Suspension Link Stop Plate Reducing Surface Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing link elements for motor vehicles have limited stop surfaces, leading to high surface pressure and reduced comfort and service life due to small stopping capabilities and increased noise, particularly in pendulum supports.
Innovation Solution
A link element with a stop plate that increases the available stop surface area, reducing surface pressure and improving movement damping, featuring a housing with a passage for the pendulum support and a stop plate that can be arranged on or inside the pendulum support or housing, made from materials like sheet steel or organo sheet to enhance durability and noise reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional coupling element with limited stop surface is used, then the structure remains simple, but the surface pressure increases and service life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element is segmented into distinct functional components: a housing structure and a separate stop plate. This segmentation allows the stop plate to be specifically optimized for force absorption with an enlarged surface area, while the housing maintains its structural and protective functions. The stop plate can be independently designed and attached to maximize contact surface without complicating the overall coupling element structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop plate extends the stop surface into a new dimensional space by protruding from the housing in the direction of pendulum support movement. This dimensional extension creates additional contact area beyond the housing boundaries, effectively increasing the stop surface area available for force absorption and reducing surface pressure during operation.
2Reliability
If the stop surface area is increased to reduce surface pressure, then comfort and service life improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element is segmented into distinct functional components: a housing structure and a separate stop plate. This segmentation allows the stop plate to be specifically optimized for force absorption with an enlarged surface area, while the housing maintains its structural and protective functions. The stop plate can be independently designed and attached to maximize contact surface without complicating the overall coupling element structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a force-absorbing stop surface, provides structural reinforcement, and can be designed to facilitate assembly through various attachment methods. This multi-functionality allows the stop plate to increase surface area and improve reliability without requiring additional separate components for each function.
3Reliability
If the stop surface area is increased to reduce surface pressure, then comfort and service life improve, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the surface area of the entire coupling element, the invention applies local quality enhancement by adding a stop plate only at the specific location where force absorption is needed. This localized approach increases the stop surface area exactly where required while keeping the rest of the coupling element simple and cost-effective to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop plate can be manufactured from composite materials or different material compositions optimized for force absorption and durability. This allows the use of cost-effective materials that provide high strength and wear resistance only where needed, rather than requiring expensive materials for the entire coupling element structure.
4Ease of operation
If a stop plate is added to increase stop surface area, then movement damping improves, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stop plate is merged with the housing structure through various attachment methods (integration, fastening, or interference fitting) to form a unified coupling element. This merging approach allows the stop plate to function as an integral part of the housing, providing movement damping benefits without requiring the stop plate to be a completely separate, independently handled component during operation.
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 enlarged stop surface area enhances comfort and service life by better damping movements and reducing noise, while maintaining a compact design and easy assembly.
Implementation Method 1
The increased contact surface reduces the surface pressure
Implementation Method 2
movements of the pendulum support leading to contact can be better dampened
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
The invention relates to a suspension link element (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a connecting rod (2) and a coupling element (3) for coupling the connecting rod (2) to a sub-assembly of the motor vehicle, wherein the coupling element (3) comprises a housing (5) with a passage (6) through which the connecting rod (2) extends into the housing (5); characterised by a stop plate (7) for supporting loads transferred to the coupling element (3) by the connecting rod (2).