Vehicle Suspension Support Member Vibration Damping via Reinforcing Joint

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle-body structures that support suspension forming members between plate-shaped members are prone to vibration due to vibration transmission from the suspension device, leading to instability and discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle-body structure where the support member is joined to a second face portion via a reinforcing member, which can be integral or separate, to restrict movement and reduce vibrations, with optional rigid and flexible joint portions to enhance rigidity and damping effects, using viscoelastic members with specific storage modulus and loss factor ranges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the support member is provided between the first plate-shaped member and the second plate-shaped member to support the suspension forming member, then the suspension forming member can be positioned at an appropriate level and supported stably, but the support member is easily made to vibrate due to vibration transmission from the suspension device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of supportVSAvoidvibration of support member

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A damping member is introduced as an intermediary element between the support member and the second plate-shaped member. This damping member serves as a mediator that transmits the supporting function while simultaneously absorbing and damping vibrations, preventing vibration transmission from the suspension device to the support member and vehicle body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The vibration and strain energy that would normally be harmful are converted into beneficial damping effects. The damping member utilizes the vibrational energy to activate its damping properties, transforming the harmful vibration transmission into a beneficial vibration suppression mechanism that protects the support member and vehicle body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Device complexity

If the support member is joined directly to the plate-shaped members, then the structure is simple, but vibrations are transmitted directly causing instability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidvibration transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The damping member is positioned as an intermediary between the support member and the second plate-shaped member, creating a buffered connection that reduces vibration transmission while maintaining structural integrity. This intermediary element adds minimal complexity while significantly reducing harmful vibrations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The joint structure becomes a composite system combining the support member, damping member, and plate-shaped members. This composite structure leverages the different properties of each component - the rigidity of metal parts and the damping characteristics of the damping member - to achieve both structural strength and vibration suppression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Effectively restrains vibrations of the support member, improving the vehicle's ride comfort and reducing noise without adding weight, by utilizing the reinforcing member to absorb and dissipate strain energy.

Implementation Method 1

a damping member which is a viscoelastic member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscoelasticity: Viscoelasticity

Implementation Method 2

absorb and dissipate strain energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS8967672B2Vehicle-body structure of vehicle and manufacturing method of the same

Publication Date: 2015.03.03 MAZDA MOTOR CORP

AI summary

In a vehicle-body structure of a vehicle, where suspension forming members are attached to a vehicle body, there are provided a first face portion, through which the suspension forming member extends, a second face portion provided to face to the first face portion, and a support member provided between the first face portion and the second face portion and supporting the suspension forming members, and the support member is joined to said second face portion via a reinforcing member which is formed integrally with the support member or formed separately from the support member. Accordingly, vibrations of the support member can be properly restrained.