V-Shaped Clamping Strap for Wheel Axle Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel axle suspensions for vehicles, such as lorries and trailers, face issues with clamping rigidity and durability due to perpendicular clamping forces, which lead to wear and fatigue, especially under changing tension loads during vehicle roll movements.
Innovation Solution
A wheel axle suspension design featuring V-shaped clamping straps with a 90°-170° angle between legs, providing both vertical and horizontal clamping forces, which distributes tension across the trailing arm and spring portion, ensuring a more rigid and controllable pre-tension without absorbing loads in the axle seating portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If parallel-legged U-shaped straps are used to clamp the axle body, then the clamping connection is simple to manufacture, but the clamping rigidity decreases and wear and fatigue increase under changing tension loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by changing the strap geometry from parallel legs to V-shaped legs with an angle between 30° and 60°. This asymmetric configuration creates a mechanical advantage where the strap legs converge toward the axle body, generating both vertical and horizontal clamping force components. The V-shape ensures that under tension loads, the straps actively tighten around the axle body rather than allowing load absorption and deformation, thereby significantly improving clamping rigidity and reducing wear and fatigue while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
2Device complexity
If perpendicular clamping force is applied to the axle body, then the strap structure is simple, but the axle seating portion absorbs changing tension loads leading to wear and fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a single-direction (vertical) clamping force to a multi-directional force system. The V-shaped strap configuration introduces a horizontal force component in addition to the vertical component, creating a resultant force that acts at an angle to the axle body surface. This multi-dimensional force distribution prevents the axle seating portion from absorbing changing tension loads, as the horizontal component actively tightens the connection and distributes stresses more evenly, thereby reducing wear and fatigue while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Strength
If the clamping force is concentrated in the axle seating portion, then the connection is tight, but the trailing arm experiences wear and fatigue under changing tension loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by strategically distributing the clamping force through the V-shaped strap configuration. Instead of concentrating all force in the axle seating portion, the V-shape directs forces to multiple contact points: the vertical component acts on the axle body while the horizontal component acts on the front and rear sides of the axle seating portion. This localized force distribution across multiple areas prevents stress concentration in any single location, reducing wear and fatigue on the trailing arm while maintaining overall connection tightness and strength.
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 design enhances clamping rigidity and durability by distributing tension loads across the trailing arm and spring portion, reducing wear and fatigue, and maintaining a secure connection between the axle body and trailing arm.
Implementation Method 1
the clamping force has not only a vertical component, but also a horizontal component
Implementation Method 2
The resulting deformation of the trailing arm results in a controllable pre-tension
Implementation Method 3
The legs of the straps are provided with a male thread which are used in cooperation with nuts to tension the clamping connection
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 6
AI summary
A wheel axle suspension of a vehicle comprises an axle body and a flexible trailing arm extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and crossing the axle body substantially perpendicular. The trailing arm has a front spring portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and an axle seating portion adjoining the front spring portion. The axle seating portion has a concave side at which the axle body is arranged. The suspension furthermore comprises at least one clamping strap for clamping the axle body and the trailing arm together. The at least one clamping strap has a front leg and a rear leg and an arched portion interconnecting said front and rear leg. The arched portion extends around a part of the circumference of the axle body. The legs of the strap are tensioned with respect to the trailing arm, such that the axle body is clamped between the arched portion of the strap and said concave side of the axle seating portion of the trailing arm. The axle body is arranged directly against the concave side of the axle seating portion of the trailing arm. The front leg of the strap extends towards the front through or along the side of the trailing arm and is supported at the front side of the axle seating portion. The rear leg of the strap extends through or along the side of the trailing arm towards the rear and is supported at the rear side of the axle seating portion.