Silent Block Bushing Flange and Rib Structure for Cylindricity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional silent block bushings in automotive manufacturing face issues of non-cylindricity or ovality, leading to alignment limitations during assembly, particularly in anti-vibration systems where multiple plastic bushings are used to isolate vibrations from the road and powertrain.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates at least two flanges with varying diameters and a set of ribs on the bottom flange to control cylindricity, providing consistent stiffness and preventing deformation, with the option of varying the thickness of the plastic outer tube to enhance assembly consistency and reduce axial displacement limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If plastic material is used for outer tube to reduce weight, then fuel efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to non-cylindricity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the wall thickness of the plastic outer tube along its length. The first end portion has a different wall thickness than the second end portion, which compensates for material shrinkage during molding and maintains consistent outer diameter and cylindricity throughout the bushing, thereby resolving the manufacturing precision issue while retaining the weight benefits of plastic material.
2Ease of manufacture
If constant wall thickness is used in plastic outer tube, then manufacturing is simplified, but non-cylindricity occurs during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by designing different wall thicknesses at different locations of the outer tube. The first end portion has a greater wall thickness than the second end portion, which compensates for the natural shrinkage tendency of plastic material during molding. This local variation in thickness maintains uniform outer diameter and cylindricity, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and dimensional precision.
3Weight of moving object
If aluminum material is used instead of steel to reduce weight, then fuel efficiency is improved, but assembly alignment limitations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the wall thickness parameter of the plastic outer tube at different locations. By making the first end portion thicker than the second end portion, the design compensates for material shrinkage and maintains consistent outer diameter, which ensures proper alignment and fit during assembly operations, thereby resolving the alignment issues associated with lightweight materials.
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 effectively addresses non-cylindricity issues, ensuring consistent performance during load pushing in and out, and mitigates axial directional limitations, thereby improving the assembly and functionality of silent block bushings in anti-vibration systems.
Implementation Method 1
the ribs that are positioned on the bottom flange to avoid deformation of the silent block bushing during assembly, and provide a control over cylindricity for consistency during pushing in and pushing out of a load
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A silent block bushing (200) disclosed here comprises at least two flanges (202, 204) and a set of ribs (208). The flanges (202, 204) comprise a top flange (202) and a bottom flange (204) that are positioned at opposing ends of an outer tube (206), wherein the flanges (202, 204) limit axial displacement of the silent block bushing (200). The ribs (208) that are positioned on the bottom flange (204) to avoid deformation of the silent block bushing (200) during assembly, and provide a control over cylindricity for consistency during pushing in and pushing out of a load.