Wheel Suspension Layout for Long Damper Stroke in Tight Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle wheel suspensions face challenges in achieving a high damper transmission ratio while ensuring sufficient damper length due to limited installation space, particularly when the damper is supported on the wheel guiding element or wheel carrier.
Innovation Solution
The wheel suspension design includes a wheel guiding element with a passage opening allowing the spring and/or vibration damper element to be inserted through, oriented approximately in the vehicle vertical direction, connected to the wheel carrier, and arranged below the wheel rotation axis, ensuring a long damper length and high transmission ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the vibration damper is supported on the wheel guiding element by elastic bearings on the side of the damper tube, then the installation height is reduced, but the damper transmission ratio is limited and not functionally sufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of supporting the damper on the wheel guiding element from the side (conventional approach), the invention inverts the support location to connect the spring-damper system directly to the wheel carrier. This inversion allows the damper to achieve both sufficient length and high transmission ratio by utilizing the wheel carrier as the mounting point rather than the wheel guiding element.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a side-mounted support configuration to a vertically oriented connection between the spring-damper system and the wheel carrier. This dimensional change enables the damper to be arranged vertically with adequate length while maintaining high transmission ratio, resolving the limitation of the side-bearing approach.
2Length of moving object
If the spring-damper system is connected to the wheel carrier, then the damper length can be sufficient, but the required damper length can be implemented only with difficulty or not at all due to lack of installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a dynamic lower link plane configuration that can adapt its position and orientation. By making the link plane adjustable or movable rather than fixed, the system can optimize the available installation space while maintaining sufficient damper length, allowing the damper to be properly connected to the wheel carrier without requiring excessive static space.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the spatial parameters of the wheel guiding elements and link planes to create adequate installation space. By adjusting the positioning, orientation, and dimensions of the lower link plane and wheel guiding elements, sufficient space is created for the damper to achieve its required length while being properly connected to the wheel carrier.
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel suspension for a vehicle, comprising: at least one wheel guiding element which connects a steering knuckle to a vehicle bodywork, and a spring-based and/or vibration-based damping element functioning like a shock-absorber strut or a suspension strut or a spiral spring, wherein the spring-based and/or vibration-based damping element is connected to the steering knuckle, wherein the wheel guiding element has a through-opening in the vehicle vertical direction, and wherein the spring-based and/or vibration-based damping element is located such that it protrudes through the through-opening.