Tilting Suspension Assembly with Low-Center Gravity Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Three-wheeled vehicles face instability during turns due to uneven weight distribution and high center of gravity, especially when carrying heavy battery banks, as existing solutions either lack effective force compensation or increase system complexity.
Innovation Solution
A four-bar suspension system with a pivoting vehicle design where the chassis connects to wheels that tilt, maintaining parallel orientation, and a bottom suspension member with a storage compartment for heavy items, keeping the weight low and reducing tilting mass, allowing active tilt control with minimal complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If heavy battery banks are installed in a vertical location beneath the vehicle seat, then sufficient battery capacity is achieved, but the vehicle's center of gravity is raised high causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical battery stacking to a horizontal platform configuration. The suspension assembly creates a lowered platform that extends horizontally rather than stacking batteries vertically, moving the battery bank to a lower dimension (closer to ground level) while maintaining sufficient capacity through expanded horizontal storage space.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension assembly is divided into multiple segments including a platform, side members, and cross members that collectively create a structured support system. This segmentation allows the battery bank to be distributed across the platform structure rather than concentrated in a single vertical stack, lowering the overall center of gravity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If three-wheeled vehicle geometry is used to improve fuel efficiency, then fuel efficiency is enhanced, but the centrifugal force overloads the outside tire causing vehicle slip during turns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs active tilt control that uses the operator's body weight and leg pressure as a counterbalance to centrifugal forces during turns. By tilting the vehicle frame and wheels together, the operator's weight shifts to compensate for centrifugal force, preventing tire overload and maintaining turning stability while preserving the fuel-efficient three-wheeled geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension system enables dynamic adjustment of vehicle tilt angle in response to turning conditions. The parallel tilt mechanism allows the wheels and frame to tilt together actively during turns, dynamically adapting the vehicle's orientation to maintain stability while preserving the fuel-efficient three-wheeled geometry.
3Ease of operation
If hydraulic cylinder load-leveling systems are used to control vehicle tilt, then tilt control is achieved, but system complexity and electronics requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension assembly enables self-service tilt control where the operator's own body movements and leg pressure on the platform directly control the vehicle's tilt angle. The mechanical linkage transfers the operator's physical input directly to the tilt mechanism, eliminating the need for external hydraulic cylinders, sensors, and computer control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the operator's body and legs as a mechanical intermediary between the control input and the tilt mechanism. Instead of electronic sensors and hydraulic actuators, the operator's physical presence and movements serve as the mediating element that directly actuates the parallel tilt of the frame and wheels through the suspension linkage.
Data Source
AI summary
A suspension system for a vehicle is provided that allows for the vehicle body to be tilted wherein the tilt is controlled by the operator's legs in a manner that greatly enhances the stability of the vehicle while producing a fun vehicle to operate. Further, the bottom member of the suspension system is structured in a manner that provides storage capacity for installation of heavy items such as battery banks in order to preserve a lowered center of gravity for the vehicle. The tilting suspension may be used in the context of three-wheeled vehicle having a single rear drive tire and two forward wheels, but apply equally to a four wheeled vehicle as well as to water craft operating on pontoons or snow vehicles operating on skis.