Hydraulically Damped Bearing Intermediate Plate Fixing Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hydraulically damped bearings for motor vehicle engines have a high number of parts, weight, and manufacturing cost due to the need for multiple components such as an end cap and separate fastening mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

The intermediate plate incorporates a pivoting fixing device with retention elements and an engagement system, eliminating the need for a separate end cap by immobilizing the compensation membrane directly, thus reducing the number of parts and manufacturing complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate end cap and multiple fastening mechanisms are used to immobilize the compensation membrane, then the bearing achieves reliable assembly and fluid-tightness, but the number of parts, weight, and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the end cap function and the fixing device into a single integrated intermediate plate. The intermediate plate incorporates both the structural support function and the membrane immobilization function through integrated retention elements, eliminating the need for separate end caps and reducing the total number of parts while maintaining assembly reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediate plate is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as a structural support element, a fluid seal barrier, and a membrane fixation mechanism. The retention elements integrated into the intermediate plate provide both structural support and membrane retention capabilities, reducing the need for specialized separate components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a separate end cap and multiple fastening mechanisms are used to immobilize the compensation membrane, then the bearing achieves reliable assembly and fluid-tightness, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the end cap function and the fixing device into a single integrated intermediate plate. The intermediate plate incorporates both the structural support function and the membrane immobilization function through integrated retention elements, eliminating the need for separate end caps and reducing the total number of parts while maintaining assembly reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential function of membrane immobilization from the separate end cap component and integrates it directly into the intermediate plate structure. This extraction of the fixation function from a separate component reduces the number of parts that need to be manufactured, stored, and assembled, thereby reducing manufacturing costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If multiple separate components are used for the bearing structure, then the assembly achieves reliable fluid-tightness, but the weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid-tightnessVSAvoidbearing weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the end cap function and the fixing device into a single integrated intermediate plate. The intermediate plate incorporates both the structural support function and the membrane immobilization function through integrated retention elements, eliminating the need for separate end caps and reducing the total number of parts while maintaining assembly reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediate plate is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as a structural support element, a fluid seal barrier, and a membrane fixation mechanism. The retention elements integrated into the intermediate plate provide both structural support and membrane retention capabilities, reducing the need for specialized separate components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This design results in a lighter, more economical, and simpler assembly process with reduced manufacturing costs, while maintaining effective fluid-tightness and damping performance.

Implementation Method 1

The oscillations caused by unevennesses of the road surface are damped by a hydraulic system, this hydraulic system being formed by a liquid-filled working chamber, by a compensation chamber, and by an overflow which connects the two chambers to one another

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic damping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

a bearing spring made of an elastomeric material to support a bearing core

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

The working chamber becomes bigger or smaller as a result of a movement of the bearing spring, so that the liquid in the working chamber is forced via the overflow into the compensation chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 4

a compensation chamber which is separated from the working chamber by an intermediate plate and which is delimited by a compensation membrane made of an elastomeric material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2381127B1Hydraulically damped bearing for mounting an engine
Publication Date: 2014.07.23 TRELLEBORGVIBRACOUSTIC
  • EP2381127B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2381127B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2381127B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a hydraulic bearing (10), particularly for mounting a motor vehicle engine, comprising a bearing spring (11) made of an elastomeric material to support a bearing core, comprising a working chamber (16) which is delimited by the bearing spring (11), comprising a compensation chamber (17) which is separated from the working chamber (16) by the intermediate plate (12) and which is delimited by a compensation membrane (13) made of an elastomeric material. The working chamber (16) and the compensation chamber (17) are filled with hydraulic liquid and are connected to one another via an overflow (18). In order to reduce the weight and the number of parts, the invention proposes that the intermediate plate (12) comprise a fixing device (20) for the compensation membrane (13), and that the said fixing device (20) be produced such that it allows tilting.