Split Bushing Torque Strut Isolator for AWD
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional torque struts are not suitable for all-wheel drive applications and offer limited options for assembling the engine to the cradle or vehicle body, as they fail to provide adequate isolation of pitching vibrations and flexibility in mounting configurations.
Innovation Solution
A split bushing torque strut isolator assembly is introduced, comprising a lower bushing in the vehicle cradle, an upper bushing in a separate housing, and a torque rod positioned between them, allowing for a top-down assembly method that increases cradle stiffness and enables vertical engine mounting without horizontal torque rod movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional torque struts are used, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability for all-wheel drive applications and mounting configurations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The bushing is divided into two separate parts: a lower bushing disposed in the vehicle cradle and an upper bushing disposed in the bushing housing. This segmentation allows independent positioning and configuration of each bushing, enabling adaptability for all-wheel drive applications and various mounting configurations while maintaining structural clarity
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional torque struts are used, then the assembly method is traditional, but the flexibility in mounting configurations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The lower bushing is pre-installed into the vehicle cradle, and the upper bushing is pre-installed into the bushing housing before final assembly. This preliminary action enables the torque rod to be vertically lowered into position without requiring horizontal movement, simplifying the assembly process and increasing mounting configuration flexibility
3Reliability
If conventional torque struts are used, then the design is traditional, but the isolation of pitching vibrations is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the bushing into upper and lower components positioned at different locations, the system can independently optimize each bushing's characteristics for vibration isolation while maintaining overall structural integrity and achieving better pitching vibration isolation
Solution Approach 2:
The torque rod acts as an intermediary element connecting the lower bushing in the cradle to the upper bushing in the housing. This intermediate component transmits and isolates pitching vibrations between the powertrain and vehicle chassis, enhancing vibration isolation performance
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 split bushing design effectively isolates vibrations, enhances cradle stiffness, and facilitates vertical engine assembly, improving noise, vibration, harshness, and dynamics performance, while accommodating all-wheel drive systems with increased flexibility in mounting configurations.
Implementation Method 1
elastomeric bushings are used at pivot connections of the torque strut to provide a soft substantially linear spring rate at small vibratory pitching amplitudes
Implementation Method 2
the bushings may be configured so that for large pitching powertrain amplitudes occurring at high torque, the strut mounts additionally provide non-linear rates that increase with increasing large pitching amplitudes so as to isolate such pitching vibrations of the power train
Data Source
AI summary
A split bushing torque strut isolator assembly for a vehicle is provided. The assembly includes a lower bushing configured to be disposed in a vehicle structural component, a bushing housing configured to be coupled to the vehicle structural component, an upper bushing disposed at least partially within the bushing housing, the upper bushing being separate from the lower bushing, and a torque rod having a first end and a second end, the second end being disposed between the upper and lower bushings. A method of assembling the split bushing torque strut isolator assembly is also provided.