Conical Slide Bearing Radial Backlash Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing slide bearings for strut type suspensions in automobiles experience radial backlash due to dimensional tolerances, leading to uncomfortable steering operations.
Innovation Solution
The slide bearing design features conical bearing surfaces on the center plate and load transmission surfaces on the upper and lower cases, with a lubricating sheet of conical shape placed between them, allowing thrust and radial loads to be supported on a common surface, preventing radial clearance and backlash.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If dimensional tolerances are assigned to the upper case, lower case, and center plate to ensure combining these parts, then assembly is facilitated, but radial clearance and backlash occur between the radial load transmission surface and the radial bearing surface
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a cylindrical bearing surface to a conical bearing surface by introducing an inclination angle. This dimensional change allows the bearing surface and load transmission surface to contact in a line rather than over an area, eliminating radial clearance while maintaining assembly feasibility through the geometric constraint of the cone shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a conical surface (a curved surface) instead of a flat or cylindrical surface. The conical shape with its specific inclination angle creates a geometric constraint that prevents radial movement and backlash, while the curved surface maintains smooth contact during rotational motion.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional cylindrical bearing surfaces are used with dimensional tolerances, then manufacturing is simplified, but radial backlash occurs causing uncomfortable steering operation
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing the inclination angle to create a conical surface, the invention adds a dimensional constraint that eliminates radial backlash. This geometric constraint ensures smooth steering operation without significantly complicating the manufacturing process, as the conical shape can be achieved through standard machining or molding operations.
3Reliability
If separate thrust and radial bearing surfaces are used, then load components are supported independently, but clearance and backlash occur due to dimensional tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the separate thrust and radial bearing surfaces into a single conical bearing surface. This unified surface simultaneously supports both thrust loads (through its inclination) and radial loads (through its geometric constraint), eliminating clearance between the bearing surface and load transmission surface while maintaining reliable load support capability.
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 design ensures smooth rotational motion and prevents radial backlash, maintaining comfortable steering by supporting loads effectively without clearance between the bearing and load transmission surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a lubricating sheet having a slide surface in shape of a substantial conical surface is placed between the bearing surface of the center plate and the load transmission surface of one of the upper case and the lower case
Data Source
Figure 1(A)~1(D)
Figure 2(A)~2(B)
Figure 3(A)~3(D)
AI summary
Provide is a slide bearing capable of preventing a backlash in a radial direction. The slide bearing (1) has an upper case (2); a lower case (3) rotatably combined with the upper case (2); an annular center plate (4) placed between the upper case (2) and the lower case (3) to enable a rotational motion between the upper case (2) and the lower case (3); and a lubricating sheet (6) placed between the center plate (4) and the upper case (2). The center plate (4) has a bearing surface (41) in a shape of substantial conical surface. The upper case (2) has a load transmission surface (27) in a shape of substantial conical surface, facing the bearing surface (42) of the center plate (4). The lubricating sheet (6) has slide surfaces (61, 63) each in a shape of substantial conical surface and respectively slidable over the load transmission surface (27) and the bearing surface (41).