What is the chassis, the principle of operation and why it is needed
Content
- Car chassis
- What is a chassis
- The principle of operation and why it is needed
- Устройство
- Elements of construction
- Classification
- Truck chassis
- Factors influencing changes in the vehicle chassis design
- Chassis malfunctions
- Advantages and disadvantages of ground vehicle chassis
- Related videos
- Questions and answers:
Car chassis
The novelty was built on the chassis of the previous model and received many technical and visual changes. Thus begins the reviews of many cars of the next generation. What is the chassis on which the next models are produced? We will deal with this issue in more detail.
What is a chassis
All motor vehicles consist of three main components:
- power point;
- body;
- chassis.
The chassis is not a specific part in a vehicle. Sometimes this term is called the supporting structure of the machine.
In fact, the chassis is a set of mechanisms that interact with the wheels and supports of the car. This is a unit that combines the steering of a car, its transmission, depreciation system and chassis. All these systems are connected on a common basis, and their work is synchronized so that the entire car can perform movement. The chassis also includes the frame plus powertrains - engine, transmission and suspension. On it is a body that gives the car a finished look.
The chassis of the car also means a set of parts and assemblies on which the movement and maneuvers of the vehicle depend. In the technical documentation of the car, it has a marking, which in this case corresponds to the body number (what is chassis number).
The main components of the chassis of the car are two suspensions - front and rear, as well as wheels. Suspensions are needed to soften or eliminate vibrations when driving, thanks to which the car smoothly overcomes all the bumps in the road.
The principle of operation and why it is needed
All units necessary for movement are mounted on the base of the car so that rotational energy is transmitted from the engine to the drive wheels. Here's how the operation of all nodes is synchronized:
- Installed on a subframe engine. From it, the torque is transmitted to the front or rear axle (in the case of all-wheel or rear-wheel drive). Thanks to this, the wheels begin to rotate, and the car moves forward or backward.
- So that the car can change its direction, the steering is connected to it. Driving wheels set the car in motion, and steering wheels give it direction. This unit has many details that provide smooth maneuvers while riding.
- To change the speed of the car, a gearbox is installed between the power unit and the drive wheels. She may be mechanical or automatic. In this unit, using a set of gears, the torque increases, which allows you to remove excessive load from the engine.
- When driving on roads of different quality, fluctuations occur. Due to shaking and vibration, the components of the transmission and steering will quickly fail. To compensate for this load, levers and shock absorbers are attached to the subframe.
As you can see, the chassis of the car allows you to set in motion the entire structure, change its direction and compensate for the vibration loads that occur during riding. Thanks to this development, the energy generated by the internal combustion engine can be used for comfortable and safe transportation of people and large loads.
Устройство
So, under the chassis is meant a combination of the supporting part and some key components that allow the vehicle to move independently. All types of structures fall into two categories.
The first category includes all vehicles with frame construction. In this case, the car trolley consists of a frame to which all units, mechanisms and structures are attached. These vehicles are heavy and extremely durable. Basically, such a design is found in trucks and full-fledged SUVs.
The second category includes the type of chassis, which is immediately part of the car body. The load-bearing body is not as strong as in the case of a full frame, but it is very light, which is of great importance for passenger cars. Only in such a modification of the chassis is it possible to create the lightest supercars possible.
Engineers from different car manufacturers develop their own structures of load-bearing bodies, which differ not only in design features, but are also made from different materials.
Here is a short video showing the importance of using lightweight chassis materials for a modern car using Mazda models as an example:
Elements of construction
Since everything rests on the chassis of the car, this part of the vehicle must always be as strong as possible, and its elements must withstand different loads, regardless of the operating conditions.
The modern car chassis consists of the following parts and structures:
- Wheels with tires;
- Transmissions;
- Pendants;
- Steering and braking system.
All these elements are firmly fixed both on the frame and on the supporting part of the body.
Functionality
In the case of a passenger car, the chassis of this vehicle has the following functions:
- Allows you to use the traction force for the independent movement of the structure. For this, the car has a chassis;
- Provides the smoothest movement possible. The suspension and partially the tires are responsible for the smoothness of movement. Comfort for the driver and passengers depends on the type of suspension and the quality of the damper elements;
- Allows you to control the direction of movement of the structure. This function is assigned to the steering.
