Segmented Slide Bearing Structure for Steering Rattle Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sliding bearings in rack-and-pinion type steering apparatuses experience abnormal noise due to elastic ring deformation during shaft movement, causing collisions with tubular members, leading to rattling noise.
Innovation Solution
A sliding bearing design featuring a bearing body with slits and projections, fitted with an elastic ring that provides interference contact with the tubular member, allowing for radial clearance and reducing the likelihood of collisions by absorbing reaction forces through flexural deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an elastic ring is fitted on the bearing body to provide interference contact with the tubular member, then the bearing can maintain positional stability and support radial loads, but the elastic ring deforms during shaft movement causing collisions and abnormal noise
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing body is divided into multiple segments along the axial direction through slits, allowing each segment to move independently and absorb deformation, preventing the elastic ring from colliding with the tubular member
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing body's rigidity is changed by introducing slits that allow controlled flexibility, enabling the bearing to adapt to shaft movement while maintaining sufficient structural support
2Strength
If the bearing body is made rigid to maintain structural strength, then it can support radial loads effectively, but it cannot absorb deformation during shaft movement leading to collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing body is segmented into multiple sections by slits extending axially, creating a structure that maintains overall strength while allowing local flexibility to absorb movement-induced deformation
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing body transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic segmented structure that can adapt its rigidity, maintaining strength when needed and allowing flexibility during shaft movement
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 eliminates rattling noise by ensuring smooth operation and preventing collisions between the bearing and tubular members, maintaining the shaft's linear and rotational mobility.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic ring fitted on the bearing body... with an outer peripheral surface of the elastic ring brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the tube with an interference
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A sliding bearing 1 which is interposed between a tube 4 and a rack shaft 7 includes a bearing body 11 and two elastic rings 13 and 14 fitted on an outer surface 12 of the bearing body 11, and the bearing body 11 has slits 26 extending from an end face 22 to this side of an end face 24, slits 27 extending from the end face 24 to this side of the end face 22, an inner surface 33 having a sliding surface 28, and an outer surface 12 on which are formed grooves 34 respectively receiving the elastic rings 13 and 14 and projections 35 and 36 respectively provided on axial end portions 23 and 25 with the grooves 34 disposed therebetween.