Steering Gear Yoke Elastic Support Reduces Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Noise is generated in steering gear pressure pieces due to play between the pressure piece and the housing, which existing designs fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A pressure piece unit with an inclined support means that creates a perpendicular tilting moment, ensuring defined contact with the housing and reducing rattling, featuring an O-ring support mechanism that encircles the pressure piece for optimal support and low friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pressure piece is designed with clearance for movement, then the pressure piece can move freely in the guide wall, but noise is generated due to play between the pressure piece and housing
Solution Approach 1:
An elastic support ring (flexible element) is introduced between the pressure piece and guide wall. This flexible ring fills the clearance while allowing movement, eliminating the play that causes noise without restricting the pressure piece's ability to move freely in the guide wall.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the contact surface between pressure piece and housing wall is increased, then noise is reduced, but friction and braking effect in the direction of movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support ring provides localized contact at specific points rather than a large surface area. This concentrated contact eliminates noise from play while minimizing the contact area, thereby reducing friction and energy loss in the movement direction.
3Ease of manufacture
If an O-ring support means is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the ability to eliminate play and reduce noise may be insufficient without proper positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The support ring is positioned on an inclined plane rather than a flat surface. This angular positioning creates a tilting moment that effectively eliminates radial play in multiple directions, enhancing the noise-reduction capability while maintaining the simple O-ring structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined plane creates an asymmetric positioning for the support ring. This asymmetry generates a tilting moment that effectively eliminates play in radial directions, transforming the simple circular O-ring into a mechanism that addresses multi-directional clearance issues.
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
Significantly reduces noise and friction during operation by ensuring a defined contact between the pressure piece and the housing, while maintaining low manufacturing costs and simplicity.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic support means (11) is inserted into the groove (10). The elastic support means (11) is radially pressed in at least in sections when the pressure piece (3) is installed in the guide (2). Due to the inclined plane in which the support means runs in the circumferential direction, a resultant torque or tilting moment is ultimately brought about perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the pressure piece.
Implementation Method 2
Due to the inclined plane in which the support means runs in the circumferential direction, a resultant torque or tilting moment is ultimately brought about perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the pressure piece. This results in a defined contact of the pressure piece against the wall of the pressure piece housing.
Implementation Method 3
the contact surface of the pressure piece on the wall of the pressure piece housing is small, so that only low friction and thus braking effect occurs in the direction of movement of the pressure piece.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The unit has a supporting unit (11) arranged oblong in an area of a cylindrical outer surface (3a), where the supporting unit is made of elastic material. The supporting unit rotates the outer surface in a circumferential direction over an angular range of more than 180 degree Celsius. The supporting unit has a variable axial height over a gradient in the circumferential direction, and is formed as a closed or open O-ring.