Solenoid Retaining Bracket for Tolerance-Compensated Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional brackets for hydraulic control modules in automatic transmissions inadequately secure solenoids due to unaccounted tolerances, leading to design and manufacturing challenges, increased costs, and potential damage from improper clamp loads, necessitating additional components like mounting tower projections, tubular spacers, and shims.
Innovation Solution
A solenoid assembly with a retaining bracket that includes a body portion and a securing portion, which provides a spring force to secure the solenoid, allowing for adjustable positioning and eliminating the need for precise clamp load control and additional mounting components, thereby accommodating component tolerances and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional brackets are used to secure solenoids, then the solenoids can be mounted to the valve body, but the brackets inadequately secure the solenoids due to unaccounted tolerances, causing movement and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed with flexible features including bent portions and resilient elements that can deform elastically to accommodate tolerance variations in solenoid and valve body dimensions. This allows the bracket to maintain secure engagement across different component variations without requiring precise manufacturing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket incorporates dynamic elements such as spring-loaded securing portions and resilient arms that can adjust their position and applied force to accommodate tolerance stack-up. These dynamic features allow the bracket to self-adjust to varying component dimensions while maintaining reliable solenoid mounting.
2Reliability
If traditional brackets with controlled clamp loads are used, then the solenoid can be securely fastened, but the design complexity increases due to the need for mounting tower projections and additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed as a multi-functional component that combines mounting, positioning, and securing functions in a single element. It eliminates the need for separate mounting tower projections on the valve body by integrating all necessary mounting features directly into the bracket structure, thereby simplifying the overall assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket merges multiple functions including solenoid attachment, positioning, and tolerance compensation into a single integrated component. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate mounting features on the valve body and reduces the total number of parts required in the assembly.
3Reliability
If traditional brackets are designed to account for dimensional stack up, then the solenoid can be securely mounted, but design costs and manufacturing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket utilizes elastic deformation of resilient portions to accommodate dimensional variations. By designing these portions with specific material properties and geometric configurations, the bracket can tolerate a range of dimensional stack-up scenarios without requiring complex design calculations or extended manufacturing cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket's resilient features automatically compensate for tolerance variations through elastic deformation, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms or precision alignment procedures during assembly. This self-compensating behavior reduces both design complexity and manufacturing time.
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 solenoid assembly effectively secures solenoids across various components, reducing design and manufacturing complexities, eliminating the need for additional mounting components, and ensuring consistent clamp loads, thus enhancing manufacturing efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The securing portion of the retaining bracket provides a spring force to the solenoid when the retaining bracket is in the secured position such that the solenoid is biased toward the solenoid connecting member
Data Source
AI summary
A solenoid assembly includes a solenoid adapted to be coupled to a solenoid connecting member extending from a support member. The solenoid assembly also includes a retaining bracket having a body portion and a securing portion. The body portion is adapted to be removably coupled to the support member. The securing portion is removably coupled to the solenoid. The retaining bracket is moveable between an unsecured position, and a secured position. The securing portion of the retaining bracket provides a spring force to the solenoid when the retaining bracket is in the secured position such that the solenoid is biased toward the solenoid connecting member to secure the solenoid between the solenoid connecting member and the securing portion of said retaining bracket.