Sliding Sleeve Flexible Coupling Face Tolerance Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing headrest arrangements face challenges in compensating for manufacturing and assembly tolerances between the sliding sleeve and the securing support, leading to potential noise and instability issues due to geometric influences on the internal diameter and force transmission.
Innovation Solution
A sliding sleeve with a sleeve body featuring a coupling section having a flexible coupling face, which can be in the form of a cavity covered by a flexible bridge wall or filled with material to absorb forces, providing a frictional connection and improved press fit, thus compensating for manufacturing and assembly tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid sliding sleeve is used in a securing support, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but manufacturing and assembly tolerances cannot be compensated leading to noise and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by incorporating a flexible coupling face (comprising a cavity covered by a flexible bridge wall) on the outer side of the sliding sleeve. This flexible element can deform to compensate for manufacturing and assembly tolerances between the sliding sleeve and securing support, ensuring reliable force transmission without noise or instability, while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies this principle by changing the physical state of part of the sliding sleeve from rigid to flexible through the coupling section with the cavity and bridge wall. This localized parameter change allows the structure to adapt to tolerance variations while maintaining the simplicity of the overall sliding sleeve design.
2Strength
If the internal diameter of the sliding sleeve is reduced to improve press fit, then the press fit improves, but geometric influences increase affecting force transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible bridge wall in the coupling section allows the sliding sleeve to deform elastically under press fit conditions, maintaining strong mechanical coupling while accommodating geometric variations. This flexibility ensures that force transmission is not compromised by the reduced internal diameter or manufacturing tolerances.
3Manufacturing precision
If a cavity is added to the sliding sleeve to create a flexible coupling face, then tolerance compensation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity covered by a flexible bridge wall creates a compliant coupling face that passively compensates for tolerance variations through elastic deformation. This approach achieves precision tolerance compensation without complex active control systems, sensors, or multiple adjustment mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 ensures a secure and noise-reduced fit of the sliding sleeve in the securing support, effectively absorbing manufacturing and assembly tolerances, resulting in a stable and quiet operation of the headrest arrangement.
Implementation Method 1
the cavity is covered to the outside by a flexible bridge wall. By means of the cavity, forces which act on the bridge wall can at least be absorbed during the installation of the sliding sleeve into a securing support
Implementation Method 2
In addition, there is a frictional connection between the sliding sleeve and the securing support. This makes an improved press fit of the sliding sleeve in the securing support possible
Data Source
AI summary
A sliding sleeve (6, 60) for fixing in a securing support (5, 50). The sliding sleeve (6, 60) includes a sleeve body (6.2, 60.2) with a coupling section (6.3, 60.3) with at least one flexible coupling face (6.4, 60.4) for bearing against the securing body (5, 50).