Vehicle Suspension Tower Vertical Rigidity via Horizontal Rib Nesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suspension tower portion structures face challenges in enhancing vertical rigidity without increasing size, which can compromise impact absorption and riding comfort due to limitations in rib placement and design.
Innovation Solution
A suspension tower portion structure featuring an upper face with fastening and top face portions connected via a vertical wall, incorporating inner-peripheral and outer-peripheral ribs that extend and connect to improve cross-sectional moment and overall vertical rigidity, without increasing the tower's vertical length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rib projects further upward from the top face of the top face portion to increase vertical rigidity, then the rigidity in the vertical direction is improved, but the suspension tower portion extends upward becoming large sized, reducing the gap between the top face portion and engine hood, which deteriorates impact absorption performance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from increasing vertical rigidity through vertical extension (adding height) to achieving the same goal through horizontal expansion (adding ribs in the horizontal plane). The ring-shaped rib and radial-shaped ribs extend outward from the central axis rather than upward, maintaining the gap with the engine hood while providing the necessary structural reinforcement through increased moment of inertia in the horizontal direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension tower portion employs a nested rib structure where a ring-shaped rib forms an outer circular structure, and multiple radial-shaped ribs extend from the center to the ring-shaped rib, creating a concentric, nested pattern. This nested arrangement efficiently distributes structural reinforcement throughout the top face portion without requiring additional vertical space, maximizing rigidity within the available horizontal envelope.
2Length of stationary object
If the suspension tower portion is arranged downward to ensure sufficient gap between the engine hood and the suspension tower portion, then the gap is maintained, but the vertical length of the suspension becomes shorter, decreasing the amount of stroke and deteriorating riding comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The invention compensates for the reduced vertical suspension length by reinforcing the top face portion through horizontal rib structures. The ring-shaped and radial-shaped ribs create a stiff platform that maintains structural integrity even with shorter suspension travel, allowing the tower to be positioned lower while preserving both gap clearance and suspension functionality.
3Strength
If ribs are provided on the suspension tower portion to increase vertical rigidity, then the rigidity is improved, but the structural complexity increases, making the design more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The rib structure is segmented into distinct functional components: a ring-shaped rib that provides circumferential reinforcement and multiple radial-shaped ribs that provide radial reinforcement from the center to the ring. This segmentation allows each rib type to be optimized for its specific directional load path while maintaining overall structural coherence and facilitating manufacturing through standardized production of individual rib elements.
Data Source
AI summary
An upper face portion of a suspension tower portion of a vehicle comprises an fastening face portion where plural fastening portions to which an upper-side attached portion of a suspension is fixedly fastened are provided and a top face portion which is provided at a higher level than the fastening face portion so as to face the upper-side attached portion of the suspension, the top face portion being connected to a central portion of the fastening face portion via a vertical wall portion. An inner-peripheral-side rib is provided on an inner-peripheral side of the vertical wall portion.