Multi-Section Vehicle Support Bearing with Directional Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle body flange support bearings lack the ability to provide differentiated damping in different directions, limiting their functionality and adaptability when installed in a vehicle.
Innovation Solution
The support bearing is constructed with sections made of different materials, where the central section is stiffer in the plane of the body flange than in perpendicular directions, allowing for varied rigidity in longitudinal and transverse vehicle directions, and can include a separate metallic support flange for enhanced installation and maintenance options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a support bearing is made from uniform material, then manufacturing is simple, but it cannot provide differentiated damping in different directions
Solution Approach 1:
The support bearing is divided into multiple sections with different material properties. The first section has different damping characteristics than the second section, allowing each section to provide optimized damping in specific directions. This local differentiation enables the support bearing to have different rigidity in longitudinal and transverse directions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support bearing uses composite construction with at least two different materials or material combinations in different sections. This allows the first section to provide one type of damping characteristic while the second section provides another, achieving differentiated damping behavior without requiring a completely complex device structure.
2Strength
If the support bearing is made stiffer in the plane of the body flange, then lateral support is improved, but vertical damping is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support bearing features a first section with material optimized for lateral rigidity and a second section with material optimized for vertical damping. This local quality differentiation allows the same component to simultaneously provide both lateral support strength and vertical energy absorption without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The support bearing is segmented into at least two distinct sections along its height, with each section having different material properties. The lower section can be optimized for lateral stiffness while the upper section provides vertical damping, allowing independent optimization of these two functions within a single integrated component.
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 design enables tailored damping and rigidity settings for improved vehicle dynamics, reduces installation space requirements, and minimizes stick-slip effects and noise, while allowing for independent tuning of vertical and horizontal support properties.
Implementation Method 1
an upper and a lower section, each made of an elastomer material, are pressed from above and from below
Implementation Method 2
the support bearing has significantly stiffer characteristics when force is applied in the direction of the plane of the body flange than when force is applied in a direction perpendicular thereto
Data Source
AI summary
The bearing (2) has upper and lower sections (2a, 2c) that are pressed from above and/or from below by a removable screw coupling in an environment of a recess (3) against a body flange (1). A centre section (2b) is arranged between the upper and lower sections and is supported in the recess at a height of the body flange. Materials of the sections are selected in such a manner that the bearing has a rigid characteristic during force transmission towards a plane of the body flange.