Suspension Strut Spring Ring Assembly to Prevent Twisting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing designs for supporting the axial end of a motor vehicle's spring strut are prone to twisting of the support ring and risk of spring breakage, leading to potential malfunctions during operation.
Innovation Solution
The support ring is made integral with the axial end turn of the spring and elastically fitted into an annular housing with ribs on the internal side faces of the cup, ensuring secure positioning and stability through overmolding, gluing, or elastic interlocking, using materials like elastomers or plastics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the support ring is made separate from the spring and retained in the cup, then the assembly is easier to manufacture, but the support ring twists during operation and the spring may break free
Solution Approach 1:
The support ring is made integral with the axial end coil of the spring to form a single spring-support ring subassembly. This merging eliminates the separate retention of the support ring in the cup, preventing twisting during operation while maintaining ease of manufacture through integrated production methods such as overmolding or bonding.
2Ease of operation
If the support ring is freely movable in the cup, then the assembly process is simpler, but the spring can break free in case of spring breakage
Solution Approach 1:
By making the support ring integral with the spring end coil, the design ensures that the spring and support ring move as a single unit. This eliminates the risk of the spring breaking free during operation or under failure conditions, while the entire subassembly can still be easily installed as one piece.
3Weight of moving object
If a plastic cup with gutter-shaped housing is used, then the weight of the suspension is reduced, but the support ring twists in the housing during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The integral spring-support ring subassembly maintains its structural integrity when housed in the lightweight plastic cup. The merged design prevents twisting of the support ring within the gutter-shaped housing, as the support ring and spring end coil move together as a single rigid unit, eliminating relative motion that would cause instability.
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
This configuration prevents twisting of the support ring and ensures the support ring and spring are securely held in place, even in the event of spring breakage, enhancing the reliability and durability of the suspension system.
Implementation Method 1
The bearing ring is made integral to the axial end coil of the spring by overmolding
Implementation Method 2
or by bonding
Implementation Method 3
or by elastic interlocking
Implementation Method 4
the spring-support ring subassembly is elastically fitted into the annular housing
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a motor vehicle strut comprising a helical spring, a support cup (10) for a coil (50) at the axial end of the spring, which has an annular housing (16) that is axially open in the direction of the coil (50) at the axial end of the spring, and a support ring (28) for the coil (50) at the axial end of the spring, which is housed in the housing (16) of the cup (10), at least over an angular sector of the annular housing (16), characterized in that the support ring (28) is integral with the coil (50) at the axial end of the spring to form a spring (50)-support ring (28) subassembly, and in that the spring (50)-support ring (28) subassembly is elastically fitted into the annular housing (16) of the cup (10) by a set of complementary ribs (23, 25) and grooves (35, 37).