Thermoplastic Elastomer Buffer Pad for Chain Tensioner Collision Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional timing chain systems experience noise and vibration due to collisions between the plunger and buffer pad when the plunger fails to follow the lever swing, particularly in low oil conditions or when chain behavior changes.
Innovation Solution
A buffer pad made of a thermoplastic elastomer is integrated into the lever, providing rubber elasticity to absorb the impact and reduce noise and vibration by ensuring a minimum thickness of 1 mm in the load input direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a polyamide buffer pad is provided on the abutment surface of the base with the plunger, then wear on the plunger and base is prevented and noise and vibration are reduced, but when the plunger cannot follow the lever swing due to oil shortage or chain behavior changes, the plunger collides with the buffer pad causing noise and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the buffer pad from polyamide to thermoplastic elastomer, which fundamentally alters the mechanical properties. The thermoplastic elastomer provides both wear resistance and collision damping, resolving the contradiction by enabling the material to simultaneously prevent wear and suppress collision-induced noise and vibration through its elastomeric properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure where the buffer pad is made of thermoplastic elastomer material, combining the benefits of plastic structural integrity with rubber-like elasticity. This composite material approach allows the buffer pad to function both as a wear-resistant surface and as a shock-absorbing element that prevents collision noise and vibration.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the buffer pad is made of thermoplastic elastomer with minimum thickness of 1 mm, then rubber elasticity is imparted to suppress noise and vibration, but the device complexity increases due to material selection and manufacturing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies a minimum thickness parameter of 1 mm for the thermoplastic elastomer buffer pad to ensure sufficient rubber elasticity for noise and vibration suppression. This quantitative parameter change provides a clear manufacturing guideline that balances performance requirements with manufacturing feasibility, resolving the contradiction by establishing a specific threshold that ensures effectiveness without excessive complexity.
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 thermoplastic elastomer buffer pad effectively suppresses noise and vibration by absorbing the input load from the plunger, maintaining the lever's functionality without altering its shape or the tensioner's configuration.
Implementation Method 1
Because the pad provided at the location where the plunger of the chain tensioner abuts has a thermoplastic molded body made of a thermoplastic elastomer in at least a part thereof, rubber elasticity can be imparted to the buffer pad, thereby making it possible to suppress noise and vibration that occur when the plunger cannot follow the lever swing.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a buffer pad and a lever that can suppress noise and vibration that occur when a plunger cannot follow the lever swing. A buffer pad 2 is provided at a location on a base member 11 of a lever 1 where a plunger of a chain tensioner abuts against the base member, the buffer pad 2 having a thermoplastic molded body made of a thermoplastic elastomer in at least a part thereof.