Cushion Connecting Rod Visual Failure Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fiber-reinforced plastic members are prone to unrecognizable initial failure under stress, making them unsuitable for components with tensile loads, and developing adhesives for bonding with metal components is time-consuming and costly.
Innovation Solution
A cushion connecting rod for motorcycles is designed with a metallic member covered by endless fiber-reinforced plastic using a film adhesive, featuring recessed portions and lightening holes, where the fiber direction is aligned with the longitudinal direction, allowing visual recognition of initial failure and reducing weight while maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If fiber-reinforced plastic members are used to reduce weight, then vehicle weight is reduced, but initial failure conditions become unrecognizable leading to safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber-reinforced plastic member is designed to change color at the location of initial failure, providing visual indication of damage. This color change mechanism allows operators to detect initial failure conditions before catastrophic breakdown occurs, thereby maintaining safety while utilizing the weight benefits of fiber-reinforced plastic materials.
2Reliability
If multiple materialization is employed to apply fiber-reinforced plastic to stressed components, then reliability improves, but development time and cost increase due to specialized adhesive requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs conventional, readily available adhesives instead of requiring specially developed adhesives. This approach uses simple, easily obtainable bonding materials that can be applied without extensive development time or specialized formulation, thereby reducing both time and cost while still achieving reliable bonding of fiber-reinforced plastic to metal components in stressed areas.
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 design enables visual detection of initial failure, allowing timely replacement, reduces vehicle weight, and enhances manufacturing efficiency by mechanizing the winding process, while maintaining the structural integrity of the connecting rod.
Implementation Method 1
the fiber-reinforced plastic (50) adheres to the surface of the metallic member (60) with a film adhesive (52)
Data Source
AI summary
A cushion connecting rod of a saddled vehicle is configured in such a manner that an initial failure condition can be visually recognized in combination with fiber composite material and metal without using a special adhesive. A cushion connecting rod as a long member applied with a load when a swing arm is swung against a springing force of a rear cushion is configured in such a manner that a part of a surface of a metallic member is covered with an endless fiber-reinforced plastic. The fiber-reinforced plastic adheres to the surface of the metallic member with a film adhesive. Supporting portions applied with the load are provided at both ends in a longitudinal direction of the metallic member. A recessed portion and a plurality of lightening holes are formed between the supporting portions at both the ends, the recessed portion being configured in such a manner that a thickness dimension of the metallic member is set to be smaller than a thickness dimension of the supporting portions. The fiber-reinforced plastic covers surfaces of the supporting portions and the recessed portion.