Shock Absorber Assistance Device with Locking Means
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing packaging and installation process of shock absorbers in vehicle trains often results in incorrect assembly and damage due to the sudden release of the strap, causing the filter tip and protective bellows to rise rapidly, potentially blocking the rod's path and requiring tedious and costly repositioning.
Innovation Solution
An aid device with locking means, such as inclined lugs and side walls, is used to immobilize the filter tip and protective bellows relative to the rod's free end, ensuring correct alignment and preventing damage during packaging and installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the strap is removed to free the rod for installation, then the rod can be positioned for attachment, but the filter tip and protective bellows rise rapidly causing misalignment or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means (inclined lugs and side walls) are pre-installed on the aid device before the strap removal operation. When the strap is removed and the rod rises, the locking means automatically engage with the thread to constrain the filter tip and protective bellows, preventing their rapid unwanted movement and ensuring proper alignment during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The aid device acts as an intermediary between the rod assembly and the filter tip-protective bellows assembly. The locking means serve as a mediating mechanism that controls the interaction between these components during the critical transition period when the strap is removed, preventing direct harmful interaction while allowing the necessary installation movement.
2Productivity
If the filter tip and protective bellows are allowed to rise freely when the strap is removed, then the rod can be positioned, but the assembly time increases due to required repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means are prepared in advance on the aid device. When the strap removal is initiated, the locking means immediately engage to prevent the filter tip and protective bellows from rising uncontrollably, eliminating the need for subsequent repositioning operations and maintaining assembly speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The rapid rise of the filter tip and protective bellows, which was previously a harmful effect causing misalignment and rework, is converted into a beneficial controlled movement. The locking means harness this natural rising motion while constraining it within acceptable alignment parameters, turning a problem into an advantage by eliminating repositioning needs.
3Device complexity
If no locking mechanism is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the risk of incorrect assembly and damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aid device with its locking means serves as an intermediary component that adds minimal complexity to the system while significantly improving reliability. The locking means act as a simple yet effective mediating mechanism between the rod assembly and the filter tip-protective bellows, ensuring correct assembly without requiring complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking means are designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the natural movement of the rod during installation. When the strap is removed and the rod rises, the locking means self-activate to constrain the filter tip and protective bellows, then self-disengage when the installation is complete, eliminating the need for additional control mechanisms while ensuring assembly correctness.
Data Source
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AI summary
An assistance device (DA) equipped with a vehicle train shock absorber (AR), and comprising: - a body (CA) holding in translation a rod (TA) having a free end (EL) provided with a thread (FT) for rigidly attaching same to the body of the vehicle and held in a retracted position with respect to the body (CA) by a strap (SC), - a filtering tip (EF) mounted to slide on the rod (TA), - a protective boot (SP) surrounding the body (CA) and coupled to the filtering tip (EF), and - a part (PD) comprising the first ends (E11, E12) pressing on the filtering tip (EF) and blocking means (MB) engaging with the thread (FT) in order to immobilise the part (PD) with respect to the free end (EL), the filtering tip (EF) and the protective boot (SP) before and after withdrawal of the strap (SC).