Trailing Link Suspension Assembly for Cycle Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Telescopic front suspension forks in two-wheeled vehicles face issues with high stiction, reduced stability due to mechanical trail reduction during compression, lack of leverage ratio, and undesirable braking reactions, which affect handling and traction.
Innovation Solution
A wheel suspension assembly with a steering fork connected to a first arm, a shock link, a shock absorber, a wheel carrier, and a control link, arranged in a trailing configuration with flexible pivots, allowing for increased mechanical trail and varying leverage ratios during compression, reducing stiction and improving stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If large diameter stantions are used to support fore/aft loads, then structural strength is improved, but stiction increases due to larger bushing and seal surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The stantion is divided into multiple segments or sections, each with its own bearing surface. This segmentation allows the total bearing area to be distributed across multiple smaller surfaces, reducing the stiction at each interface while maintaining the overall structural strength required for fore/aft load support.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary element or mechanism is introduced between the stantion and the bushing/seal interface. This intermediary reduces the direct contact area and friction between the stantion and sealing components, thereby reducing stiction while preserving the structural integrity of the stantion.
2Strength
If telescopic fork compression increases to absorb bumps, then shock absorption is improved, but mechanical trail reduces causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system employs dynamic geometry where the stantion angle or fork offset changes as a function of suspension compression. This dynamic adjustment maintains a more consistent mechanical trail throughout the compression stroke, preserving steering stability while allowing the suspension to absorb bumps effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes geometric parameters (such as stantion angle, fork offset, or trail distance) as the suspension compresses. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the mechanical trail is maintained at an optimal level throughout the compression range, preventing instability while enabling effective shock absorption.
3Stability of the object's composition
If stantion angle is made slacker to improve angle of attack stability, then bump absorption is improved, but bushing load increases resulting in greater stiction
Solution Approach 1:
The stantion is segmented into multiple sections with distributed bearing surfaces. This allows the system to use a slacker stantion angle for improved angle of attack stability while the segmented bearing surfaces reduce the stiction at each interface, preventing the increased bushing load from translating into excessive friction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts bearing surface characteristics or load distribution parameters as the stantion angle changes. This allows the stantion to operate at a slacker angle for better bump absorption while maintaining optimal friction characteristics through parameter adjustments in the bearing or seal system.
Data Source
AI summary
A trailing link multi-bar suspension assembly for a cycle having improved stability includes a first arm having a first arm fixed pivot and a first arm shock pivot. A shock link has a shock link fixed pivot and a shock link floating pivot. A shock absorber has a first shock mount and a second shock mount. A wheel carrier has a wheel carrier first pivot and a wheel carrier second pivot spaced apart from one another, and a wheel mount that is adapted to be connected to a wheel. A control link has a control link floating pivot and a control link fixed pivot, the control link floating pivot being pivotably connected to the wheel carrier second pivot, and the control link fixed pivot being pivotably connected to the first arm control pivot.