Wet Friction Lining Segment Locking for Narrow Annular Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing segmented wet friction garnishes lack a reliable mechanism to maintain the annular shape of low-width friction garnish segments during assembly, which affects their robustness and performance.
Innovation Solution
A friction garnish segment with a locking mechanism featuring a tongue-and-notch design, allowing for a low-track-width segment with improved robustness and maintaining the annular shape through assembly constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the track width of friction lining segments is reduced to save material and reduce weight, then the quantity of substance and weight are improved, but the structural stability and ability to maintain annular shape during assembly deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The friction lining is divided into multiple narrow segments that are assembled together to form the complete annular lining. Each segment includes locking elements (protrusions and notches) that enable interlocking during assembly, allowing the use of narrow track width segments (7-14 mm) while maintaining the overall annular structure's stability through the locking mechanism between segments
Solution Approach 2:
The locking elements (protrusions and notches) are pre-formed on the segments before assembly. The protrusions are positioned at specific locations on each segment, and the notches are correspondingly positioned on adjacent segments, so that when segments are assembled, the locking elements automatically engage to maintain the annular shape without requiring additional shaping operations during assembly
2Weight of moving object
If the track width of friction lining segments is reduced, then the weight of the friction lining is improved, but the robustness and interlocking capability between segments deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
While the overall track width of segments is reduced to decrease weight, the locking elements (protrusions and notches) are designed with optimized local dimensions. The protrusions have heads with widths of 3-5 mm and lengths of 5-10 mm, with neck widths of 1.5-3 mm, creating locally reinforced zones that provide strong interlocking capability despite the narrow overall segment width
Solution Approach 2:
The friction lining segments are made from composite friction material containing 20-45% phenolic resin by weight, combined with fillers such as carbon, glass fibers, or ceramic particles. This composite structure provides both the necessary weight reduction and the structural robustness required for effective locking and interlocking between narrow segments
3Length of moving object
If the wall width surrounding the notch is reduced to accommodate narrow track width segments, then the track width is improved, but the manufacturing precision and dimensional stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The wall widths surrounding the notches are optimized within specific parameter ranges (2-4 mm) to balance the narrow track width requirement (7-14 mm) with manufacturing precision. The variable wall widths are designed to provide sufficient dimensional stability during manufacturing while accommodating the narrow overall segment dimensions, with minimum wall widths of 2-3 mm ensuring adequate structural integrity
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a friction lining segment (1) for a segmented wet friction lining (10), in particular for a clutch, comprising: − a locking element (2) in the form of a tab having a head (2a) and a neck (2b), the element (2) being disposed at one end of the segment, and − a mating locking element (3) in the form of a notch disposed at the other end of the segment, wherein the segment (1) has a track width (W) of between 7 and 14 mm, a thickness of between 300 and 1200 µm and a phenolic resin content of between 20 and 45% by weight, and wherein the notch (3) is enclosed on either side by walls (3a) of variable width (T), the minimum width (T) being between 2 and 3 mm.