Conical Base Shock Absorber for Power Steering Tappet Guidance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clearance compensation devices in steering modules of motor vehicles face issues with tilting of the tappet, leading to metallic impact noise, potential damage, and increased wear, due to inadequate guiding and manufacturing complexities, particularly when subjected to significant forces or vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A clearance compensation device with a tappet that incorporates an elastic damping member with inclined distribution and seat surfaces, providing a bidirectional return spring effect to prevent tilting and jamming, using a single O-ring seal for axial and radial guidance, reducing the need for multiple O-ring seals and simplifying the design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple stepped O-ring seals are used to guide the tappet, then radial guidance accuracy is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple stepped O-ring seals into a single O-ring seal that performs both axial and radial guidance functions simultaneously. This single seal is positioned at the small end of the conical tappet where it can effectively guide both directions of movement, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining guidance accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The single O-ring seal is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides radial guidance to prevent tilting and also provides axial guidance to limit the tappet's axial movement. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate stepped seals, reducing manufacturing steps and assembly operations.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple stepped O-ring seals are used to guide the tappet, then radial guidance accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple stepped O-ring seals into a single O-ring seal that performs both axial and radial guidance functions simultaneously. This single seal is positioned at the small end of the conical tappet where it can effectively guide both directions of movement, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining guidance accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the unnecessary stepped structure from the O-ring seal arrangement. By removing the multiple sealing steps and retaining only a single O-ring seal at the critical location, the manufacturing process is simplified, reducing both material costs and assembly operations.
3Reliability
If the tappet diameter is made larger to accommodate multiple O-ring seals, then sealing reliability is improved, but the bulk of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the single O-ring seal at the small end of the conical tappet, utilizing the conical geometry to achieve effective sealing and guidance in a compact space. This dimensional arrangement allows the seal to be effective at the narrower end rather than requiring a larger diameter to accommodate multiple seals along the length.
4Manufacturing precision
If narrow radial guide clearance is used to prevent tilting, then guidance accuracy is improved, but insertion difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a centering feature on the tappet that automatically centers the component during insertion into the cylinder bore. This preliminary centering action occurs before the tappet is fully inserted, preventing accidental contact with the bore wall and avoiding jamming, thereby facilitating easy insertion while maintaining narrow radial clearances for accurate guidance.
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 reduces lateral tilting and jamming, enhances operational reliability and silence, while minimizing manufacturing costs and complexity by concentrating axial and radial dampening functions within a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic damping member (20), which is interposed between the tappet (10) and the casing (15, 16), bearing respectively against a first bearing surface (21) belonging to the tappet (10) and a second bearing surface (22) belonging to the casing (15, 16)
Implementation Method 2
at least one of said first and second bearing surfaces, called distribution surface (23), is inclined with respect to the thrust axis (ZZ'), and in that the other of said first and second bearing surfaces, called seat surface (24), has, facing the distribution surface (23) and against the elastic damping member (20), at least one radial extension component (24R)
Data Source
AI summary
A play take-up device comprising a push button that is movably mounted and translationally guided, along a thrust axis 5, in a housing, to exert a thrust force against a rack, said device further comprising a resilient shock-absorbing member that is positioned between the push button and the housing, in contact, respectively, against a first bearing surface belonging to the push button, which is angled in relation to the thrust axis, and is preferably frusto-conical, and a second bearing surface belonging to the housing, referred to which has, opposite the distribution surface and counter to the resilient shock-absorbing member, both a radially extending component and an axially extending component, such that the shock-absorbing member simultaneously returns the push button axially towards the rack and transversely towards the thrust axis.