Compliance Spring Mounting for Rocker Arm Biasing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compliance spring configurations for internal combustion engines face challenges in easy maintenance, as they often buckle or fail due to improper configuration.
Innovation Solution
A compliance spring assembly that includes a spring guide with a bearing portion sliding within a hole of a fixed mount, a sleeve for low friction sliding, and a nut for securing the assembly, which allows the spring guide to move between predetermined positions while maintaining the spring's biasing force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the compliance spring is rigidly fixed to the fixed mount, then the spring maintains stable position and consistent biasing force, but the spring becomes difficult to service and may buckle under misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The spring guide is designed to move dynamically between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the spring guide disengages from the fixed mount, allowing easy removal for maintenance. In the extended position, the spring guide engages with the fixed mount through a bearing portion sliding in a hole, providing stable positioning and consistent biasing force during operation. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between stability and ease of maintenance.
2Ease of repair
If the spring guide is allowed to move freely, then the spring is easy to service, but the spring may buckle or fail due to improper configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing portion acts as an intermediary element between the spring guide and the fixed mount. It allows controlled movement and disengagement for maintenance while preventing uncontrolled buckling during operation. The bearing portion slides within a hole in the fixed mount, providing guidance and constraint that prevents improper spring configuration while still allowing easy serviceability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the compliance spring assembly uses complex mounting mechanisms, then the spring positioning precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compliance spring assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the spring guide with bearing portion, the fixed mount with hole, and the compliance spring itself. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity. The bearing portion provides precise positioning without requiring complex mounting mechanisms, as each segment performs its designated function independently.
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 effectively prevents buckling and failure of the compliance spring, allows for easy maintenance by maintaining the spring's connection during disassembly, and ensures consistent biasing force application to the rocker arm.
Implementation Method 1
A compliance spring engages a lower surface of the fixed mount and a spring mount formed on the spring guide. The compliance spring is compressed between the lower surface and the spring mount for apply the biasing force to the cam side of the rocker arm.
Implementation Method 2
the second end of the spring guide includes a bearing portion that is configured to slide within the hole of the fixed mount
Data Source
AI summary
A compliance spring assembly (50, 150) for applying a biasing force to a cam side (24) of a rocker arm (20A, 20B, 20C, 20D) to bias the cam side toward an adjacent cam (14). The compliance spring assembly includes a spring guide (52, 152) having a first end configured to engage the cam side of the rocker arm and a second end configured to slidingly engage a hole (36) in a fixed mount (32) positioned adjacent the cam side of the rocker arm. A compliance spring (62) engages a lower surface of the fixed mount and a spring mount (56, 156) formed on the spring guide. The compliance spring is compressed between the lower surface and the spring mount for apply the biasing force to the cam side of the rocker arm.