Vehicle Suspension Link Release Mechanism for Small Overlap Impact Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle suspension systems are inadequate in minimizing the effects of small overlap frontal impacts, as they fail to effectively manage loads and maintain structural integrity during such collisions, leading to potential deformation and damage.
Innovation Solution
A suspension architectural strategy that includes a link coupled to the vehicle body structure and wheel assembly, designed to release under specific threshold forces and angles, allowing for controlled kinematics and minimizing deformation by guiding the wheel assembly through a trajectory that directs impact forces to high-strength areas, such as the rocker, while maintaining structural integrity in other load cases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the suspension system uses a rigid link connection to maintain structural integrity, then strength and reliability are improved, but the system cannot minimize deformation during small overlap frontal impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The joint transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic system that can change its state based on loading conditions. The joint remains rigid under normal operating loads but becomes capable of releasing under specific impact conditions (force above threshold and angle above threshold), allowing the suspension to adapt its structural characteristics to minimize body deformation during small overlap frontal impacts while maintaining integrity during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The joint's mechanical properties are designed to change based on load parameters. By defining specific threshold values for force magnitude and angle, the system transitions between two states: a rigid connected state for normal operation and a released state for impact conditions. This parameter-based state change allows the system to optimize performance for both structural integrity and impact mitigation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the suspension system is designed to release under impact loads to minimize deformation, then harmful impact effects are reduced, but reliability and structural integrity may be compromised under normal loads
Solution Approach 1:
The release mechanism is localized to specific geometric features of the joint (the opening with main region and auxiliary region separated by a passage). The joint maintains full structural integrity through the passage geometry, which prevents bolt displacement under normal loading conditions. Release occurs only when loads exceed specific thresholds and push the bolt through the passage into the auxiliary region, ensuring that reliability is maintained locally under normal conditions while allowing controlled release under impact conditions
3Adaptability or versatility
If the joint opening is designed with a passage to enable controlled release, then adaptability to impact conditions is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The joint opening is segmented into distinct functional regions: a main region for normal operation, a passage with restricted width for controlled transition, and an auxiliary region for impact release. This segmentation allows the joint to provide different mechanical behaviors in different regions, enabling adaptability to impact conditions while using simple geometric divisions rather than complex mechanical components
Data Source
AI summary
Suspension systems are provided where the lower control arm is allowed to separate from the engine cradle at prescribed conditions to deliver the proper wheel kinematics for select cases while maintaining structural integrity for all other load cases. A system includes a vehicle body structure, a wheel assembly, and a suspension system linking the wheel assembly to the engine cradle. The suspension system includes a link coupled with the engine cradle through a first joint and coupled with the wheel assembly through a second joint. The first joint is configured to release the link from the engine cradle under loads above a threshold force and above a threshold angle of the threshold force at the second joint, to provide the desired kinematics.