Decoupled Spring Bearing Arrangement for Steering Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bearing arrangements in steering systems face issues where spring forces cancel each other out, leading to inadequate damping and large manufacturing tolerances, which result in reduced durability and increased noise.
Innovation Solution
A bearing arrangement with spring elements arranged between the housing and the bearing, featuring a movable abutment that surrounds the bearing, with decoupled spring systems and a compensation means like a tolerance disk to manage tolerances, allowing for precise assembly and reduced tolerance chains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring elements are directly connected to bearing outer ring or inner ring, then axial damping is achieved, but spring forces cancel each other out and radial damping is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the spring system into two independent spring elements (first spring element and second spring element) that are decoupled from each other. The first spring element is connected between the bearing outer ring and abutment, while the second spring element is connected between the bearing inner ring and abutment. This segmentation prevents the spring forces from canceling each other out and allows independent optimization of axial and radial damping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an abutment as an intermediary component that mediates the connection between the spring elements and the bearing. The abutment allows the spring elements to be indirectly connected to the bearing, enabling decoupled spring systems that can provide both axial and radial damping without force cancellation.
2Ease of manufacture
If bearings are installed as a whole in bearing arrangements, then assembly is simplified, but manufacturing tolerances must be extremely large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bearing arrangement into separate components that can be manufactured and assembled independently. The bearing, abutment, and spring elements can be produced separately with tighter individual tolerances, and then assembled together. This approach reduces the cumulative tolerance accumulation that would occur if the entire bearing arrangement were manufactured as a single integrated component.
3Ease of manufacture
If large tolerances are used in bearing arrangements, then manufacturing is easier, but durability is reduced and noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the bearing arrangement into separate components (bearing, abutment, spring elements), the patent enables tighter individual tolerances to be applied to each component. This reduces the overall tolerance stack-up in the assembled system, thereby improving durability and reducing noise while still maintaining ease of manufacture through modular assembly.
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 decoupled spring systems prevent cancellation of spring forces, enhancing damping and reducing manufacturing tolerances, thereby improving durability and noise reduction while allowing for precise assembly and reduced tolerance errors.
Implementation Method 1
spring elements are arranged between a housing (11) and the bearing (10), having a movable abutment (15) which surrounds the bearing (10) and at least one first spring element (17) which is arranged indirectly between the abutment (15) and the housing (11) and forces the abutment (15) against the housing (11) in an axial direction of the bearing (10), with at least one second spring element (16) which is arranged between the abutment (15) and the bearing (10) and forces the bearing (10) in an axial direction against the abutment (15) at the inner side
Data Source
AI summary
A bearing arrangement may involve two spring systems that are decoupled from one another. Some bearing arrangements may include components such as a bearing housing, a bearing, spring elements for supporting the bearing in the housing, and an abutment that can be moved in an axial direction of the bearing. Further, a method for assembling a bearing arrangement may involve a compensation mechanism having dimensions that can be subsequently adapted.