Control Arm Bearing Bush with Intermediate Sleeve Axial Stops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bearing bushes for transverse control arms in vehicles face challenges in precisely adjusting stiffness and damping properties, leading to suboptimal driving stability and comfort due to parasitic cardanic and torsional stiffness.
Innovation Solution
A bearing bush design featuring an inner sleeve, an outer sleeve with radially inwardly bent portions, and an intermediate sleeve with radially outwardly directed bulges, allowing for targeted adjustment of kinematic and damping properties through the elastomer body and axial stops, which limits movement and defines force-path characteristic curves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional intermediate sleeves with constant wall thickness are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the ability to precisely adjust stiffness and damping properties deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate sleeve features variable wall thickness with radially outwardly directed bulges at specific locations, creating local variations in stiffness. This allows different regions of the bearing bush to have different damping characteristics, enabling precise adjustment of kinematic and damping properties while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process through targeted geometric modifications rather than complete redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the geometric parameters of the intermediate sleeve by introducing radially outwardly directed bulges with specific dimensions and positions. These parameter changes affect the local stiffness and damping characteristics, allowing optimization of the force-path characteristic curves while keeping the manufacturing process feasible
2Adaptability or versatility
If the bearing bush allows greater movement range, then adaptability to loading conditions is improved, but parasitic cardanic and torsional stiffness increases deteriorating driving stability
Solution Approach 1:
The radially outwardly directed bulges create localized stiffer regions that guide the deformation path of the elastomer body. This local reinforcement ensures that movement occurs primarily in the desired radial direction while minimizing parasitic cardanic and torsional movements, thus maintaining driving stability even with increased movement range
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts potential harmful parasitic movements into beneficial controlled deformation by using the bulges to guide the elastomer body's deformation path. The geometric features transform what would be unwanted cardanic and torsional stiffness into directed radial movement that improves adaptability without compromising stability
3Stability of the object's composition
If axial stops are introduced to limit movement, then driving stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The axial stop functionality is merged into the intermediate sleeve structure itself through the radially outwardly directed bulges. These bulges act as integrated stops that limit the movement of the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve without requiring separate stop components, thus improving driving stability while minimizing increases in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate sleeve with radially outwardly directed bulges serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides axial stopping, guides deformation paths, and adjusts damping characteristics. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, maintaining relatively simple device structure while achieving improved driving stability
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 enables precise adjustment of radial, axial, cardanic, and torsional stiffness, improving driving dynamics and comfort by effectively managing loads and vibrations, while reducing parasitic stiffness and extending the service life of the bearing bush.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomer body which is arranged between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve and elastically connects them to each other
Implementation Method 2
the elastomer body arranged between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve and elastically connects them to each other
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing bush and a method of manufacturing a bearing bush is provided. The bearing bush may be used in a transverse control arm. The bearing bush includes an inner sleeve; an outer sleeve arranged radially around the inner sleeve; an elastomer body arranged between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve; and an intermediate sleeve which is, at least in sections, embedded in the elastomer body. The outer sleeve has, at its axial ends, a radially inwardly bent bend portion; wherein a radial outer surface of the intermediate sleeve has a radially outwardly directed bulge along the axial direction of the bearing bush. The intermediate sleeve has a radially outwardly protruding outer stop portion which forms an axial stop with respect to an axial inner surface of the bend portion of the outer sleeve.