Composite Leaf Spring Eye Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Composite leaf springs in vehicle suspension systems face challenges in reliable attachment to a leaf spring eye and vehicle chassis due to their softness, leading to increased material costs and process complexity with additional attachment materials like epoxies.
Innovation Solution
An integrated spring eye locking mechanism featuring a leaf spring with a key portion and a leaf spring eye with parallel elongate members and a key slot, allowing secure attachment with a threaded fastener, reducing the need for additional materials and simplifying the assembly process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If composite materials are used for leaf springs to reduce weight, then weight reduction is achieved, but attachment reliability deteriorates due to the softness of composite materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the attachment mechanism and locking function into the leaf spring eye itself, merging multiple functions (attachment, positioning, and locking) into a single integrated component. This eliminates the need for separate attachment materials while ensuring reliable connection of the composite leaf spring to the chassis.
Solution Approach 2:
The key portion and key slot act as intermediary mechanical features that facilitate reliable attachment. The key portion on the leaf spring engages with the key slot in the leaf spring eye, providing a positive mechanical interlock that compensates for the softness of composite materials and ensures attachment reliability.
2Reliability
If additional attachment materials such as epoxies are used to improve attachment reliability, then attachment reliability is improved, but device complexity and material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for additional attachment materials like epoxies by incorporating a self-contained attachment mechanism directly into the leaf spring eye. The key portion and key slot provide sufficient mechanical attachment and locking, removing the complexity of multi-material attachment processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The leaf spring eye structure provides its own attachment and locking mechanism through the key slot, eliminating the need for external attachment materials. The threaded fastener works in conjunction with the integrated key slot to secure the leaf spring without requiring additional epoxies or adhesives.
3Reliability
If additional attachment materials are used to secure the leaf spring, then attachment reliability is improved, but material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for expensive additional attachment materials by providing a complete attachment solution using only the leaf spring eye structure and a threaded fastener. The key portion and key slot provide the necessary mechanical interlock, eliminating material costs associated with epoxies or adhesives.
Data Source
AI summary
A leaf spring assembly comprises a leaf spring having an axially extending member, an axis, a key portion disposed at an end thereof, first and second parallel elongate members extending radially from the attachment ring along an axis and include inner facing surfaces opposing one another along the axis to define a receiving slot that is configured to receive the end of the leaf spring. The leaf spring is joined with the leaf spring eye and a key slot, formed adjacent to a terminal end of the receiving slot and comprising an enlarged slot portion defined by a first shoulder formed in an inner facing surface of an elongate member and configured to receive the key portion disposed at the end of the axially extending member.