitive racing vehicles are time-consuming and difficult due to the need to remove and reinsert connector bolts and spacers, which are often hindered by the weight of the vehicle, requiring significant time and effort to realign mounting holes and reassemble the suspension.
Innovation Solution
The adjustable vehicle suspension cage features a climber bolt assembly with contoured elongated guide slots and mirrored gear systems that allow for adjustments to be made while the suspension is loaded, eliminating the need to disassemble fittings and realign holes, using a wrench to rotate climber nuts along slot gears for precise positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If connector bolts and spacers are removed and reinserted for suspension adjustment, then suspension repositioning is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and difficult due to binding and misalignment issues
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system is divided into modular components with standardized mounting holes and separate connector bolts/spacers. This segmentation allows individual elements to be adjusted independently while maintaining overall system integrity, enabling quick repositioning without complete disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Connector bolts and spacers serve as intermediary elements between the suspension cage and mounting points. These intermediaries facilitate easy attachment and detachment, allowing suspension repositioning without direct permanent connections, thus reducing adjustment time and complexity.
2Ease of operation
If connector bolts are loosened to reposition suspension, then suspension elements can be shifted, but the weight of the vehicle causes binding of bolts and spacers
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful binding effect is extracted and isolated to the connector bolts and spacers themselves, which are designed to handle this specific challenge. By focusing the solution on these removable intermediaries rather than the entire suspension system, the design allows for easy extraction and repositioning despite the binding issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector elements (bolts and spacers) are designed with specific dimensional parameters and material properties that allow them to accommodate the binding effect caused by vehicle weight. The spacers in particular are engineered to maintain proper alignment and reduce binding during the loosening and repositioning process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If suspension is adjusted with connector bolts removed, then repositioning is possible, but aligning mounting holes becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting holes and connector elements are designed with universal compatibility and standardized dimensions. This universality ensures that mounting holes align consistently across different positions and configurations, making the repositioning process easier and more predictable regardless of the specific adjustment needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting holes are pre-positioned and pre-aligned during manufacturing with precise tolerances. This preliminary action of establishing accurate hole positions before use eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures during field adjustments, as the holes are already configured to work together.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle suspension cage is provided and more particularly a dirt track racing rear axle birdcage style cage having features facilitating rapid suspension tuning and adjustment typically experienced during competitive events to accommodate varying track and handling conditions. A particular advantage is that adjustment of the suspension cage is accomplished without unloading the suspension thereby eliminating lifting the vehicle off the ground or removing the vehicle weight from the suspension. A four-link dirt modified suspension cage configuration embodiment and method of adjustment is provided; however, the suspension cage is adaptable to a variety of configurations and embodiments.