Dual Durometer Flexible Joint for Suspension Link Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current suspension link joints experience wear and debris accumulation, leading to performance degradation, noise, and potential failure due to movement and orientation changes, which also stress flexible materials and reduce rotation absorption.
Innovation Solution
A flexible joint design featuring a housing with an inner and outer elastomer, where the inner elastomer is permanently attached to the inner sleeve and the outer elastomer is not permanently attached to the housing, allowing for rotation and resistance to debris while minimizing stress on flexible components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the joint is made rigid to prevent wear, then wear resistance is improved, but the ability to absorb rotation and accommodate position changes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The joint employs different material properties in different regions: a harder outer elastomer (higher durometer) for wear-resistant surfaces and a softer inner elastomer (lower durometer) for rotation absorption. This local differentiation allows the joint to simultaneously achieve wear resistance at contact surfaces and flexibility for accommodating position changes and absorbing rotation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If flexible materials are used to allow position changes, then adaptability is improved, but wear resistance and debris resistance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The outer elastomer with higher durometer provides wear-resistant surfaces that contact the housing and prevent debris accumulation, while the inner elastomer with lower durometer provides the flexibility needed for position changes. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between flexibility and wear resistance.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the outer elastomer is permanently attached to the housing, then structural stability is improved, but stress concentration and potential failure are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The outer elastomer is deliberately left unattached to the housing, extracting the permanent attachment constraint from the design. This allows the outer elastomer to remain stress-free during position changes, preventing breakdown and damage while maintaining structural stability through its hardened surface and geometric fit within the housing.
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 joint effectively resists wear and debris accumulation, allowing normal position and orientation changes without damaging elastomeric properties, thus improving vehicle performance and extending joint lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
The inner elastomer is softer than the outer elastomer... allowing normal changes in position and orientation of the suspension link relative to the frame without damage to elastomeric properties
Implementation Method 2
The outer elastomer is harder than the inner elastomer... effectively resists wear and debris accumulation
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible joint for attachment to a suspension link. The flexible joint includes a housing. The housing includes an external surface and an internal surface. The flexible joint also includes a flexible joint insert. The flexible joint insert includes an inner sleeve. The inner sleeve includes a channel, where the channel is configured to receive at least a portion of an external device, and an external surface. The flexible joint insert also includes an inner elastomer. The inner elastomer is fused to at least a portion of the external surface of the inner sleeve. The flexible joint insert further includes an outer elastomer. The outer elastomer is harder than the inner elastomer. An interface between the inner elastomer and the outer elastomer is fused and a portion of the outer elastomer is in contact with the internal surface of the housing. The outer elastomer is not permanently attached to the housing.