Chassis Joint Welding Corrosion Protection via Sealing Bellows

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Solution Overview

Problem

Chassis components face issues such as large installation space requirements, high costs, significant weight, numerous individual parts, susceptibility to corrosion, and high logistics costs, along with tolerance accumulation and coating complexity in assembly and protection.

Innovation Solution

A method involving forming a joint mount on a structural component, inserting a joint cartridge, and welding it to form a joint, with the weld area covered by a sealing bellows for corrosion protection, allowing for pre-coating and pre-assembly of components to reduce tolerance and simplify assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the joint cartridge and structural component are welded together, then a strong permanent connection is achieved, but the weld area becomes highly susceptible to corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidcorrosion susceptibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A sealing bellows is introduced as an intermediary element between the weld area and the environment. The bellows covers the weld seam and surrounding areas, creating a physical barrier that protects the corrosion-sensitive weld zone while maintaining the strong welded connection. This mediator isolates the harmful environmental factors from the vulnerable weld area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing bellows is implemented as a flexible protective shell that covers the weld area. This thin-walled flexible structure provides corrosion protection while allowing for thermal expansion and movement of the welded components. The bellows acts as a protective film over the vulnerable weld zone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Manufacturing precision

If the joint cartridge is pre-assembled to form a joint, then assembly accuracy is improved, but the complexity of pre-assembly operations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly accuracyVSAvoidpre-assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The joint system is divided into separate modules: the joint cartridge (containing the joint bearing), the sealing bellows, and the structural component. This segmentation allows the joint cartridge to be pre-assembled and tested independently with high precision, then integrated into the final assembly. The modular approach maintains accuracy while managing complexity through standardized interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the welding area is protected by coating, then corrosion protection is improved, but the coating application process becomes complex and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion protectionVSAvoidcoating process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of applying complex corrosion-resistant coatings directly to the weld area, a sealing bellows is used as an intermediary protective barrier. This physical cover simplifies the corrosion protection approach by replacing complex coating processes with a straightforward mechanical shielding solution, reducing process complexity while maintaining protection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 approach reduces tolerance accumulation, simplifies assembly, and provides effective corrosion protection without the need for additional coatings on the weld area, enhancing the accuracy and durability of the chassis component.

Implementation Method 1

the sealing bellows forms corrosion protection for the chassis component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical barrier protection:

Implementation Method 2

the structural component is firmly connected to the joint cartridge by welding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Data Source

PatentEP2632746B1Method for producing a chassis component
Publication Date: 2014.08.27 ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • EP2632746B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2632746B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2632746B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method for producing a chassis component, with the following method steps: - forming a joint socket (15) on a structural component (3), - inserting a joint cartridge (5) into the joint socket (15), - mounting the joint cartridge (5) to form a joint (2), - fixedly connecting the structural component (3) to the joint cartridge by welding, wherein - the welding region (18) formed by the welding is covered by a sealing bellows (8).