Vibration Damper Support Bearing Central Screw Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle wheel suspension systems face challenges in securing the central screw connection of vibration dampers due to insufficient prestressing force, leading to potential instability and increased installation space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A supporting bearing system with a collar that increases its elasticity along the thread direction or incorporates an auxiliary clamping element, such as a cup spring, to enhance the prestressing force between the supporting bearing nut and the vehicle body structure, ensuring a secure and rigid connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a central screw connection is used to reduce installation space, then the installation space requirement is reduced, but the prestressing force in the threaded connection is insufficient leading to potential instability
Solution Approach 1:
A collar is introduced as an intermediary component between the supporting bearing flange and the vehicle body structure. The collar features an elastic element that increases prestressing force in the threaded connection, thereby enhancing connection stability while maintaining the space-saving central screw configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic properties of the collar are utilized to dynamically adjust and increase the prestressing force parameter in the threaded connection. This parameter change ensures sufficient clamping force and connection stability without requiring multiple fastening points, thus resolving the contradiction between space reduction and reliability.
2Strength
If multiple fastening screws are used to increase connection strength, then the threaded connection stability is improved, but the installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fastening functions are merged into a single central screw connection by incorporating an elastic collar that provides enhanced prestressing. This consolidation maintains connection strength equivalent to multiple screws while occupying minimal installation space.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic collar acts as a mediator that amplifies the prestressing effect of a single screw connection, enabling it to achieve the cumulative strength effect of multiple fastening screws without requiring the corresponding installation space.
3Reliability
If the collar elasticity is increased to enhance prestressing force, then the threaded connection reliability is improved, but the collar complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar's elastic properties are optimized to provide sufficient prestressing force enhancement. By carefully selecting material properties and geometric parameters, the collar achieves reliable connection enhancement without excessive structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar utilizes flexible elastic material properties to achieve the desired prestressing effect. This approach avoids complex mechanical structures by relying on the inherent flexibility and elastic recovery characteristics of the material, thereby maintaining simplicity while improving reliability.
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 solution provides a secure screw connection with increased prestressing force, reducing the risk of embedding force loss and requiring less installation space compared to traditional multi-screw arrangements, while maintaining high rigidity and strength.
Implementation Method 1
the collar has a shape which increases its elasticity in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the thread
Implementation Method 2
an auxiliary clamping element, such as a cup spring, to enhance the prestressing force
Data Source
AI summary
A support bearing of a vibration damper in the wheel suspension of a vehicle has a support bearing flange supported and force-fittingly attached on a body structure of the vehicle. The support bearing flange engages around an annular elastomer element in which the damper piston rod is suspended. With an annular collar which forms a hollow cylinder and the cylinder axis of which is at least approximately coincident with the longitudinal axis of the vibration damper, the support bearing flange penetrates a through-opening in the body structure so far that a nut or a support bearing cover designed as a union nut is screwed on a thread provided on the outer wall of the collar. With a clamping aid element interposed, the nut or support bearing cover draws the support bearing flange towards the body structure in a manner supported on the body structure such that a peripheral ring section of the body structure, which surrounds the through-opening, is clamped between the support bearing flange and the clamping aid element and ultimately the nut or the support bearing cover. As an alternative to the clamping aid element or in addition to same, the collar has a shape that increases its elasticity in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the thread.