Hollow Vehicle Knuckle Arm for Weight Reduction Without Stiffness Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle knuckles with through holes in the arm portion suffer from reduced torsional stiffness, which compromises the rigidity while attempting weight reduction.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle knuckle design featuring an arm portion with a sidewall portion that lacks through holes, instead incorporating first and second through holes at coupling portions to maintain rigidity and facilitate weight reduction by providing a hollow space inside the arm portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a through hole is provided in the arm portion around the extension axis to reduce weight, then the weight is reduced, but the torsional stiffness of the arm portion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing through holes only at specific coupling portions (front and rear coupling portions) rather than uniformly throughout the arm portion. This localized approach allows weight reduction at non-critical areas while preserving torsional stiffness in the sidewall portion that connects these coupling portions, thereby resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and maintaining strength.
2Weight of moving object
If through holes are provided at coupling portions to reduce weight, then the weight is reduced, but the rigidity of the arm portion may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention strategically places through holes only at the front and rear coupling portions where weight reduction is beneficial, while maintaining the integrity of the sidewall portion. This localized modification preserves the overall rigidity and stability of the arm portion structure while achieving weight reduction goals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the weight reduction function with the coupling portion structure by integrating through holes into the front and rear coupling portions. This combination allows the coupling portions to serve dual purposes: maintaining structural connectivity and enabling weight reduction, thereby preserving rigidity while achieving weight savings.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle knuckle (1) includes a main body portion (10) for supporting an axle, a strut connecting portion (11) for connecting a strut, and an arm portion (12) for connecting the main body portion (10) and the strut connecting portion (11) and having a space (18) inside. The arm portion (12) includes a sidewall portion (120) for connecting the main body portion (10) and the strut connecting portion (11), and has a first through hole (17a) communicating with the space (18), at a coupling portion (12a) with the main body portion (10). The sidewall portion (120) is free of a through hole communicating with the space (18).