Spring Guide Lock Pieces Restrict Rubber Sheet Radial Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suspension systems with arc-shaped rubber sheets face challenges in restricting deformation when stress acts radially outward due to low rigidity, making it difficult to prevent displacement and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A spring guide with a depressed mounting portion and multiple lock pieces at the outer periphery, specifically designed to fit the arc-shaped rubber sheet, restricts deformation by engaging with protrusions and providing additional support through U-shaped slits and a deformation restricting portion, preventing radial displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the spring rubber sheet is formed into an approximately C shape to fit the coil spring, then the rubber sheet can be easily mounted and positioned, but the rigidity is low and deformation to the outside in the radial direction cannot be surely suppressed
Solution Approach 1:
The spring receiving member is segmented into a ring portion and multiple lock pieces that are separated from each other. The lock pieces are positioned at specific locations around the circumference, with at least one lock piece disposed to restrict deformation of the spring rubber sheet in the radial direction. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain ease of mounting while adding localized reinforcement to prevent radial deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock pieces are strategically positioned at specific locations around the ring portion, with at least one lock piece disposed at a position that restricts deformation of a circumferential end portion of the spring rubber sheet in the radial direction. This local quality approach provides enhanced radial deformation resistance only where needed, rather than uniformly increasing rigidity throughout the entire structure.
2Device complexity
If the positioning protrusions are used to position the spring rubber sheet with respect to the ring portion, then the positioning is simple, but the positioning protrusions cannot surely suppress the deformation of the spring rubber sheet when stress acts radially outward
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning function is segmented between the positioning protrusions (which provide simple positioning) and the lock pieces (which provide deformation restriction). The lock pieces are formed to stand at the outer periphery of the mounting portion, with at least one lock piece disposed at a position that restricts deformation of a circumferential end portion of the spring rubber sheet in the radial direction, thereby enhancing reliability without significantly increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock pieces are pre-positioned on the spring receiving member before the spring rubber sheet is mounted. These lock pieces create a preliminary counter-action force that restricts radial deformation of the spring rubber sheet before stress from the coil spring is applied, thereby preventing deformation rather than merely responding to it.
Data Source
AI summary
A spring guide includes: a mounting portion formed so as to be depressed, the rubber sheet being fitted to the mounting portion; and a plurality of lock pieces formed to stand at an outer periphery of the mounting portion. At least one of the plurality of the first lock pieces and the second lock piece is disposed at a position that restricts deformation of a circumferential end portion of the rubber sheet to an outside in a radial direction, in a state where the rubber sheet is fitted to the mounting portion.