Vehicle Force Monitoring for Premature Suspension Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle monitoring systems fail to detect premature axle or suspension component failure in heavy goods vehicles when used in unintended applications, as they do not effectively assess the cumulative forces acting on the vehicle from the terrain, leading to delayed detection of misuse.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus using sensors like pressure sensors, distance sensors, or accelerometers to measure forces normal to the vehicle surface, processing these signals to determine cumulative forces and assign them to bands, incrementing a counter to indicate terrain conditions, which helps assess the likelihood of premature failure of suspension or axle components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a vehicle is used in applications for which it was not intended (off-road use), then the vehicle can perform additional functions, but the axles and suspension components fail sooner than anticipated
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system performs preliminary detection of terrain conditions and cumulative forces before component failure occurs. By continuously measuring forces normal to the vehicle surface and accumulating this data, the system identifies misuse patterns early, allowing preventive maintenance before axles or suspension components fail prematurely
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback about actual vehicle usage conditions to the owner or fleet manager. By monitoring cumulative forces and comparing them against design specifications, the system alerts users when vehicles are being used in unintended applications, enabling corrective action to prevent premature component failure
2Device complexity
If traditional monitoring methods are used, then the system is simple, but premature component failure is not detected until after failure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical analysis of failed components with electronic sensing and signal processing. By using sensors to measure forces normal to the vehicle surface and processing these signals computationally, the system achieves precise terrain assessment without requiring complex mechanical test equipment or post-failure analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter being monitored from simple wheel speed (traditional method) to cumulative forces normal to the vehicle surface. This parameter change enables accurate assessment of terrain conditions and their impact on component durability, allowing detection of misuse patterns that simple speed monitoring cannot identify
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
Enables early detection of potential premature failures by providing a quantitative assessment of terrain conditions, allowing for timely maintenance and preventing unexpected vehicle failures, with the system integrating seamlessly with existing ABS/EBS systems without requiring additional hardware.
Implementation Method 1
the suspension system comprises at least one fluid spring, the suspension deflection signals may be derived from a measure of the pressure of fluid in the fluid spring
Implementation Method 2
Where the vehicle is provided with an accelerometer capable of measuring the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction generally normal to the surface over which the vehicle is travelling, the force signal may be provided by the accelerometer
Data Source
AI summary
A method of monitoring a vehicle (10) using a sensor to measure a parameter which depends on the forces acting on the vehicle (10) generally normal to the surface over which the vehicle is travelling, transmitting a force signal from the sensor to a processing apparatus (16), the processing apparatus (16) processing a plurality of said force signals to determine a value indicative of the forces acting on the vehicle generally normal to the surface over which the vehicle (10) is travelling over a specific period of time.