Stabilizer Bushing Partition Members Reduce Torsional Friction

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional stabilizer bushings for vehicles face issues with torsional friction and noise due to uneven thickness of the inner rubber portion and deformation of the sliding member, leading to inhibited smooth rotation of the stabilizer bar and reduced driving comfort.

Innovation Solution

A stabilizer bushing design featuring two semi-tubular partition members embedded in the bushing body to divide it into inner and outer rubber portions, with the inner rubber portion having a smaller thickness to prevent elastic deformation and the sliding member being fixed to the inner circumferential surface to reduce friction, using through holes to facilitate even rubber flow during molding and maintain the sliding member's integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the inner rubber portion is made thin to maximize outer rubber volume for damping, then damping characteristics are improved, but the inner rubber portion becomes prone to elastic deformation and manufacturing defects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamping characteristicsVSAvoidinner rubber portion thickness uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The bushing body is divided into inner and outer rubber portions by partition members, allowing independent optimization of each portion's thickness. The inner rubber portion can be kept thin for low friction while the outer rubber portion provides sufficient damping volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the bushing body are given different thickness characteristics. The inner rubber portion has controlled thinness for sliding performance, while the outer rubber portion has greater volume for damping, with partition members strategically positioned to achieve this local differentiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the inner rubber portion is made thin to reduce friction, then torsional friction is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to incomplete rubber flow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetorsional frictionVSAvoidinner rubber portion thickness consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Protrusions on the partition members act as intermediaries to guide and control the flow of unvulcanized rubber into the inner rubber portion cavity. These protrusions ensure complete filling and uniform thickness even when the inner rubber portion is thin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The partition members with protrusions are pre-positioned in the mold before rubber injection. This preliminary arrangement ensures that rubber flow is properly directed and controlled from the start of the molding process, preventing defects in thin-walled sections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If partition members are positioned to maximize outer rubber volume, then damping is improved, but the inner rubber portion becomes too thin causing elastic deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamping characteristicsVSAvoidinner rubber portion rigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The bushing body is divided into inner and outer rubber portions by partition members, allowing independent optimization of each portion's thickness. The inner rubber portion can be kept thin for low friction while the outer rubber portion provides sufficient damping volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the bushing body are given different thickness characteristics. The inner rubber portion has controlled thinness for sliding performance, while the outer rubber portion has greater volume for damping, with partition members strategically positioned to achieve this local differentiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

This design ensures stable, smooth rotation of the stabilizer bar by minimizing torsional friction and noise, enhancing driving comfort and steering stability while maintaining effective damping characteristics.

Implementation Method 1

the unvulcanized rubber flow a relatively long distance under a big flow resistance in the cavity section having a small width

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

a bushing body made of an elastic body... effective damping characteristics

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS8292312B2Stabilizer bushing for vehicle

Publication Date: 2012.10.23 SUMITOMO RIKO CO LTD

AI summary

A stabilizer bushing is provided which effectively reduces a torsional friction between a bushing body and a stabilizer bar. The stabilizer bushing includes a bushing body 16 made of a tubular elastic body, a sliding member 42 fixed to an inner circumferential surface of the tubular elastic body, and two partition members 26, 26 embedded in and bonded to a radially middle area of the bushing body 16. The partition members 26, 26 divide the bushing body 16 into an inner rubber portion 38 that is thin enough not to be elastically-deformed by a load applied thereto and an outer rubber portion 40 that is thicker than the inner rubber portion 38. Further, each of the partition members 26, 26 includes through holes 36a, 36b, 36c that are located so as to divide the partition member into a plurality of sections both in the axial and circumferential directions.