Vehicle Stabilizer Coating Design for Uniform Film Thickness

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing coating processes for vehicle stabilizers result in uneven coating film thickness on the eyes due to the 'one-eye hang' method, leading to unsatisfactory coating quality with traces of contact from hangers on unspecified parts.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle stabilizer design featuring a main body coating film, an eye coating film, and an inner surface coating film with an incomplete coating portion on the through-holes, where the thickness of the eye coating film is less than the main body coating film, and the incomplete coating portion is strategically located to avoid hanger contact marks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the stabilizer is suspended in a vertical position by one eye (one-eye hang) during coating, then the coating process is simplified and productivity is improved, but the coating film thickness becomes uneven and contact traces are left on the eye surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating process efficiencyVSAvoidcoating film uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support function is segmented from a single eye to both eyes, with each eye being supported independently by separate hangers. This segmentation allows the stabilizer to be supported in a horizontal position rather than vertical, preventing paint accumulation and contact traces while maintaining coating efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of suspending the stabilizer vertically by one eye (conventional method), the patent inverts the approach by supporting both eyes horizontally. This inversion changes the gravitational orientation of the stabilizer during coating, preventing paint from flowing to one location and eliminating contact traces on the eye surfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If the stabilizer is handled in a one-eye hanging state for storage or manufacturing, then handling is simplified, but hanger contact traces are left on the eye coating film at unspecified positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling convenienceVSAvoidcoating film quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support function is segmented from a single eye to both eyes, with each eye being supported independently by separate hangers. This segmentation allows the stabilizer to be supported in a horizontal position rather than vertical, preventing paint accumulation and contact traces while maintaining coating efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies coating to the eyes before final assembly and handling operations. By completing the coating process on the eyes prior to any handling that might require one-eye hanging, the coating film is already in place and protected, eliminating the risk of contact traces during subsequent storage or manufacturing operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Ensures a uniform and high-quality coating by preventing hanger-induced flaws on the stabilizer eyes, maintaining even coating film thickness and appearance, and allowing stable suspension with reduced swinging during coating and storage.

Implementation Method 1

a coating film is formed by a coating process on a surface of the stabilizer formed of a steel pipe. In one example of the coating process, electrostatic dry spray coating or fluidized bed coating using powder paint is adopted

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic deposition: Electrostatic Deposition

Data Source

PatentEP3357724B1Stabilizer for vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.08.26 NHK SPRING CO LTD
  • EP3357724B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3357724B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3357724B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A stabilizer (10) includes a stabilizer main body (20), and eyes (21,22) formed on both ends of the stabilizer main body (20). Through-holes (33,34) are formed in fastening surfaces (31,32) of the eyes (21,22), respectively. A surface of the stabilizer main body (20) is covered with a main body coating film (60). A surface of the eye (21) is covered with an eye coating film (61) whose thickness is less than a thickness of the main body coating film (60). An inner surface of the through-hole (33) is covered with an inner surface coating film (62). An incomplete coating portion (63) is formed at a part of the inner surface of the through-hole (33) in a circumferential direction. The incomplete coating portion (63) is located on an extension (L2) of a straight line (L1) connecting a center (C1) of the through-hole (33,34) and the center of gravity of the stabilizer main body (20) in a side view of the stabilizer main body (20).