Releasable Two-Leg Suspension Fork for Drive Shaft Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suspension forks for vehicles face challenges in balancing stiffness-to-weight ratio with ease of mounting and demounting the drive shaft, particularly with two-legged designs, and one-legged designs are heavier but offer better access.
Innovation Solution
A suspension fork design with a first leg permanently attached and a second leg configured for releasable attachment, allowing easy mounting and demounting of the drive shaft through a space between the legs, combined with a secure and lightweight attachment mechanism using through-holes and screws.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a two-legged suspension fork design is used, then the stiffness-to-weight ratio is improved, but the mounting and demounting of the drive shaft becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension fork is divided into two separate legs (first leg and second leg) that are spaced apart from each other, creating a segmented structure. This segmentation allows the drive shaft to be inserted through the space between the legs, enabling easy mounting and demounting while maintaining the structural integrity and stiffness of a two-legged design
2Ease of operation
If a one-legged suspension fork design is used, then the access to the drive shaft is improved, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single heavy leg, the design employs two lighter legs spaced apart, creating a segmented structure that reduces overall weight while providing equivalent or superior access to the drive shaft through the space between the legs
3Strength
If the second leg is permanently attached to the attachment portion and control arm, then the structural strength is improved, but the ease of servicing and assembly is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment configuration is made dynamic and adjustable, allowing the second leg to be selectively attached or detached from the attachment portion and control arm. This dynamic attachment system maintains structural strength when assembled while enabling easy disassembly for servicing, adjustment, or drive shaft removal
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure relates to a suspension fork (10) for a vehicle suspension (100), the suspension fork (10) comprising an attachment portion (11), a first leg (20) and a second leg (30). The disclosure further relates to the suspension (100) comprising the suspension fork (10), a damper (40) attached to the attachment portion (11) of the suspension fork (10), a control arm (50) attached to the two legs (20, 30) of the suspension fork (10) and a drive shaft (60) extending in length through a space (18) between the two legs (20, 30).