UTV Bump Stop Assembly for Suspension Bottoming Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) are prone to bottoming out when traveling at higher speeds or over rough terrain, leading to damage to the vehicle frame and suspension components, as well as potential harm to passengers due to unabsorbed vertical movements.
Innovation Solution
A bump stop assembly comprising a frame attachment with clamps, a shock absorber attachment, and a bump plate bracket that engages when the suspension system reaches its capacity, transferring excess force to a shock absorber to dissipate energy and prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the suspension system is designed to absorb vertical movements, then the vehicle body stability is improved, but the suspension may still bottom out at higher speeds or over rougher terrain causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a bump stop assembly with a shock absorber positioned between the trailing arm and frame that activates when the suspension reaches its travel limit. This pre-positioned cushioning mechanism absorbs excess energy before it can cause damage to the vehicle frame or suspension components during bottoming out events.
Solution Approach 2:
The shock absorber acts as an intermediary element between the trailing arm and frame, transferring and dissipating impact forces when the suspension system is overwhelmed. This intermediary component protects the primary suspension elements and frame from direct damage during extreme conditions.
2Strength
If the suspension system absorbs all vertical movements, then damage to vehicle components is prevented, but the system becomes overly complex and may interfere with normal suspension operation
Solution Approach 1:
The bump stop assembly is designed to activate only when the suspension travel is exceeded, providing partial protection rather than continuous intervention. The shock absorber remains dormant during normal suspension operation and only engages when bottoming out is imminent, thus protecting components without interfering with regular suspension function.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection mechanism is localized to specific points where bottoming out would cause damage - between the trailing arm and frame. Rather than making the entire suspension system more complex, the shock absorber is strategically positioned at the critical interface where impact forces are most damaging.
3Reliability
If a bump stop assembly is added to prevent bottoming out, then component protection is improved, but the device complexity and number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bump stop assembly integrates multiple functions into a single unit: the shock absorber, mounting brackets, and fasteners are combined into one assembly that attaches between the trailing arm and frame. This merging approach provides comprehensive bottoming out protection while minimizing the total number of separate components compared to using multiple discrete protective elements.
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
The bump stop assembly effectively absorbs and dissipates excess energy, reducing stress on the vehicle frame and protecting passengers by engaging when the suspension system reaches its capacity, thereby preventing damage and harm.
Implementation Method 1
a shock absorber gripped by the at least one clamp of the shock absorber attachment, the shock absorber having a piston configured to absorb and dissipate energy transferred to the bump stop assembly by a force applied to a suspension system of the UTV
Data Source
AI summary
A bump stop assembly for a UTV with a frame attachment, a shock absorber attachment, two panels, a shock absorber and a bracket. The frame attachment is coupled to the frame of the UTV and the shock absorber attachment is coupled to the shock absorber. The two panels extend between the frame attachment and the shock attachment. The bracket is coupled to the trailing arm of the suspension system of the UTV. The bump plate bracket has a bump plate located to contact the shock absorber when a force applied to the suspension system causes the suspension system to reach a predetermined level of a capacity of the suspension system to absorb. The bump plate transfers a portion of the force applied to the shock absorber. The shock absorber is configured to absorb energy transferred to the bump stop assembly by the force applied to the suspension system.