Rubber-Isolated Spherical Strut Mount for NVH and Side Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle shock/strut mounts either lack isolation or use rubber isolators, leading to issues such as noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) due to misalignment and side load.
Innovation Solution
A rubber isolated spherical shock/strut mount assembly that combines a spherical bearing with a rubber isolator, where the spherical bearing is over-molded with rubber to reduce NVH.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional bearing mounts with no isolation or rubber isolators are used, then the structure is simple, but NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) becomes an issue due to misalignment and side load
Solution Approach 1:
The mount assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a spherical bearing for alignment and load management, and a rubber isolator for vibration damping. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function, reducing NVH without excessive overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rubber isolator acts as an intermediary element between the spherical bearing and the mounting hardware. It mediates the transmission of forces, absorbing vibrations and isolating NVH while the spherical bearing handles alignment, creating a balanced solution.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If rubber isolators are used in bearing mounts, then NVH is reduced, but the mount creates side load with misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The functions of alignment and isolation are segmented into separate components: the spherical bearing exclusively handles alignment and side load management, while the rubber isolator exclusively handles vibration isolation. This eliminates the conflict where a single component must simultaneously handle both functions imperfectly.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical bearing and rubber isolator are combined in a nested configuration where the isolator surrounds the bearing. This merging allows the two components to work together synergistically, with the bearing managing forces and the isolator damping vibrations, solving both alignment and NVH issues simultaneously.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a spherical bearing is combined with a rubber isolator, then NVH is reduced through suspension travel, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rubber isolator is designed to nest around the spherical bearing, with the isolator forming an outer housing that contains the bearing. This nested configuration consolidates two components into a compact integrated assembly, reducing the space and complexity increase that would result from separate mounting of two components.
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly combines two different material types: the metal spherical bearing for structural integrity and alignment, and the elastomeric rubber isolator for vibration damping. This composite approach allows each material to contribute its superior properties, achieving NVH reduction with a relatively simple integrated structure.
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 assembly effectively reduces NVH through suspension travel by utilizing a spherical bearing to minimize sideload and combining it with a rubber isolator to absorb vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
The over-molding portion may be formed of rubber
Implementation Method 2
The assembly effectively reduces NVH through suspension travel by utilizing a spherical bearing to minimize sideload and combining it with a rubber isolator to absorb vibrations
Data Source
AI summary
An isolated spherical shock/strut mount assembly is provided. The assembly may include an isolator and a spherical bearing coupled within the isolator. The assembly may further include a bearing housing receiving the isolator and spherical bearing within the housing. A mounting plate may be coupled to the bearing housing, wherein the isolator and spherical bearing are retained within the bearing housing in response to coupling the mounting plate to the bearing housing. The isolator may include a spherical bearing mount coupled within an over-molding portion. The over-molding portion may be formed of rubber. The assembly may further include one or more stiffeners removably coupled to the over-molding portion of the isolator, wherein coupling the one or more stiffeners to the over-molding portion of the isolator increases an effective durometer of the over-molding portion.