Vehicle Suspension Upper Support Sealing and Press-Fit Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing upper supports for vehicle suspensions face challenges in preventing water penetration and maintaining accurate press-fitting due to sealing issues and variability in press-fit amounts, leading to potential corrosion and reduced securing force between components.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a press-fit operator with a partially exposed upper surface and an annular sealing rubber that provides a fluid-tight seal between the outer tube member and the upper bracket, allowing for precise positioning and secure press-fitting while preventing water ingress, and is integrated with the main rubber elastic body to simplify the sealing structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealing rubber covers the entire upper surface of the intermediate tube member, then water sealing performance is improved, but press-fitting accuracy deteriorates due to variability in press-fit amount
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing rubber is designed to cover only a specific region (the lower surface and lateral surface of the tubular part) rather than the entire upper surface of the intermediate tube member. This localized sealing approach provides sufficient water sealing performance while leaving the upper end surface exposed for accurate press-fitting operation, thus resolving the contradiction between sealing performance and manufacturing precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If the sealing rubber covers only part of the intermediate tube member, then press-fitting accuracy is improved, but water sealing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing rubber extends not only horizontally but also vertically along the lateral surface of the tubular part. This three-dimensional sealing configuration allows the rubber to cover the critical water penetration paths while leaving the upper end surface accessible for press-fitting, thereby achieving both good sealing performance and manufacturing accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the vertical dimension of the lower outer tube member is increased, then adaptability to tall vehicles is improved, but water penetration through gaps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing rubber acts as a flexible sealing element that conformally covers the tubular part of the lower outer tube member. This flexible sealing structure effectively blocks water penetration paths along the entire height of the tubular part, enabling the use of greater vertical dimensions in tall vehicles without compromising water sealing performance.
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 solution effectively prevents water from reaching the lower bracket, maintains the integrity of the press-fit securing force, and ensures accurate positioning of the outer tube member within the lower bracket, thereby enhancing the durability and performance of the upper support.
Implementation Method 1
an annular sealing rubber which is bonded to the press-fit operator and projects to an upper side of the outer tube member... the sealing rubber contacts the upper bracket about an entire circumference in a compressed state such that a fluid-tight sealing is provided vertically between the press-fit operator and the upper bracket
Implementation Method 2
a main body comprising an inner member and an outer tube member that are elastically connected by a main rubber elastic body
Implementation Method 3
a lower bracket including a press-fit tube part to which the outer tube member of the main body is secured by being press-fitted
Data Source
AI summary
An upper support for a suspension including: a main body; a lower bracket including a press-fit tube part to which an outer tube member of the main body is secured by being press-fitted; and an upper bracket covering an upper opening of the press-fit tube part such that the main body is disposed between the lower and upper brackets. The outer tube member includes at its upper end a press-fit operator projecting to a radial outside or a radial inside. A sealing rubber is bonded to the press-fit operator and projects upward, and an upper surface of the press-fit operator is partially exposed from the sealing rubber. The sealing rubber contacts the upper bracket about an entire circumference in a compressed state so as to provide a fluid-tight sealing between the press-fit operator and the upper bracket.