Buffer Stopper Structure Using a Wear-Resistant Outer Sheet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing buffer stoppers in steering gears face challenges in increasing absorbable energy without altering characteristics, particularly due to limited volume and high spring constant limitations, leading to insufficient reaction force and wear issues from radial expansion and deformation.
Innovation Solution
A buffer stopper with a rubber elastic body and a wear-resistant sheet made of elastic cloth surrounding the outer peripheral surface, allowing radial expansion and deformation to increase compression reaction force while preventing wear by contacting the housing's inner surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the volume of the buffer body is increased to increase absorbable energy amount, then the absorbable energy amount increases, but the permissible space is severely limited due to the structure of the apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a rubber elastic body with a wear resistant sheet having different functional properties. The rubber elastic body provides energy absorption through compression, while the wear resistant sheet prevents sliding wear and maintains characteristic stability, creating a composite structure that achieves multiple functions within limited space
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing the wear resistant sheet only on the outer peripheral surface of the buffer body where sliding contact occurs, rather than throughout the entire buffer body. This localized treatment addresses the specific wear problem area while maintaining the overall compression functionality of the rubber elastic body
2Force
If a rubber elastic body having a high spring constant is used to increase reaction force, then the reaction force increases, but the spring constant is limited and sufficiently high reaction force cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure combines the high spring constant benefit of rubber elastic materials with the friction characteristics of the wear resistant sheet, achieving enhanced reaction force that overcomes the inherent limitations of rubber elastic bodies alone
3Force
If the outer peripheral surface of the buffer body contacts the inner peripheral surface of the housing to secure compression reaction force, then the compression reaction force is secured, but the outer peripheral surface of the buffer body is worn by repeatedly sliding
Solution Approach 1:
The wear resistant sheet acts as an intermediary layer between the buffer body and the housing, preventing direct contact and sliding wear between the rubber elastic body and the metal housing surface, thereby maintaining compression reaction force without wear
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure of rubber elastic body plus wear resistant sheet provides both the necessary compression reaction force and resistance to sliding wear, solving the contradiction between force generation and wear prevention
4Reliability
If the expansion and deformation in the radial direction is limited to prevent wear, then wear is reduced, but the transition point in the characteristic line moves to the large displacement side, so that the reaction force decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure allows controlled radial expansion of the rubber elastic body while the wear resistant sheet prevents excessive expansion and sliding wear, maintaining the characteristic line shape and reaction force in the predetermined displacement range
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
The solution enhances the absorbable energy amount by maintaining a higher compression reaction force and preventing characteristic deterioration through reduced wear, ensuring effective shock absorption and maintaining performance.
Implementation Method 1
a buffer body (13) integrally provided between the metal rings (11, 12) and containing a rubber elastic body
Implementation Method 2
the buffering of the buffer stopper 100 is performed through the absorption of the kinetic energy by the mass and the movement speed of the shaft 300 by the reaction force and the displacement to the compression of the buffer body 103
Data Source
AI summary
A buffer stopper capable of increasing an absorbable energy amount without causing changes in characteristics due to wear of a buffer body. In order to achieve the object, the buffer body containing a rubber elastic body disposed between an end surface formed in a housing and an end surface formed in a shaft which is relatively movable in the axial direction with respect to the housing and a wear resistant sheet which is provided so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the buffer body and which can contact an inner peripheral surface of the housing by expansion and deformation in the radial direction of the buffer body are provided.