Plastic Bushing Welded Joint for Steering Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of bushings with a core tube, jacket tube, and elastomeric body is complex due to the need for separate elastomer coating and mechanical processing, which complicates the manufacturing process and requires additional sealing elements.
Innovation Solution
A bushing design featuring a core tube, a cladding tube, and an elastomeric body with a window tube made of plastic, where the window tube and cladding tube are connected via friction welding, ultrasonic welding, or laser welding, eliminating the need for additional sealing elements and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the cladding tube is deformed to encompass the window tube (flanging, rolling, or clinching), then a form-fit connection is achieved, but the production process becomes complex and requires additional sealing elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cladding tube and window tube into a single integral component through material bonding (welding), eliminating the need for separate sealing elements and complex deformation processes. This merging of components resolves the contradiction by achieving stable connection through a unified structure rather than through complex assembly of multiple parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical connection methods (flanging, rolling, clinching) with material bonding through welding. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical deformation and additional sealing elements, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining connection stability.
2Reliability
If separate production steps are used for elastomer coating and tube processing, then functional requirements are met, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the window tube and cladding tube into a single welded component, allowing the elastomer body to be vulcanized onto this integrated structure in one step. This eliminates the need for separate elastomer coating and tube processing steps, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining functional reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The window tube and cladding tube are pre-connected through welding before the elastomer body is vulcanized. This preliminary action creates a stable base structure that simplifies the subsequent elastomer application process, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while ensuring functional integrity.
3Strength
If metal components are used for the window tube and cladding tube, then strength is achieved, but the weight of the bushing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to plastic for both the window tube and cladding tube. This material substitution maintains sufficient structural strength for the application while significantly reducing the overall weight of the bushing, thereby resolving the contradiction between strength and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs plastic materials for the tubes in combination with the elastomer body, creating a composite structure that achieves the necessary strength-to-weight ratio. This composite approach allows the bushing to be lightweight while maintaining adequate structural integrity for steering devices and rear axle supports.
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
This design simplifies production, reduces weight, and provides a stable, integral connection that withstands high loads, making it suitable for applications like motor vehicle steering devices and rear axle supports without the need for complex flanging or additional sealing.
Implementation Method 1
the window tube and the cladding tube are connected to one another with a material fit by means of friction welding, ultrasonic welding or laser welding
Implementation Method 2
the window tube and the cladding tube are connected to one another with a material fit by means of friction welding, ultrasonic welding or laser welding
Implementation Method 3
the cladding tube is made of a plastic that is transparent to laser light, and the window tube is made of a plastic in which an absorption agent for the laser light is accommodated. A laser beam acting from the outside can pass through the cladding tube and locally soften the window tube by converting the laser light into heat at the absorption means
Implementation Method 4
the softened plastics can flow through and/or produce an integral connection through diffusion
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1a
Figure 2
AI summary
The bush has a core tube (1), a cladding tube (2) and an elastomer (3) arranged between the core tube and the cladding tube. The core tube is movable relative to the cladding tube, where the cladding tube is connected to a connecting medium (4) in a cohesive manner. The cohesive connection is made by adhesive bonding, friction welding, ultrasonic welding or laser welding, and the connecting medium and cladding tube is made of plastic. : An independent claim is included for a method for manufacturing a bush. USE : Bush for use in motor vehicles. ADVANTAGE : The cohesive connection is made by adhesive bonding, friction welding, ultrasonic welding or laser welding, and the connecting medium and cladding tube is made of plastic, and hence ensures manufacturing a bush in a simple and efficient manner. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS : The drawing shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a bush. 1 : Core tube 2 : Cladding tube 3 : Elastomer 4 : Connecting medium 6 : Joint location.