Torque Rod Clutch Structure With Spherical Low-Friction Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional torque rods suffer from structural complexity and high manufacturing costs due to complex bearing structures and large contact areas, leading to increased friction and reduced service life.
Innovation Solution
A torque rod design featuring a main body, transmission rod, anti-release sleeve member, low-friction device with spherical contact members, clutch device, and torque device, which reduces friction through multi-point contact and positional limitations, simplifying structure and assembly while preventing detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional bearing structures are used to reduce friction, then friction between components is reduced, but the overall structure becomes complex and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs spherical contact members (balls) instead of conventional bearing structures. The spherical shape naturally provides low-friction contact through point contact mechanics, eliminating the need for complex bearing assemblies while achieving the same friction reduction effect. The spherical geometry allows for simple integration into the torque rod structure between the transmission rod and main body.
2Stability of the object's composition
If position limiting pins with large contact areas are used, then positional limitation is achieved, but wearing increases and service life reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces flat position limiting pins with spherical contact members. The spherical shape converts sliding friction into rolling contact, dramatically reducing wear between the position limiting component and the transmission rod. This maintains effective positional limitation while significantly extending the service life of the torque rod through reduced material degradation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If additional holes and surrounding components are added for bearing structures, then friction reduction is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the position limiting function and friction reduction function into a single spherical contact member design. The spherical balls are positioned directly between the transmission rod and main body, combining multiple functions (friction reduction, position limitation, and wear resistance) into one simple component arrangement. This eliminates the need for separate bearing structures, additional holes, and surrounding components, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
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 design effectively lowers rotational friction, reduces wearing, and lowers manufacturing costs by simplifying the structure and assembly process, thereby extending the service life and reducing the risk of over-tightening.
Implementation Method 1
a low-friction device having a plurality of spherical contact members covered by the anti-release sleeve member and disposed in the setting space, each spherical contact member having a longitudinal axis arranged in parallel to the central axis
Data Source
AI summary
A torque rod includes a main body; a transmission rod inserted to the main body and having a surrounding first groove exposed from the main body; an anti-release sleeve member mounted around the main body and having a second groove on an inner edge, with a setting space formed by the second groove and the first groove; a low-friction device in the setting space; a clutch device connected with the transmission rod and switchable between a transmission and a declutched statuses; a torque device providing a predetermined torque abutting against the clutch device, so the clutch device is in the transmission status, whereby the transmission rod transmits a torque through the clutch device to the main body. When the transmission rod bears a torque greater than the predetermined torque, the clutch device enters the declutched status, preventing the torque from being transmitted to the main body.