Suspension Quadrilateral With Protected Shock Absorber Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suspension systems for three-wheeled motorcycles face issues with dirt accumulation affecting the cylinder-piston coupling, leading to seal deterioration and reduced functionality, along with challenges in controlling wheel trajectory, strength, and production costs.
Innovation Solution
A suspension group design that integrates a shock absorber within a tubular jacket, with the shock absorber positioned partially outside the wheel rim volume, using cranks and torsion bars to reduce dimensions and weight, and eliminate the need for helical springs, enhancing geometric progressivity and reducing material and processing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the shock absorber group is integrated inside a jacket with an open head portion through a slot, then the suspension provides functional support, but the cylinder-piston coupling is subject to dirt accumulation causing seal deterioration and reduced functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful open slot is removed from the jacket structure. The invention integrates the shock absorber group inside a closed jacket without any slots or openings, thereby extracting the source of dirt accumulation and protecting the cylinder-piston coupling from contaminants while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The shock absorber group is nested inside the closed jacket structure. The jacket serves as a protective housing that contains the shock absorber group, creating a nested configuration where the inner component (shock absorber) is protected by the outer structure (jacket) from external contaminants.
2Strength
If traditional suspension systems are used with helical springs and complex structures, then the suspension provides support, but the dimensions and weight increase reducing dynamic behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorber group and the jacket are merged into a single integrated component. The jacket is not just a protective housing but also serves as a structural element of the suspension system, combining multiple functions into one component to reduce overall weight and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional helical spring mechanism is replaced with a torsion bar system. The torsion bar provides the necessary suspension support through torsional deformation rather than compression, enabling a more compact and lighter design while maintaining or improving suspension performance.
3Volume of moving object
If the shock absorber group is positioned inside the wheel rim volume, then the suspension is compact, but the stub axle size and track width increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorber group is repositioned from an internal wheel rim location to an external location on the suspension assembly. This dimensional relocation allows the wheel rim to maintain its original size while the shock absorber is accommodated in the external suspension structure, reducing stub axle and track width requirements.
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
The solution improves dynamic response, reliability, and production costs by maintaining cleanliness of the cylinder-piston coupling, providing better wheel control and strength, while reducing the stub axle size and track width, and simplifying the construction of the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
the suspension group comprises a wheel guide (1), a shock absorber group (7) and a torsion bar (148)
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
A suspension group (10) for a motor vehicle (100), wherein said suspension group (10) comprises: a wheel guide (1), which extends along a longitudinal axis (T-T), which comprises a wheel attachment (2) for connection to a rotation pin (3) of a wheel (102,102a) having a rotation axis (R-R) orthogonal to said longitudinal axis (T-T), wherein the wheel guide (1) extends between a first end (1a) and a second end (1b), opposite the first end (1a), a support arm (8) functionally connected to the wheel guide (1) respectively by means of: a first crank (9) rotatably connected at said second end (1b) to the wheel guide (1) and to the support arm (8); a second crank (12) rotatably connected at said first end (1a) to the wheel guide (1) and to the support arm (8), wherein the wheel guide elements (1), the support arm (8) and the first (9) and second (12) crank define a suspension quadrilateral (120), wherein, between at least two of said elements chosen between the wheel guide (1), the support arm (8), the first and the second crank (9,12), a shock absorber group (7) is interconnected in such a way that the shock absorber group (7) varies its extension as the movement of the suspension quadrilateral (120) varies.