Supporting Assembly Spacer Protects Cushion from Vibration Damage

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing supporting assemblies for automotive computers or servers are prone to cushion failure due to sharp edges on the supporting plates, which cause the cushion to be cut open by continuous vibrations, and powerful vibrations can also lead to cushion damage, resulting in ineffective vibration absorption.

Innovation Solution

A supporting assembly that includes a plate body, a cushion, a fastener, and a spacer, where the spacer with greater hardness is positioned between the plate body's wall surface and the cushion, redirecting vibrations away from the cushion and preventing it from being cut open, ensuring effective vibration absorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cushion is disposed through the mounting hole and directly contacts the wall surface of the plate body, then the cushion can absorb vibrations transferred to the screw, but the cushion may be cut open by the sharp edge of the plate body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration absorption capabilityVSAvoidcushion integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a spacer as an intermediary component positioned between the cushion and the plate body wall surface. The spacer has a greater hardness than the cushion and prevents the cushion from directly contacting the sharp edge of the plate body, thereby protecting the cushion from being cut open while maintaining its vibration absorption function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The spacer is installed beforehand to provide protective cushioning for the cushion component. By positioning the spacer between the plate body and the cushion before vibration occurs, the system prepares a protective barrier that prevents damage to the cushion during subsequent vibration events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Force

If the cushion absorbs powerful vibration due to sudden brake or acceleration, then the cushion can dampen the shock, but the cushion may be cut open by the sharp edge of the plate body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration damping capacityVSAvoidcushion resistance to cutting

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer serves as a mediator that protects the cushion from direct contact with the sharp edge of the plate body during powerful vibrations. The spacer's greater hardness enables it to resist cutting while the cushion absorbs the vibration energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the cushion is used to absorb vibration, then the vibration can be dampened, but the cushion may be damaged by continuous vibration and sharp edges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration isolation effectivenessVSAvoidcushion service life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer acts as a protective intermediary that extends the service life of the cushion by preventing it from contacting the sharp edge of the plate body during continuous vibration, thereby maintaining vibration isolation effectiveness over a longer duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The spacer is installed in advance to protect the cushion from damage during continuous operation, ensuring the cushion maintains its vibration absorption capability throughout its intended service life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 spacer effectively absorbs vibrations from the fixing bracket, preventing the cushion from being damaged and ensuring that vibrations are not transferred to the electronic device, thereby maintaining effective vibration isolation.

Implementation Method 1

when the fixing bracket vibrates, the vibration is directly transferred from the plate body to the spacer instead of the cushion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

A hardness of the spacer is greater than a hardness of the cushion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHardness:

Implementation Method 3

the cushion can effectively absorb vibrations transferred from the fixing bracket

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration absorption: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS11690183B2Supporting assembly

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 INVENTEC PUDONG TECH CORPOARTION

AI summary

A supporting assembly configured to fix chassis of electronic device to fixing bracket. Supporting assembly includes plate body, cushion, fastener and spacer. Plate body includes mounting hole and wall surface forming mounting hole, and plate body is configured to be fixed to chassis of electronic device. Cushion is disposed through mounting hole and includes opening. Fastener is disposed through opening of cushion. A side of fastener is configured to be fixed to fixing bracket, and cushion is clamped between another side of fastener and fixing bracket so as to be compressed. Spacer is disposed in mounting hole and located between wall surface of plate body and cushion. Hardness of spacer is greater than hardness of cushion.