Vehicle Suspension Toe-In Displacement for Steering Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle suspension apparatuses do not effectively enhance steering stability during vehicle turning, particularly for the outer rear wheel, as they do not consider toe-in displacement.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle suspension apparatus with a wheel carrying member, a trailing arm, upper and lower lateral links, and a subframe, where the lateral links are mounted and supported at specific positions to allow the outer rear wheel to bias in a toe-in direction during turning, enhancing steering stability with a simple configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lateral links are mounted at positions rearward of the rotary shaft to maintain simple suspension support, then the suspension structure remains simple, but the steering stability during vehicle turning cannot be enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a single-plane link mounting configuration to a multi-dimensional arrangement. The upper and lower lateral links are mounted at different longitudinal positions (frontward and rearward of the rotary shaft respectively) and at different vertical levels (upper and lower portions of the wheel carrying member), creating a three-dimensional link geometry that enables toe-in displacement while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If the upper and lower lateral links are mounted at different longitudinal positions relative to the rotary shaft, then toe-in displacement and steering stability are achieved, but the mounting structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the lateral link support function into two separate links (upper and lower lateral links) mounted at different positions. This segmentation allows each link to perform a specific function: the upper link mounted frontward of the rotary shaft provides primary lateral support, while the lower link mounted rearward of the rotary shaft enables toe-in displacement during turning, achieving enhanced steering stability through functional division.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes vertical dimensionality by mounting the upper lateral link at an upper portion of the wheel carrying member and the lower lateral link at a lower portion, creating a vertical separation that contributes to the three-dimensional link geometry. This multi-dimensional arrangement enables the system to achieve toe-in displacement while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
3Reliability
If a separate link mounting bracket is provided to ensure reliable lateral link support, then the support reliability is improved, but the device complexity and number of parts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating the lateral link mounting function directly into the wheel carrying member structure. The upper and lower lateral links are mounted to the wheel carrying member at their respective positions (frontward and rearward of the rotary shaft) without requiring separate mounting brackets. This integration eliminates additional components while ensuring reliable support through the structurally sound wheel carrying member itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel carrying member serves multiple functions: it supports the wheel assembly, provides mounting points for the upper and lower lateral links at different longitudinal positions, and maintains structural integrity without requiring separate mounting brackets. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components while ensuring reliable lateral link support.
Data Source
AI summary
It is an object to obtain excellent suspension performance and effectively enhance steering stability during vehicle turning, with a simple configuration. A vehicle suspension apparatus comprises an upper lateral link (5) and a lower lateral link (6) each having one end (5a, 6a) swingably mounted to a wheel carrying member (1) and the other end (5b, 6b) swingably supported by a vehicle body, while being installed to extend in a vehicle widthwise direction, and a lower link (7) having one end mounted to a lower portion of the wheel carrying member (1) at a position rearward of a rotary shaft of a wheel, and the other end swingably supported by the vehicle body. The one ends (5a, 6a) of the upper and lower lateral links (5, 6) are mounted, respectively, to an upper portion and a lower portion of the wheel carrying member (1) at positions frontward of the rotary shaft of the wheel. The upper and lower mounting portions each mounting a respective one of the upper and lower lateral links (5, 6) to the wheel carrying member (1) are disposed at approximately same positions in a vehicle longitudinal direction in side view. Further, the other ends (5b, 5b) of the upper and lower lateral links (5, 6) are supported, respectively, by an upper portion and a lower portion of a frame member 3 installed to extend in an upward-downward direction in side view.