Resin Support Member With Elastic Lock For Automatic Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
In automatic transmissions, resin-made support members for conductive elements face issues with bolt loosening due to differing coefficients of linear expansion, leading to increased manufacturing costs when metal collars are used for fixation.
Innovation Solution
A support member design featuring a resin main body with a metal plate attached via an elastic lock portion and guide groove, allowing the plate to move and absorb expansion differences while preventing removal, thus reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metal collar is integrally attached to the main body portion by insert molding, then the bolts are securely fixed and do not readily become loose, but the manufacturing cost rises due to cutting processing of the metal collar
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the fixation system into two separate components: a resin main body portion and a metal plate attached thereto. The metal plate is supplied as a separate blank material and attached to the resin main body portion, eliminating the need for insert molding and cutting processing of an integrated metal collar. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using optimal processes, reducing overall manufacturing cost while maintaining fixation reliability through the metal plate's high strength and resistance to thermal expansion differences.
2Ease of operation
If the main body portion is made of resin, then the ability to assemble and process electrical wires is improved, but the amount of deformation of the main body is larger than that of the bolts due to the difference in the coefficients of linear expansion, causing bolts to readily become loose
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite structure combining resin and metal materials. The resin main body portion provides ease of wire assembly and processing, while the attached metal plate provides dimensional stability and resistance to thermal expansion. This composite construction allows each material to contribute its advantageous properties, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and fixation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal plate acts as an intermediary between the resin main body portion and the bolts. It serves as a stable mounting surface that is less susceptible to thermal expansion, thereby protecting the bolts from loosening caused by resin deformation while still allowing the resin body to maintain its ease of assembly characteristics.
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 design effectively absorbs expansion differences and prevents bolt loosening, reducing overall manufacturing costs and simplifying the attachment process while maintaining secure fixation.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic lock portion that projects within the attachment portion and has elasticity capable of restricting removal of the plate from the attachment portion
Implementation Method 2
the amount of deformation of the main body is larger than that of the bolts due to the difference in the coefficients of linear expansion between them
Data Source
AI summary
A support member is for supporting a conductive member such as an electrical wire and is for installation in an automatic transmission, and includes a main body portion made of a resin and plates that are made of a metal and are to be fixed to the body of the automatic transmission via bolts. The main body portion has attachment portions to which the plates are attached, and elastic lock portions that project within the attachment portions and have elasticity capable of restricting removal of the plates from the attachment portions.