Spring Strut Bearing Snap-Connection Reinforcement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spring strut bearings face challenges in achieving a simple and cost-effective design while maintaining high disassembly forces and improved sealing, which are essential for driving safety and comfort.

Innovation Solution

A spring strut bearing with a cap and guide ring connected by a snap-on connection, where the cap is a two-component part with a soft and hard component, providing a positive fit and reinforcement, allowing for increased disassembly forces and enhanced sealing through a segmented or full hard component design, and an elastomer or plastic seal for reduced noise and wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a simple snap-on connection is used between cap and guide ring, then the construction is simple and production is economical, but the disassembly force is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconstruction simplicityVSAvoiddisassembly force

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The first element of the snap-on connection is constructed as a two-component part with a soft component and a hard component. The soft component provides sealing and flexibility, while the hard component forms a reinforcement that increases disassembly forces greater than 100 N, resolving the contradiction between construction simplicity and sufficient disassembly force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a soft component is used for the snap-on connection, then sealing effect is improved, but structural strength is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The two-component part combines a soft component for sealing with a hard component for structural reinforcement. The hard component is provided on the inner diameter of the soft component to achieve optimum reinforcement and protect the soft component from effects of large forces, maintaining both sealing effect and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The hard component is strategically positioned on the inner diameter of the soft component where reinforcement is most needed, while the soft component maintains its sealing properties in other areas. This localized reinforcement approach optimizes both sealing and strength requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If the hard component is uniformly distributed on the inner diameter, then reinforcement is optimized, but the snap-on connection loses elasticity at certain locations

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereinforcementVSAvoidelasticity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The hard component is provided as individual segments uniformly distributed on the inner diameter of the soft component. This segmented design allows the snap-on connection to have elastic properties at locations where no hard component is provided, while still achieving reinforcement where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 enables higher disassembly forces greater than 100 N, improved sealing, reduced noise, and extended service life by reinforcing the soft component with a hard material, ensuring effective operation and durability.

Implementation Method 1

the soft component engages with a positive fit in the second element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the first element is constructed as a two-component part whose soft component engages with a positive fit in the second element and whose hard component forms a reinforcement of the soft component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectComposite materials: Composite Materials

Implementation Method 3

the cap has a seal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Data Source

PatentUS9869351B2Spring strut bearing

Publication Date: 2018.01.16 SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG

AI summary

A spring strut bearing with a cap and with a guide ring which is mounted in a rotatable manner relative to the cap about a rotational axis (D), an axial bearing being arranged between the cap and the guide ring. The cap has a seal, and the cap is connected to the guide ring at an inner diameter of the cap by a snap-in connection. The cap has a first element of the snap-in connection, and the guide ring has a second element of the snap-in connection, said elements engaging into each other in a formfitting manner. The first element is designed as a two-component part, the soft component of which engages into the second element in a formfitting manner and the hard component of which forms a reinforcement of the soft component.