Plastic Actuating Rod with Spring Damping for Hand Brake Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing hand brake actuation mechanisms in motor vehicles generate significant noise due to the accumulation of kinetic energy during the oscillating motion of the actuating rod, leading to resonance and increased noise perception by the user.
Innovation Solution
A plastic actuating rod with a compression spring, guided by a plastic guide-piece, and featuring a calibrated stop and ball joint linkage, which reduces the oscillation and compression of the spring, minimizing the transmission of force and energy to the nail or ratchet, thereby reducing noise and resonance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a metallic actuating rod is used in the hand brake mechanism, then the structural strength and durability are improved, but the noise and resonance generated during operation increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating rod is constructed as a composite structure with a metallic core providing structural strength and a plastic coating layer reducing noise and resonance. This combination allows the rod to maintain mechanical durability while significantly decreasing the harmful acoustic effects generated during hand brake operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters of the actuating rod by applying a plastic coating over the metallic core. This parameter modification alters the acoustic properties and damping characteristics of the rod, thereby reducing noise and resonance without compromising the underlying structural integrity provided by the metal.
2Reliability
If the oscillating motion of the actuating rod is increased to ensure proper engagement, then the reliability of hand brake actuation is improved, but the kinetic energy accumulation and impact noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The composite construction of the actuating rod with plastic coating provides optimized damping characteristics that allow for reliable engagement motion while controlling the kinetic energy accumulation. The plastic layer absorbs impact energy more effectively than solid metal, reducing noise during the engagement process.
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 significantly reduces noise and resonance by minimizing the energy stored in the spring and isolating it from metal parts, enhancing the safety and efficiency of the hand brake operation while reducing production costs and component mass.
Implementation Method 1
a lever mounted in a swing way with respect to a fixed support... which is equipped with a toothed sector wherein is interlockable a nail or ratchet belonging to a piece mounted on a rotational way on the own actuating lever and linked by its opposite end to that of the nail to a rod with oscillating rectilinear motion... the displacement of the rod is carried out, consequent swing of the carrier piece of the nail or ratchet... by the push of the rod into the interior, by the force exerted in that sense by the spring linked to it
Implementation Method 2
The actuating rod object of the invention has been designed to solve the problems and shortcomings referred to in the preceding paragraph... the rod in question is characterized primarily by being made in plastic material... on it is located the corresponding compression spring, causing that it is isolated from the metal parts of the assembly of the mechanism... guided on a guide-piece, also plastic... allowing it to slide smoothly and without backlashes
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a rod comprising a long plastic body (1), an axial housing (3) close to the front end corresponding to the push button (2), and a compression spring (4) mounted in said housing (3), one end of the spring butting up to the front end wall (3') of the housing, and the other end of the spring (4) butting up to a side piece (5) provided for this purpose on a plastic guiding part (6) on which the rod (1) slides during its straight movement, the guiding part (6) being fixed onto the actuating lever itself. The connection of each part to the traction lever enables the actuation of the handbrake of a motor vehicle.