Steering Rack Bellows With Impact-Deflecting Skirts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Protective bellows covering steering system connections are prone to punctures from external objects in harsh environments, leading to water and contaminant ingress and potential system failure if not promptly repaired.
Innovation Solution
A protective bellows design featuring a central axis with a first and second opening, annular folds, and multiple skirts arranged along the axis, where each skirt defines an angle of less than 180° and extends axially to provide enhanced protection by overlapping and deflecting impacts, ensuring increased material coverage and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional protective bellows is used to cover steering system connections, then the steering system is protected from contaminants, but the bellows is prone to punctures from external objects like sticks or rocks in harsh environments
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows is designed as a flexible protective covering with multiple skirts that can deflect and absorb impact from external objects like sticks or rocks, preventing punctures while maintaining protection against water and contaminants. The flexible material and multi-skirt structure allow the bellows to deform under impact rather than puncture, resolving the contradiction between protection and puncture resistance.
2Length of stationary object
If the bellows is designed with sufficient length to cover the steering rack and ball joint connections, then complete coverage is achieved, but the bellows becomes more vulnerable to punctures and may not maintain integrity at maximum operational lengths
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows is divided into multiple skirts arranged along the central axis, with each skirt providing a segment of the protective covering. This segmentation allows the bellows to maintain integrity at extended lengths while distributing the impact load across multiple sections, preventing a single point of failure and maintaining seal integrity at maximum operational lengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows incorporates skirts that extend radially outward from the central axis, adding a dimensional element that provides overlapping protection. This multi-dimensional structure enhances both coverage and structural integrity, allowing the bellows to maintain reliability while covering the full operational length of the steering rack and ball joint connections.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the bellows material is made thicker to resist punctures, then puncture resistance improves, but the bellows becomes stiffer and less able to accommodate steering rack movement and absorb impact energy
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows utilizes a flexible material construction with multiple skirts that can deform and absorb impact energy while maintaining puncture resistance. The flexible shell design allows the bellows to accommodate steering rack movement and deflect external objects without requiring excessive material thickness, resolving the contradiction between puncture resistance and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows is designed as a dynamic structure with multiple skirts that can move and deform in response to steering rack movement and external impacts. This dynamic design allows the bellows to maintain flexibility and absorb impact energy while still providing adequate protection against punctures, eliminating the need for overly thick rigid material.
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of this disclosure is directed to a steering system comprising a housing in which a steering rack is movably arranged and extends out of the housing on at least one side of the housing, the steering rack being connected with a tie rod via a ball joint, wherein the connection is covered by a protective bellows defining a central axis and the bellows further comprising a first end defining a first opening around the central axis, a second end defining a second opening around the central axis, and several annular folds arranged along the central axis between the first end and second end, and wherein the bellows comprises a plurality of skirts arranged along the central axis and extending away from the bellows.Another aspect of this disclosure is directed to a protective bellows defining a central axis and comprising a first end defining a first opening around the central axis, a second end defining a second opening around the central axis, and several annular folds arranged along the central axis between the first end and second end, and the bellows comprises a plurality of skirts arranged along the central axis.