Rack Guide Bearing With Damping for Quiet Steering Meshing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing rack steering system in motor vehicles experiences noise issues due to mechanical impacts, high part and machining costs, friction affecting drive feel, and structural bulk, which complicates installation and interaction with other engine compartment elements.
Innovation Solution
A guide bearing system for the rack and pinion steering system, featuring a tubular wall with an internal channel and damping means to ensure proper meshing and reduce friction, made from self-lubricating materials with adjustable damping elements to compensate for wear and optimize installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pusher device with elastic means is used to press the rack against the pinion, then meshing contact is ensured and toothing defects are compensated, but mechanical impacts generate noises and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
A polymeric buffer element is introduced as an intermediary component between the pusher and the rack. This buffer element mediates the force transmission while absorbing mechanical impacts through its viscoelastic properties, thereby eliminating noise-generating impacts while maintaining reliable meshing contact between the rack and pinion toothing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and material properties of the buffer element to optimize its damping characteristics. By selecting specific polymeric materials with appropriate viscosity and elasticity parameters, the system transforms rigid mechanical force transmission into a controlled, impact-absorbing deformation process that eliminates noise while preserving meshing reliability.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If additional anti-noise rings are added to suppress noise and vibrations, then noise phenomena are limited, but the number of parts and machining operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the noise suppression function with the existing pusher device by integrating a polymeric buffer element into the force transmission path. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate anti-noise rings while maintaining noise suppression effectiveness, thereby reducing the total number of parts and simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric buffer element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a force transmitter, an impact absorber, and a noise suppressor. This multi-functionality replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate components including anti-noise rings, thereby reducing device complexity while achieving the same noise control objectives.
3Reliability
If a considerable force is applied on the rack to press it on the pinion, then meshing contact is ensured, but considerable frictions are generated which affect drive feel
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state of the force transmission from rigid to viscoelastic by introducing the polymeric buffer element. This parameter change allows the system to maintain adequate meshing contact force while reducing peak friction through the material's inherent damping and energy absorption characteristics, thereby preserving drive feel.
4Reliability
If the pusher line is installed perpendicularly to the pinion, then the rack is pressed on the pinion, but the bulk causes problems of contacts or proximities with other engine compartment elements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a polymeric buffer element that can be configured in thin-film or flexible shell forms, replacing the bulky rigid pusher line structure. This flexible component maintains the necessary pressing force on the rack while occupying minimal space, thereby eliminating interference with other engine compartment elements.
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 guide bearing system effectively reduces noise, minimizes friction, and simplifies installation by using self-lubricating materials and adjustable damping elements, enhancing the drive feel and reducing wear-related issues while accommodating the pinion and rack efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
at least one damping means placed, at least partially, around the guide bearing according to a plane transverse to the axis of the guide bearing
Implementation Method 2
the at least one damping means being arranged on the second portion of the wall
Implementation Method 3
made from self-lubricating materials with adjustable damping elements
Data Source
AI summary
A rack guide bearing for meshing a pinion and vehicle steering system rack, the guide bearing including a wall, a first portion is tubular and defines an axis and internal channel around the axis opening at the guide bearing first end, and opening onto a second portion of the wall opposite the first end, an internal channel section transverse to the axis and inserts the rack into the channel according to the rack axis parallel to the guide bearing axis, the guide bearing including an internal channel inner surface of the guide bearing wall's first portion and an inner surface of the guide bearing wall's second portion, the inner surfaces are in slipping contact with a slipping surface of the rack opposite to a toothing of the rack, when the rack is inserted inside the first portion of the wall's internal channel according to the axis of the rack.