Vehicle Stabilizer Bar Fixing via Integral Sheathing and Compressive Bush
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle stabilizers with rubber bushes fail to fully restrain the movement of stabilizer bars, leading to noise and variability in stabilizing effect, and require labor-intensive and costly replacement processes.
Innovation Solution
A fixing member comprising a sheathing integral to the stabilizer bar, a rubber bush, and a mounting fixture that applies compressive force to the rubber bush, preventing rotation and axial movement, and allowing easy replacement without adhesives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the stabilizer bar is passed through the hole portion of the rubber bush and fixed to the frame by means of the mounting fixture, then the stabilizer can be assembled to the vehicle body, but the stabilizer bar cannot be fully restrained from rotating around its axis or moving axially, producing noise and varying stabilizing effect
Solution Approach 1:
The sheathing is inserted into the rubber bush, creating a nested structure where the sheathing (with stabilizer bar inside) fits within the rubber bush. This nested arrangement allows the mounting fixture to compress the rubber bush uniformly around the sheathing, restraining both rotation and axial movement while maintaining assembly simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheathing acts as an intermediary component between the stabilizer bar and the rubber bush. It provides a interface that allows the rubber bush to be compressed uniformly by the mounting fixture, thereby restraining the stabilizer bar's rotation and axial movement without requiring direct complex fixing between the bar and bush.
2Reliability
If the rubber bush is fixed to the stabilizer bar by adhesive agent or vulcanization molding, then the rubber bush is securely fixed without gaps, but the replacement process requires cutting, melting, or other operations and entails high labor cost
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing system is segmented into distinct components: the rubber bush, the sheathing, and the mounting fixture. The mounting fixture can be removed to detach the rubber bush from the sheathing, allowing easy replacement without cutting or melting. This segmentation maintains secure fixing during operation while enabling simple maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing system transitions from a static permanent bond (adhesive or vulcanization) to a dynamic removable connection via the mounting fixture. The fixture applies compressive force to secure the rubber bush during operation, but can be removed to allow easy replacement, providing both reliability and ease of repair.
3Reliability
If the rubber bush is fixed to the stabilizer bar by adhesive agent or vulcanization molding, then the rubber bush is securely fixed, but the process requires holding them in a heating furnace for a long time and entails high cost
Solution Approach 1:
The chemical/thermal fixing methods (adhesive bonding or vulcanization molding) are replaced with a mechanical fixing system using the mounting fixture. The fixture applies compressive force to secure the rubber bush to the sheathing without requiring heating furnaces or long processing times, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting fixture provides a simpler, more economical fixing mechanism compared to expensive adhesive or vulcanization processes. While the fixture may need replacement over time, the initial manufacturing cost and process complexity are significantly reduced.
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 enhances driving stability by ensuring full functionality of the stabilizer, reduces noise, and lowers manufacturing and replacement costs by securely fixing the sheathing to the stabilizer bar without adhesives, allowing for easy rubber bush replacement.
Implementation Method 1
a mounting fixture for mounting the rubber bush on the vehicle body so as to cover the outer periphery of the rubber bush
Implementation Method 2
If a torsional motion acts on the stabilizer bar as the suspension moves up and down, the rubber bush is deformed correspondingly. Thus, functions and effects for the stabilizer can be obtained by the deformation of the rubber bush
Data Source
AI summary
A stabilizer bar is intended for use in a vehicle, and a torsion part of the stabilizer bar is fixed to the vehicle body by a fixing member. A resin sheathing is provided integrally on an outer peripheral surface of the stabilizer bar. The fixing member is composed of the sheathing, a rubber bush disposed on the outer periphery of the sheathing, and a mounting fixture for mounting the rubber bush on the vehicle body side so as to cover the outer periphery of the rubber bush. The sheathing and the rubber bush are immovably assembled to each other. Thus, there may be provided a vehicle stabilizer, highly durable, easily mountable and replaceable, low-cost, and highly operable.