Elastomeric Clip Assembly for NVH Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing attachment methods for vibration-susceptible devices like fans and blowers to seat structures fail to effectively reduce Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) while being simple to manufacture, assemble, and install, often requiring complex designs and multiple parts that can rattle.
Innovation Solution
A clip assembly comprising a first clip portion with a constricted neck and cavity for a wire, a second clip portion with a snap-fit head, and a middle elastomeric portion that spans between them, made from materials like polyamide or polycarbonate, with an elastomeric material that absorbs vibration energy, reducing NVH by damping vibrations between the device and the seat wire structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex attachment designs with multiple parts are used, then robust attachment is achieved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple attachment functions into a single integrated clip assembly. The clip includes a first clip portion for attaching to the device, a second clip portion for attaching to the seat, and a middle portion connecting them, all as one piece. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate parts while maintaining robust attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical attachment, vibration damping, and noise reduction. The elastomeric middle portion provides both structural connection and NVH damping in one component, reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple separate parts are used for attachment, then robust attachment is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the attachment mechanism into a single molded clip assembly rather than using multiple separate parts. The first clip portion, second clip portion, and middle elastomeric portion are formed as one piece, simplifying manufacturing to a single molding operation and eliminating the need for assembly of multiple components.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If vibration damping materials are added, then NVH reduction is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates vibration damping functionality directly into the middle portion of the clip assembly by using elastomeric material. This combines the structural connection function with the vibration damping function in a single component, eliminating the need for separate damping elements and reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The middle portion is made from elastomeric material that provides both structural integrity and vibration damping properties. This use of composite or specialized material allows a single component to fulfill multiple functions including noise, vibration, and harshness reduction.
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 clip assembly provides a robust and simplified attachment method that significantly reduces NVH, ensuring a stable and quiet operation of devices like fans and blowers when attached to seat structures, while maintaining ease of manufacturing and assembly.
Implementation Method 1
the middle clip portion comprises an elastomeric material that absorbs at least a portion of vibration energy that may be caused by one or both of the two component assemblies
Implementation Method 2
the middle clip portion comprises an elastomeric material with a Shore A Hardness of between 40 and 50 per ISO 868
Data Source
AI summary
A clip assembly for attaching two component assemblies while reducing NVH characteristics comprising a first clip portion; a second clip portion; and a middle clip portion that connectively spans between the first clip portion and the second clip portion; wherein the middle clip portion comprises a material that absorbs at least a portion of vibration energy that may be caused by one or both of the two component assemblies.