Vehicle Suspension Coil Spring Offset Reduces Damper Bending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional strut suspension devices for vehicles fail to effectively offset bending moments acting on dampers in both the vehicle's width and longitudinal directions, leading to reduced comfort and stability due to uneven load distribution.
Innovation Solution
The suspension device incorporates a coil spring with its center offset outward in the vehicle width and rearward in the longitudinal direction, allowing the spring force to act on the damper in a manner that offsets loads from both directions, thereby reducing bending moments and improving smooth operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the connecting portions are disposed inside with respect to the hub in the vehicle width direction, then the suspension structure is compact and easy to manufacture, but a bending moment acts on the damper causing rough operation and reduced stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by offsetting the coil spring's load axis from the damper axis in the vehicle width direction. The coil spring is positioned such that its load axis does not coincide with the damper axis, creating an asymmetric configuration that generates a counteracting moment to offset the bending moment on the damper, thereby improving stability while maintaining the compact inside-mounted connecting portions
2Device complexity
If the coil spring load axis is inclined only in the vehicle width direction, then the structure is simple, but the bending moment in the longitudinal direction cannot be offset
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the offset configuration from a single dimension (vehicle width direction) to two dimensions by also offsetting the coil spring's load axis in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. This dimensional extension allows the spring force to have components that counteract bending moments in both the width and longitudinal directions, comprehensively reducing the bending moment on the damper
3Reliability
If the coil spring load axis is offset in both width and longitudinal directions, then the bending moment is effectively reduced, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetry principles by deliberately positioning the coil spring's load axis offset from the damper axis in both the vehicle width direction and the longitudinal direction. This asymmetric configuration allows the spring force to generate counteracting moments in multiple directions, effectively reducing the bending moment on the damper while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively reduces bending moments on the damper, enhancing passenger comfort and vehicle stability by ensuring smooth damper operation and balanced load distribution across both vehicle axes.
Implementation Method 1
the spring force of the coil spring to offset the bending moment acting on the damper
Data Source
AI summary
A suspension device for vehicles (a front suspension (10)) is disclosed in which, of connecting portions (23, 24) of a lower arm (20) and a tie rod (6) for connection to a knuckle (35), one of the connecting portions (24) which is close to the rear of the vehicle is offset inward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the other connecting portion (23) which is close to the front of the vehicle, in the steering neutral state. The center (P2) of a lower end portion of a coil spring (60) is offset outward in the vehicle width direction and rearward in the vehicle's longitudinal direction with respect to the center (P1) of an upper end portion of the coil spring (60).