Load Isolation Bracket with Elastic Tabs for Transient Load Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective devices for machine components, such as hydraulic valves, fail to effectively isolate internal parts from transient and twisting loads, leading to damage and operational issues, particularly in off-road machines, due to increased complexity and cost associated with rubber isolation mounts.
Innovation Solution
A protective load isolating device featuring a planar metal body with adjustable tabs and fillets that deform elastically to absorb load forces, minimizing deformation within the device and providing effective isolation using a metal plate with attachment apertures for securement to machine components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rubber isolation mounts are used to protect components from transient loads, then component protection is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the isolation function from complex rubber mount assemblies and implements it through a simplified metal bracket with integrated flexible tabs. The bracket body with protruding tabs directly provides both structural support and load isolation, eliminating the need for separate rubber isolation components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining protection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the structural support function and load isolation function into a single integrated metal bracket component. The bracket body provides rigid mounting while the flexible tabs provide isolation, combining what were previously separate functions performed by different components into one unified structure
2Reliability
If rubber isolation mounts are used to protect components from transient loads, then component protection is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple metal bracket with flexible tabs that can be manufactured using standard metal forming processes. The design allows for economical production through stamping or bending operations, making it a cost-effective alternative to expensive rubber isolation mounts while maintaining adequate protection for the component
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves load isolation by changing the physical parameters of the bracket tabs, specifically their flexibility and dimensions. By adjusting tab thickness, width, and length, the bracket provides appropriate isolation characteristics without requiring expensive specialized materials or complex manufacturing processes
3Strength
If rigid mounting is used to secure components, then attachment strength is improved, but component binding from machine forces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different mechanical properties to different parts of the mounting bracket. The bracket body is made rigid to provide strong attachment to the machine frame, while the protruding tabs are designed with flexible properties to allow movement and absorb transient loads, thus providing local quality differentiation that simultaneously achieves strong attachment and prevents component binding
4Reliability
If flexible mounting is used to reduce loads on components, then component protection is improved, but attachment reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mounting bracket into distinct functional zones: a rigid bracket body for secure attachment to the machine frame and flexible protruding tabs for isolated component mounting. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally, maintaining attachment reliability while providing flexible protection to the component
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 solution effectively isolates machine components from transient loads, reducing the risk of damage and maintaining operational integrity without the complexity and expense of rubber isolation mounts, while ensuring reliable attachment and load absorption.
Implementation Method 1
the predetermined fillet radius of each neck may be sized and configured to absorb load forces through elastic deformation, such that the tabs may elastically deform and thus minimize any deformation within the planar body of the device
Data Source
AI summary
A load isolating device may be defined by a plate-style bracket having a planar body and a plurality of tabs arranged about the body. Each tab may define a peripheral extremity of the body, extending outwardly thereof and situated substantially within the same plane as the body. Each tab may have a particular width, and may include a neck defined by a fillet having a predetermined radius, both tab width and fillet radius being sized and configured to absorb load forces through elastic deformation. As such, the tabs may elastically deform under load to minimize any deformation of the planar body of the device, which in the disclosed embodiment may be formed of an elastic metal plate. Each tab may have the same thickness as the planar body, and both the tabs and the planar body of the device may comprise the same material.