Bushing Assembly Radial Stopper Tuning Travel and Force Ramp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bushing assemblies with radial stoppers face challenges in reliably tuning total travel while maintaining a desired, plush/gradual rate force ramp-up due to limited package space, leading to abrupt stops and excessive strain.
Innovation Solution
A bushing assembly design featuring a tubular inner and outer metal with a tubular rigid cup and a tubular pad having a thicker centerline and thinner perimeter, allowing controlled compression and expansion to enhance stiffness and restrict axial bulging, thereby improving travel control and force ramp-up.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If rubber thickness of the stopper is made thinner to reduce total travel, then total travel is reduced, but the stop becomes more abrupt which is not desired for vehicle dynamics
Solution Approach 1:
The radial stopper incorporates a transition region with varying rubber thickness, creating local quality differences. The thicker first region provides gradual load ramp-up while the thinner second region limits total travel, resolving the contradiction between travel reduction and abrupt stop prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a radial dimension variation in the stopper design, transitioning from uniform thickness to non-uniform thickness with distinct first and second regions. This dimensional change allows independent control of load progression and travel limitation
2Strength
If load bearing area is increased to limit strain below acceptable level, then strain is reduced, but total travel tuning capability is limited due to fixed footprint
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper features non-uniform rubber thickness distribution with a thicker first region and thinner second region, allowing different areas to serve different functions: strain management in the thicker region and travel limitation in the thinner region, within the same footprint
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the thickness parameter of the rubber stopper radially, creating a gradient structure that enables both strain control and travel tuning without requiring changes to the overall footprint or load bearing area
3Volume of stationary object
If conventional radial stopper design is used with limited package space, then package space is optimized, but reliable tuning of total travel while maintaining desired force ramp-up is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
Within the constrained package space, the stopper implements local quality variations through non-uniform thickness, enabling reliable tuning of both total travel and force ramp-up characteristics without increasing overall volume
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 design effectively tunes total radial travel and ramp-up force, ensuring a gradual and plush ride by controlling rubber bulging and strain, making the bushing assembly as stiff as its supporting structures.
Implementation Method 1
The first wall section of the tubular pad may be configured to be compressed and to expand along an axis parallel to an axial center of the tubular pad
Implementation Method 2
The first wall section of the tubular pad may be configured to be compressed by the rigid surface member and to expand along an axis parallel to an axial center of the tubular pad
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a bushing assembly having a tubular inner metal, a tubular outer metal, a tubular rigid cup disposed over an outer portion of the tubular inner metal, and a tubular pad disposed between the tubular rigid cup and the tubular outer metal. The tubular pad may have a first wall section and a second wall section at least partially circumscribing the first wall section. The first wall section may be configured to be compressed and to expand along an axis parallel to an axial center of the tubular pad, to thus fill the tubular rigid cup and enhance a stiffness of the bushing assembly when the tubular outer metal of the bushing assembly is moved towards a limit of a range of radial travel.