Serpentine Motor Vehicle Engine Suspension Elastic Device

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor-vehicle engine suspension elastic devices face durability issues due to excessive wear of elastomeric bushings, leading to performance deterioration and potential breakage, which affects acoustic comfort and causes wear on supporting dowels.

Innovation Solution

The elastic device features a serpentine wavy conformation in its metal or composite body, combined with elastomeric elements, acting as a filtering element to dampen oscillations, and includes a tension cable to limit deformation, enhancing durability and adaptability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If elastic bushings of elastomeric material are used at the ends of the elastic device, then the device can dampen longitudinal stresses through tension and compression, but the elastic bushings are subject to excessive wear during the operative life of the motor-vehicle, causing deterioration in performance and acoustic comfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedurability of elastic bushingVSAvoidexcessive wear of elastic bushing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the metal body by introducing a serpentine wavy conformation with multiple loops. This transforms the rigid linear structure into a flexible波形 structure that can deform elastically, allowing the metal body itself to participate in stress absorption and reducing the load on the elastomeric bushings, thereby reducing their wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite structure combining metal (or composite material) with elastomeric material. The metal body provides structural strength and elastic deformation capability through its serpentine geometry, while the elastomeric bushings provide additional damping. This composite approach distributes the stress management function between two materials with complementary properties, reducing the wear burden on the elastomeric component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If the elastic device uses a simple linear body structure, then the device construction is simple and economical, but the metal and/or composite body may break due to excessive wear of the elastic bushings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of constructionVSAvoidresistance to breaking of metal body

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the metal body by introducing a serpentine wavy conformation with multiple loops. This transforms the rigid linear structure into a flexible波形 structure that can deform elastically, allowing the metal body itself to participate in stress absorption and reducing the load on the elastomeric bushings, thereby reducing their wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The serpentine wavy conformation acts as a built-in cushioning mechanism that absorbs stresses before they can transmit fully to the elastomeric bushings. The multiple loops in the serpentine structure deform elastically under load, providing preliminary stress absorption and protecting the more fragile elastomeric components from excessive wear and potential failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If the elastic device uses a serpentine wavy conformation with elastically deformable portions, then the main body acts as a filtering element to dampen oscillations together with elastomeric bushings, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestress filtering performanceVSAvoidcomplexity of serpentine structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the metal body by introducing a serpentine wavy conformation with multiple loops. This transforms the rigid linear structure into a flexible波形 structure that can deform elastically, allowing the metal body itself to participate in stress absorption and reducing the load on the elastomeric bushings, thereby reducing their wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the structural function of the metal body with the filtering/damping function by integrating the serpentine wavy conformation directly into the main body. This eliminates the need for separate filtering components, as the metal body itself becomes the filtering element that works in conjunction with the elastomeric bushings to dampen oscillations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the elastic device uses wider and thicker serpentine portions, then the rigidities of the device can be adjusted according to required use, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of rigidityVSAvoidprecision of width and thickness variations

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the metal body by introducing a serpentine wavy conformation with multiple loops. This transforms the rigid linear structure into a flexible波形 structure that can deform elastically, allowing the metal body itself to participate in stress absorption and reducing the load on the elastomeric bushings, thereby reducing their wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 improves durability and stress absorption performance, reducing wear and noise, while being economically viable and adaptable to various vehicle types.

Implementation Method 1

said main body of metal and/or composite material includes at least one elastically deformable portion in said longitudinal direction and said at least one elastically deformable portion has a serpentine wavy conformation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

an elastic bushing of elastomeric material is included. The elastic bushings of elastomeric material are preferably designed to work in tension and compression as a result of the longitudinal stresses to which the device is subjected, so as to dampen these stresses

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

one or more elements of elastomeric material—with elastic and shock-absorbing functions—are associated with the elastically deformable portion of the main body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscoelastic damping: Viscoelasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10850598B2Elastic device of a motor-vehicle engine suspension

Publication Date: 2020.12.01 CENTRO RICERCHE FIAT SCPA

AI summary

A motor-vehicle engine suspension elastic device has a main body of metal and/or composite material elongated in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the motor-vehicle. The elastic device has a first end that can be connected to a structural connecting element of a motor-vehicle, and a second end that can be connected to a motor-vehicle engine. The main metal body of the elastic device includes at least one portion elastically deformable in the aforesaid longitudinal direction.