Elastomeric Bushing with Internal Travel Limiter for Axial Load Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elastomeric bushings lack an internal travel limiter to define the maximum axial travel between inner and outer sleeves, which affects their strength, durability, and manufacturing costs, while relying on external elastomeric material for flexibility.
Innovation Solution
An elastomeric bushing design incorporating an inner sleeve, a travel limiter, an elastomeric bumper, and an outer sleeve, with geometric features such as protrusions and voids to limit axial movement and enhance structural integrity, using internal geometry to manage axial and rotational loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an internal travel limiter is added to define maximum axial travel, then the strength and durability of the bushing are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The travel limiter is nested within the elastomeric material, with the elastomeric bumper surrounding the travel limiter protrusions. This nested configuration allows the travel limiting function to be integrated within the existing bushing structure rather than adding external components, thereby improving reliability while minimizing increases in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric bumper acts as a flexible shell that surrounds the rigid travel limiter protrusions. This combination allows the bushing to maintain flexibility for normal operation while the internal rigid structure provides travel limiting, resolving the contradiction between improving strength/durability and maintaining simple structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If internal geometry is used to limit axial movement, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but the ease of manufacture may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the elastomeric material by creating localized regions with different properties (solid elastomeric bumper vs. voids). This allows the same elastomeric material to serve multiple functions - providing flexibility in normal operation and acting as a structural travel limiter when compressed, thereby reducing manufacturing costs compared to using entirely different materials or more complex assembly processes.
3Length of moving object
If the outer sleeve is spaced apart from the inner sleeve, then axial movement is restricted, but the structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric bumper is positioned locally between the inner and outer sleeves at specific locations where travel limiting is needed. This localized placement allows the bushing to restrict axial movement effectively while maintaining structural integrity in other areas, as the elastomeric material provides both the spacing function and the structural connection between sleeves.
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 design effectively restricts axial movement, maintains structural integrity, and reduces manufacturing costs by utilizing internal geometry, enhancing the bushing's strength and durability under high loads.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric bumper disposed around and directly engaging the travel limiter... The elastomeric bumper includes diametrically opposed voids axially extending therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
An elastomeric bushing includes an inner sleeve, a travel limiter disposed around the inner sleeve, an elastomeric bumper disposed around and directly engaging the travel limiter, and an outer sleeve disposed around the inner sleeve, the travel limiter and the elastomeric bumper. The outer sleeve is spaced apart from the inner sleeve and directly engages the elastomeric bumper. The travel limiter includes a radially outwardly extending first protrusion and a diametrically opposed radially outwardly extending second protrusion. A first portion of the elastomeric bumper is bounded by a first reduced diameter portion of the outer sleeve and the first and second protrusions. A second portion of the elastomeric bumper is bounded by a second reduced diameter portion of the outer sleeve and the first and second protrusions. The elastomeric bumper includes diametrically opposed voids axially extending therethrough. The voids are circumferentially rotated relative to the first and second protrusions.