Each chassis is designed for different road conditions so that it can withstand the torsional forces of the body when overcoming obstacles. If this load is critical, the load-bearing part of the car will deform, which will affect various mechanisms and body elements (for example, the doors will stop closing).
Suspension
This is one of the main elements of the chassis. The stability of the car when cornering depends on the quality and design features of this part. Also, the suspension is developed taking into account safety requirements in accordance with the needs of the modern motorist in terms of comfort.
Since the creation of the first car, and to this day, the suspension design is constantly being improved, due to which there is a huge variety of all kinds of suspension designs in the car world. The main differences between all these structures are in the method of mounting the machine support (wheels) on one axle.
Dependent suspension
This is the very first type of car suspension. In this case, the wheels of one axle are rigidly connected to each other. The advantages of such a suspension include the maximum adhesion of the wheels to the road surface. This is especially important when the car enters a turn on a smooth surface. Due to the rigid fixation, each wheel remains upright.
If we talk about the disadvantages of this type of suspension, then when driving over bumps, rigidly connected wheels do not ensure the smooth running of the car (one wheel runs over a bump and changes the inclination of the entire axle). In modern cars, completely dependent front suspension has already been abandoned. Instead, a MacPherson-type suspension is installed.
The dependent structure is installed exclusively on the rear axle, regardless of whether it is a driving or driven axle. If it is a drive axle, then it is represented by a rear axle, which provides a rigid connection between both wheels. The driven axle uses a crossbeam or torsion bar.
Independent suspension
In this case, the wheels mounted on the axles are not rigidly connected to each other, therefore their position relative to the horizontal does not affect each other. To ensure maximum traction with the road, a transverse stabilizer is installed on this suspension.
This type of suspension, despite its more complex structure, provides more comfort and is lighter in weight compared to the dependent suspension. Thanks to this, modern cars are becoming more dynamic and as comfortable as possible. The disadvantages include the need to constantly adjust wheel alignment.
Classification
As we have already discussed, a chassis in a vehicle is necessary for the following purposes:
- Ensure the movement of the vehicle by transferring torque from the power unit to the transmission and then to the wheels;
- Minimize the loads that come in the process of moving the machine over bumps. Thanks to this, neither the engine nor other important elements of the transport suffer from constant shaking;
- Provide straight-line movement, maneuvering, acceleration or deceleration, as well as a full stop with the subsequent parking of the entire structure of the vehicle.
Depending on the type of vehicle that is operated on the ground, the following chassis types are distinguished:
- Automotive - relies on cars, trucks, trailers and semi-trailers;
- Tractor - as the name suggests, this chassis is used on tractors. It can be tracked or wheeled;
- Motorcycle - used to assemble motorcycles, scooters, tricycles, quads;
- For specialized equipment. The design can be both self-propelled and non-self-propelled. Self-propelled versions can use tracks or wheels;
- Railway - on the basis of such a chassis, a transport is created intended for movement on the railways. This includes trains, electric trains, railcars, trams, and so on;
- All-terrain vehicle - although such a chassis is used to assemble cars, its design embodies the features of land and water transport, thanks to which the "amphibian" is able to move with equal efficiency, both on land and on water. This category does not include hovercraft. This is already a kind of water transport.
All of these chassis types are also divided into the following categories:
- Frame construction. It looks like welded metal channels on which all the mechanisms and assemblies of the vehicle are fixed. Trucks and many full-fledged SUVs are created with this type of chassis. Previously, passenger cars were also based on such a trolley, but due to the large weight, the structure required the installation of a powerful power unit.
- Load-bearing body. Basically, this type of chassis is used in light vehicles. A subframe can be used in such a cart, but there are also cars without this element.
- Self-propelled design. This modification includes only special equipment. The cart consists of basic units that allow it to move independently. It necessarily provides for an operator's seat. This category of chassis is often used by military structures to move military equipment, as well as large construction companies.
- Frame motorcycle construction. This type of chassis is used to build motorcycle vehicles. There is also a type of sports car, "Buggy", which are also based on a frame made of welded pipes (to facilitate the construction).
Truck chassis
Several chassis options have been developed for trucks. Such a cart is always based on a frame. Depending on the model, the car chassis can be represented by tracks or wheels. Combined options are much less common: the steering part is wheels, and the leading part is caterpillars.
