Universal Bushing Kit for Sway Bar Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current sway bar bushing solutions require multiple specific bushings to be maintained in inventory, leading to space inefficiencies and potential downtime due to the lack of a universal solution that can accommodate various sway bar sizes.

Innovation Solution

A bushing kit featuring slotted housing and bushing sleeves with complementary recesses and projections, allowing for the selection of appropriate sleeves to fit different stabilizer bars and preventing rotation within the housing, thereby reducing inventory needs and enabling efficient assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple specific bushings are maintained in inventory to accommodate various sway bar sizes, then the reliability of having the correct bushing is improved, but the inventory space required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability of correct bushingVSAvoidinventory space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is designed with a universal inner diameter that can accommodate multiple bushing sleeves of different sizes. The housing contains complementary recesses that mate with projections on different bushing types, allowing one housing to serve multiple functions with various sway bar sizes while reducing inventory space requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple specific bushings are maintained in inventory to accommodate various sway bar sizes, then the reliability of having the correct bushing is improved, but the loss of time due to waiting for the appropriate bushing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability of correct bushingVSAvoiddowntime waiting for bushing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The universal housing design allows a single housing to accommodate multiple bushing sizes through complementary recesses and projections. This enables the repair shop to stock fewer bushing types while still being able to service various sway bar sizes, thereby reducing both inventory space and the time spent waiting for the correct bushing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Area of stationary object

If a common housing accommodates multiple bushing sleeves, then the inventory space is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to mating features

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory spaceVSAvoidhousing structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented with specific recesses at different locations that can receive different types of bushing sleeves. Each recess is designed with complementary features that mate with projections on specific bushing types. This segmentation allows the housing to accommodate multiple bushing sizes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11235636B1Bushing and a kit for assembling a bushing

Publication Date: 2022.02.01 RB DISTRIBUTION INC

AI summary

The disclosed bushing assembly has a housing with a central bore for receiving a bushing sleeve that is dimensioned to fit a predetermined sway bar. The housing and sleeve have various combinations of mating projections and recesses that secure the sleeve in the housing. A bushing kit has a plurality of sleeves that are dimensioned to fit different predetermined sway bars and an appropriate sleeve can be selected at the time of installation. The housing and the sleeve are flexible.