Shock Absorber Screw Seal for Corrosion Resistance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing shock absorbers are prone to rust and corrosion due to exposure to water and dust, which affects the screw portions, leading to potential mechanical failures.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an annular seal member between the outer circumferential portion of the case and the threadably engageable member's screw portion, along with a seal groove and masking during the manufacturing process to prevent foreign objects from entering and protect the screw areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the cylindrical member is provided on the side surface of the cylinder to contain the damping force generation mechanism, then the damping force generation mechanism is accessible and functional, but the screw portion is exposed to water and dust causing rust and corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of damping force generation mechanismVSAvoidresistance to rust and corrosion of screw portion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A seal member (O-ring) is introduced as an intermediary element between the case and the nut member to prevent water and dust from reaching the screw portion. The seal member creates a barrier that mediates between the external environment and the vulnerable threaded connection, eliminating direct exposure while maintaining the functional accessibility of the damping force generation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal member is implemented as a flexible O-ring that can deform to conform to the sealing surface. This flexible thin film structure effectively blocks water and dust particles from penetrating to the screw portion, while allowing for assembly tolerances and maintaining the external accessibility of the mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of manufacture

If the screw portion is left uncoated for ease of assembly, then assembly is simplified, but the screw portion is vulnerable to rust and corrosion from water and dust entry

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assembly of screw portionVSAvoidexposure to water and dust

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The seal member serves as a protective intermediary that shields the uncoated screw portion from harmful external factors. This allows the screw portion to remain uncoated for ease of assembly while the seal member prevents water and dust contact, effectively decoupling the assembly simplicity requirement from the corrosion protection requirement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the cylindrical member protrudes from the side wall to provide functional access, then the damping mechanism is operational, but foreign objects can easily enter the screw portion area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional accessibility of damping mechanismVSAvoidentry of water and dust

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible O-ring seal member creates an effective barrier at the interface between the case and nut member. This thin film structure maintains the functional protrusion of the cylindrical member for accessibility while preventing foreign object entry through the threaded connection area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

Effectively seals the screw portions from water and dust, preventing rust and corrosion, thus enhancing the durability and reliability of the shock absorber.

Implementation Method 1

an annular seal member provided between the outer circumferential portion of the case and the threadably engageable member side screw portion on the inner circumference of the threadably engageable member to seal the case side screw portion and the threadably engageable member side screw portion from an outside

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Data Source

PatentUS9353822B2Shock absorber and method for manufacturing shock absorber

Publication Date: 2016.05.31 ASTEMO LTD

AI summary

A tubular shock absorber including a tubular case protruding from a side of a main body portion of the shock absorber. A piston (5) with a piston rod (6) coupled thereto is inserted in a cylinder sealingly containing oil, and a damping force is generated by controlling a flow of the oil generated by movement of the piston with use of a damping force generation mechanism (25). The damping force generation mechanism is contained in a cylindrical case (26) protruding from a side of an outer tube (3), and the damping force generation mechanism is fixed by threadably attaching a nut member (34) to a male screw portion (50) of the case. An O-ring is disposed between an outer circumferential surface of the case and an inner circumferential surface of the nut member to seal an uncoated male screw portion from the outside.