Vehicle Interior Bearing Assembly for Zero-Play Rod Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bearing units in vehicle equipment parts, such as seat head restraints, suffer from play, inadvertent loosening, and difficulty in modular installation, leading to distracting noise and potential detachment.
Innovation Solution
A bearing unit with a modular design featuring first and third bearing parts that can be loaded apart by a spring mechanism, ensuring zero-play support and secure mounting without play, using point-type bearings and stopper surfaces to prevent accidental disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional bearing units are mounted on rods, then the equipment part can move on the rod, but play or looseness occurs leading to noise and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing unit is divided into multiple bearing parts (first bearing part, second bearing part, third bearing part), each with specific bearing structures that contact the rod at different points. This segmentation allows precise control of the bearing surfaces to eliminate play while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the bearing unit have different bearing structures optimized for specific functions: the first bearing structure provides primary contact, the second bearing structure provides additional support, and the third bearing part ensures zero-play mounting in the bearing seat. Each local region is quality-optimized for its specific bearing requirement.
2Reliability
If the bearing unit is designed for secure mounting without play, then stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple bearing functions are merged into a single integrated bearing unit assembly. The first bearing part, second bearing part, and third bearing part are combined into one modular unit that achieves zero-play mounting through the coordinated action of its bearing structures, rather than requiring separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing unit is designed as a multi-functional assembly that simultaneously provides rod bearing support, zero-play mounting in the bearing seat, and prevention of accidental dislodgment. The third bearing part with its retention feature provides universal securing function across different mounting scenarios.
3Ease of operation
If the bearing unit is designed as a modular assembly, then ease of installation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing unit is segmented into distinct bearing parts that can be manufactured separately and then assembled into a complete modular unit. This segmentation enables pre-assembly and quality control at the component level, while the final modular assembly simplifies installation by reducing the number of separate mounting operations required.
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing unit having a receiving region with an opening in which a rod can be arranged so as to be relatively movable, including at least one first bearing structure and a second bearing structure, which are configured to be in contact with the rod when the rod is located in the receiving region.