Vehicle Strut Boot Centering Mechanism for Coil Spring Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle strut assemblies lack an effective mechanism to maintain the upper end of a coil spring in a centered orientation relative to the boot and shock absorber, leading to potential misalignment and increased wear.
Innovation Solution
A boot with a vertical wall and centering portion that projects from the spring receiving portion, contacting the radially inner surface of the coil spring's transition section to restrict movement and maintain the coil spring's end section in a centered position, utilizing a combination of an annular section, vertical wall, and ramp portion for secure alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional boot without a centering mechanism is used, then the boot structure is simple, but the coil spring becomes misaligned and experiences increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The boot is segmented into functional zones: a spring receiving portion for accommodation, a vertical wall for structural support, and a centering portion with radially outwardly extending surfaces for alignment. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The centering portion acts as an intermediary element between the boot and the coil spring. Its radially outwardly extending surfaces contact the spring's transition section, mediating the alignment force to maintain proper positioning without requiring complex external mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If the boot includes a centering portion with radially outwardly extending surfaces, then the coil spring remains centered and wear is reduced, but the boot structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The centering portion enables the boot to self-center the coil spring through its geometric configuration. The radially outwardly extending surfaces automatically engage with the spring's transition section, creating a self-aligning mechanism that requires no external intervention or complex adjustment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the boot by adding radially outwardly extending surfaces at specific locations. This parameter modification creates the centering function while maintaining the boot's overall simple structure, balancing complexity and functionality.
3Reliability
If the coil spring is allowed to move freely, then the boot structure is simple, but the coil spring rotates and moves off-center causing increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The centering portion is pre-configured with radially outwardly extending surfaces that make initial contact with the coil spring's transition section. This preliminary action establishes proper alignment before the spring undergoes compression or extension cycles, preventing rotation and off-center movement throughout operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention addresses the alignment problem by adding a radial dimension to the boot structure. The radially outwardly extending surfaces create a constraint in the radial direction, preventing the spring from moving off-center or rotating, while maintaining freedom of motion in the axial direction for suspension operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle strut assembly includes a boot and a coil spring. The boot has a vertical wall, a spring receiving portion and a centering portion projecting from the vertical wall. The coil spring has an end section, a transition section and a main section, the end section being fitted to the spring receiving portion encircling at least a portion of the vertical wall and defining a first radially inner diameter. The transition section has an increasing inner diameter extending from the end section to the main section. The main section defines a second radially inner diameter greater than the first radially inner diameter. The centering portion is positioned to contact a radially inner surface of the transition section of the coil spring restricting movement of the end section of the coil spring relative to the spring receiving portion of the boot.