Dual-Hardness Strut Insulator for Handling and Ride Comfort

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional strut insulators made of single rubber hardness struggle to balance handling performance, ride comfort, and road noise performance, as higher hardness improves handling but worsens ride comfort and noise, while lower hardness enhances comfort but degrades handling and noise.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle strut insulator design featuring two bushes with different hardnesses, one for handling and one for comfort, oriented in specific directions to optimize performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the rubber hardness is increased to improve handling performance, then handling performance is improved, but ride comfort and road noise performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling performanceVSAvoidride comfort and road noise

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using two different rubber materials with different hardnesses in different regions of the strut insulator. The first rubber material with higher hardness is used in the first bush to provide handling performance, while the second rubber material with lower hardness is used in the second bush to provide ride comfort and road noise isolation. This allows each region to have the specific property needed for its function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The strut insulator is segmented into two separate bushes (first bush and second bush) that can independently perform different functions. The first bush handles vibration isolation with hard rubber, while the second bush handles shock absorption with soft rubber. This segmentation allows simultaneous optimization of handling performance and ride comfort without compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the rubber hardness is decreased to improve ride comfort and road noise performance, then ride comfort and road noise performance are improved, but handling performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveride comfort and road noiseVSAvoidhandling performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using two different rubber materials with different hardnesses in different regions of the strut insulator. The first rubber material with higher hardness is used in the first bush to provide handling performance, while the second rubber material with lower hardness is used in the second bush to provide ride comfort and road noise isolation. This allows each region to have the specific property needed for its function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The strut insulator is segmented into two separate bushes (first bush and second bush) that can independently perform different functions. The first bush handles vibration isolation with hard rubber, while the second bush handles shock absorption with soft rubber. This segmentation allows simultaneous optimization of handling performance and ride comfort without compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If a single rubber material with specific hardness is used to simplify the structure, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to satisfy both handling performance and ride comfort deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestructureVSAvoidperformance balance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials by combining two different rubber materials with different hardnesses and damping characteristics within a single strut insulator assembly. The first rubber material provides vibration isolation properties while the second rubber material provides shock absorption properties. This composite approach allows the insulator to handle multiple performance requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The strut insulator is segmented into two separate bushes (first bush and second bush) that can independently perform different functions. The first bush handles vibration isolation with hard rubber, while the second bush handles shock absorption with soft rubber. This segmentation allows simultaneous optimization of handling performance and ride comfort without compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 dual-hardness design improves handling performance and ride comfort while reducing road noise, with enhanced structural strength and durability through strategic bush placement and overlap configurations.

Implementation Method 1

The first bush may be made of rubber with low dynamic characteristics for desirable vibration isolation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration isolation: Damping

Implementation Method 2

the second bush may be made of rubber with high damping force for desirable shock absorption

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShock absorption: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS12472790B2Vehicle strut insulator

Publication Date: 2025.11.18 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a vehicle strut insulator that includes first and second bushes (100 and 200) having different hardness characteristics. The first bush (100) having a relatively high hardness is disposed in a left-right direction of a vehicle that affects the handling performance, and the second bush (200) having a relatively low hardness is disposed in a forward-backward direction of the vehicle that affects the ride comfort. Accordingly, the vehicle strut insulator can satisfy both requirements for handling performance, ride comfort and road noise performance.