C-Shaped Stabilizer Stopper Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stabilizer bars for vehicles face challenges in preventing axial movement of stoppers during large forces, leading to abnormal noise and interference with vehicle accessories, requiring improved movement regulation and easier management of semimanufactured products for automatic assembly.
Innovation Solution
A semimanufactured product of a stopper with a C-shaped configuration, featuring first and second locking parts that engage through clamping, preventing axial movement and facilitating automatic assembly by using molds to securely attach to the stabilizer bar, ensuring reliable installation and part management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flange-shaped stoppers are provided on the torsion bar portion to prevent axial movement, then abnormal noise and interference with vehicle accessories are prevented, but the installation process becomes complex and difficult to manage for automatic assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper is divided into a body portion and a locking portion that are separately formed and then integrated through deformation. The locking portion is initially separate from the body portion, allowing independent manufacturing and easier assembly, while the final deformed state provides the required locking function.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking portion is pre-formed with a shape that allows easy insertion and assembly, but is subsequently deformed to create the final locking structure. This preliminary shaping enables automated assembly while the post-assembly deformation ensures reliable movement prevention.
2Reliability
If flange-shaped stoppers are used to regulate movement, then axial movement is prevented, but management of semimanufactured products becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper is segmented into body portion and locking portion that can be manufactured separately and then integrated. This segmentation allows for easier inventory management of semimanufactured products while ensuring reliable movement regulation through the integrated locking mechanism.
3Productivity
If a simple installation process is used, then automatic assembly is enabled, but reliable prevention of positional movement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portion is pre-formed in a simple, easily assembled configuration that enables automatic assembly. After assembly, the locking portion is deformed to create the final reliable locking structure that prevents positional movement, thus achieving both simple installation and reliable movement prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking portion is designed to automatically deform and lock into position through the assembly process itself, without requiring additional fastening operations. The deformation of the locking portion onto the protruding portion creates a self-securing mechanism that enables automatic assembly while ensuring reliable movement prevention.
4Reliability
If complex locking mechanisms are used to prevent axial movement, then movement regulation is reliable, but the installation process becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper is segmented into body portion and locking portion that can be assembled simply, with the locking function achieved through subsequent deformation rather than complex mechanical interlocking during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism uses self-deformation of the locking portion onto the protruding portion to create the secure connection. This self-securing action simplifies the installation process while ensuring reliable axial movement prevention through the deformed locking structure.
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 effectively prevents axial movement of the stopper, simplifies the installation process, and enables easier management of parts, allowing for reliable automatic assembly and improved engagement forces between locking parts.
Implementation Method 1
the protruding portion is plastically deformed so as to fill the concave space sectioned by the guide surfaces including the constricted portions
Data Source
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AI summary
A semimanufactured product of a stopper (31) includes: a plate-shaped bridging portion (33); a first curved portion (35) extending from one end portion of the bridging portion (33) integrally; and a second curved portion (37) extending from the other end portion of the bridging portion (33) integrally, and an entirety of the semimanufactured product is formed in a C-shape. The first curved portion (35) includes a first locking part (41) at the end portion. The second curved portion (37) includes a second locking part (51) that engages with the first locking part (41) at the end portion. The first locking part (41) includes a convex-shaped convex portion (43) and a pair of receiving portions (45) positioned so as to sandwich the convex portion (43). The second locking part (51) includes: a concave-shaped concave portion (53) which can accommodate the convex portion 43; and a pair of projecting portions (55) positioned so as to sandwich the concave portion (53). Each of the pair of projecting portions (55) includes a protruding portion (57) which protrudes from a tip portion of the projecting portion (55) toward an opening (54) of the concave portion (53). The convex portion (43) includes constricted portions (44) in base end portions of the convex portion.