Depending on the purpose of the vehicle, a body, a booth, a tank, a manipulator, a concrete mixer, a cradle and so on can be installed on its chassis. Truck chassis is classified according to:
- The number of axes is at least two and at most four;
- Carrying capacities - small, medium or heavy tonnage;
- Wheel formula - the number of wheels that are installed on the trolley. They can be single or double.
Despite the fact that most trucks are based on a classic frame, there are also models with a monocoque body. But this type of car is less practical for transporting decent loads.
For example, here is an overview of the four-axle truck Kenworth W900, which is based on a frame type chassis:
Factors influencing changes in the vehicle chassis design
Since the introduction of the first chassis-based vehicles, the bogie has undergone continuous modernization. In the first cars, priority was given to lightening the design so that a less powerful power unit could be used, but the dynamism of the transport was not lost.
The first wheels were made of wood. To make them lighter, holes were made in them. Since the invention of the spoke metal analog, it was immediately introduced into vehicles. As the speeds that the cars could reach increased, they needed a more efficient suspension. For this reason, engineers began to develop more stable and efficient damper systems. And judging by the fact that new technologies are emerging (for example, magnetic shock absorbers, which are described here), the work on improving the chassis does not stop.
Depending on the type of bogie, it can use lightweight material, for example, a composite monocoque body, but for safety reasons, all car manufacturers are still in no hurry to abandon the use of steel structural elements. When the use of alternative materials, such as composites or nano-materials, becomes economically justified (today such vehicles are obscenely expensive for the average buyer), most likely, automakers will gradually adapt production lines for the manufacture of this type of chassis.
Chassis malfunctions
If unusual noises are detected when shifting from one gear to another, this is a signal of a malfunction of the chassis. One of the most common problems is when the car leads to the side, right or left.
This happens for several reasons:
- the geometry of the front wheels is broken,
- increased tire pressure,
- deformed levers,
- big differences in amounts of tires,
- violation of parallelism between the axles of the rear and front axles.
These problems can lead to damage to shock absorbers, resulting in broken springs or other damage to the suspension. If damage to the chassis is suspected, the driver should also pay attention to whether there are any leaks from the chassis. It is possible that the silent blocks are loosened, which often leads to damage to the discs and unbalance of the front wheels. A creak when braking is a signal of a malfunction of the shock absorber, stabilizer or parts of the supporting elements. If at least one of the above symptoms appears, you should immediately take action and contact a car service.
Also you can find out what is CHASSIS NUMBER: WHERE IS IT LOCATED AND WHAT DOES IT SERVE?
Advantages and disadvantages of ground vehicle chassis
Considering that engineers around the world have been working on improving the chassis of vehicles for more than a century, modern transport demonstrates high stability, reliability, safety and comfort. Thanks to this, all units and mechanisms installed in a car or motorcycle do not suffer from shaking or natural vibrations. The working life of these units is increased, which has a positive effect on the overall assessments of the modern products of automakers.
Also, the chassis, which uses land as a fulcrum, rather than air or water, allows transporting large loads over decent distances, while using a minimum amount of fuel (compared to air or water transport, which can transport the same loads).
Despite the fact that modern vehicles are based on such trolleys that meet safety standards, ground transport chassis has its drawbacks. Of course, most of the shortcomings of old carts are remedied by installing new, more stable components. But the key drawback of all ground-based chassis modifications is that such vehicles can only move on land.
The exception is amphibious vehicles, but this technology is mainly used in special equipment, and then only in narrow operating conditions (for example, an all-terrain vehicle is not practical to use in urban environments). Civilian transport cannot yet boast of versatility, comfort and the same efficiency, both on land and on the water, not to mention the machines that can fly. Although, according to the film industry, mankind will soon resolve this issue (the submarine was once also considered the fruit of the wild fantasy of science fiction writers).
Related videos
In conclusion, we offer a short video lecture on the general structure of the car chassis:
Questions and answers:
What is a chassis in a car. Under the chassis of a vehicle is meant a structure, which includes a frame (instead of it, in many passenger cars, a supporting part of the body is used), transmission units, elements of the chassis, suspension, as well as control mechanisms (steering). The frame chassis can be considered a complete design, since it can move freely on tracks or wheels.
What is included in the chassis of the car. The chassis design includes a frame or supporting part of the body, steering (rods, rack), wheel axles, beams with levers, wheels themselves, axle shafts, cardan shaft, gearbox, suspension elements.
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