Deflectable Engine Mount Resilient Washer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine mounting systems fail to effectively manage multidirectional forces and moments, particularly axial loads, while minimizing bending moments, as they often disengage under such loads or lack the necessary flexibility and self-centering capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A multidirectionally deflectable engine mounting apparatus featuring a laterally oriented base surface, a longitudinally extending elongate shaft with a laterally oriented shaft flange, and a resilient washer that compresses under deflection pressure, providing a biasing force to re-center the shaft and maintain engagement, allowing for precession and self-centering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a spherical bearing is used to minimize bending moments, then moments due to bending are minimized or eliminated, but the shaft or pin slides out of the bearing under axial loads
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient washer changes its physical state from rigid to compliant under axial load, allowing it to deform and maintain engagement while minimizing bending moments. The material transitions from a rigid state to an elastically deformable state, enabling it to function as both a moment-minimizing element and an engagement-maintaining element.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting apparatus combines a rigid base surface and top plate with a resilient washer made of elastomeric or viscoelastic material. This composite structure allows the rigid components to provide structural support while the resilient material provides compliance and friction-based engagement under axial loads, resolving the contradiction between minimizing bending moments and maintaining engagement.
2Power
If a universal joint is used to transfer torque without bending, then torque transfer is effective, but the joint cannot sustain axial loads or handle bending loading
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient washer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it allows torque transfer through friction engagement, sustains axial loads through elastic deformation, and minimizes bending moments through its compliant nature. This multi-functional element replaces the need for separate components for each function, enabling the mounting apparatus to handle torque, axial loads, and bending in a unified structure.
3Strength
If a rigid mounting system is used to maintain structural integrity, then structural strength is maintained, but the system cannot accommodate multidirectional forces and moments
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting apparatus uses localized resilience at the interface between the base surface and top plate through the resilient washer, while maintaining rigid structures for the base surface and top plate themselves. This local quality approach allows the system to maintain overall structural integrity while providing specific localized compliance to accommodate multidirectional forces and moments.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient washer introduces dynamic compliance to an otherwise rigid mounting system. It allows the structure to adapt dynamically to multidirectional forces and moments through elastic deformation, while maintaining structural integrity. The system transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamically adaptable structure that can respond to varying load conditions.
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 apparatus effectively manages multidirectional forces and moments by allowing precession and self-centering, ensuring stable engine mounting without disengagement under axial loads and bending, while maintaining structural integrity and ease of maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The resilient washer compresses under deflection pressure applied laterally to the shaft. Compression of the resilient washer causes a biasing force equal and opposite to the deflection pressure to re-center the shaft when the deflection pressure is removed.
Data Source
AI summary
A multidirectionally deflectable engine mounting apparatus includes a laterally oriented base surface and a longitudinally extending elongate shaft having a laterally oriented shaft flange. The shaft flange is longitudinally adjacent to the base surface. A resilient washer is located directly longitudinally between the base surface and the shaft flange. A top plate includes a plate aperture. The shaft extends longitudinally through the plate aperture. The top plate is attached directly to the base surface with the resilient washer and the shaft flange located longitudinally between the base surface and at least a portion of the top plate.