GB2595875A - Integrally formed spring - Google Patents

Integrally formed spring Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2595875A
GB2595875A GB2008719.3A GB202008719A GB2595875A GB 2595875 A GB2595875 A GB 2595875A GB 202008719 A GB202008719 A GB 202008719A GB 2595875 A GB2595875 A GB 2595875A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
leaf
integrally formed
midpoint
major arc
springs
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB2008719.3A
Other versions
GB2595875B (en
GB202008719D0 (en
Inventor
Chaplin David
Beadle David
Kaciran Murat
Kozlowski Mateusz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Original Assignee
Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Jaguar Land Rover Ltd filed Critical Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Priority to GB2008719.3A priority Critical patent/GB2595875B/en
Publication of GB202008719D0 publication Critical patent/GB202008719D0/en
Priority to DE102021205816.7A priority patent/DE102021205816A1/en
Publication of GB2595875A publication Critical patent/GB2595875A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2595875B publication Critical patent/GB2595875B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
    • F16F1/00—Springs
    • F16F1/02—Springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
    • F16F1/025—Springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant characterised by having a particular shape
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
    • F16F1/00—Springs
    • F16F1/02—Springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
    • F16F1/18—Leaf springs
    • F16F1/185—Leaf springs characterised by shape or design of individual leaves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
    • F16F1/00—Springs
    • F16F1/02—Springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
    • F16F1/025—Springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant characterised by having a particular shape
    • F16F1/027—Planar, e.g. in sheet form; leaf springs
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
    • F16F1/00—Springs
    • F16F1/02—Springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
    • F16F1/18—Leaf springs
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
    • F16F1/00—Springs
    • F16F1/02—Springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
    • F16F1/32—Belleville-type springs
    • F16F1/324—Belleville-type springs characterised by having tongues or arms directed in a generally radial direction, i.e. diaphragm-type springs
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
    • F16F1/00—Springs
    • F16F1/36—Springs made of rubber or other material having high internal friction, e.g. thermoplastic elastomers
    • F16F1/373—Springs made of rubber or other material having high internal friction, e.g. thermoplastic elastomers characterised by having a particular shape
    • F16F1/3732—Springs made of rubber or other material having high internal friction, e.g. thermoplastic elastomers characterised by having a particular shape having an annular or the like shape, e.g. grommet-type resilient mountings
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
    • F16F3/00—Spring units consisting of several springs, e.g. for obtaining a desired spring characteristic
    • F16F3/02—Spring units consisting of several springs, e.g. for obtaining a desired spring characteristic with springs made of steel or of other material having low internal friction
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
    • F16F3/00—Spring units consisting of several springs, e.g. for obtaining a desired spring characteristic
    • F16F3/02—Spring units consisting of several springs, e.g. for obtaining a desired spring characteristic with springs made of steel or of other material having low internal friction
    • F16F3/023—Spring units consisting of several springs, e.g. for obtaining a desired spring characteristic with springs made of steel or of other material having low internal friction composed only of leaf springs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2202/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of spring, damper or actuator
    • B60G2202/10—Type of spring
    • B60G2202/11—Leaf spring
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2206/00—Indexing codes related to the manufacturing of suspensions: constructional features, the materials used, procedures or tools
    • B60G2206/01—Constructional features of suspension elements, e.g. arms, dampers, springs
    • B60G2206/70—Materials used in suspensions
    • B60G2206/71—Light weight materials
    • B60G2206/7104—Thermoplastics

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Springs (AREA)

Abstract

An integrally formed spring is provided. The integrally formed spring 10 is arranged to be compressible along a compression axis Z, and comprises: a first leaf 12 having a first end 14, a second end 16 and a midpoint 18 between the first and second ends; a second leaf 22 having a first end 24, a second end 26 and a midpoint 18 between the first and second ends; and the first and second leaves 12, 22 being connected at the first ends thereof 14, 24 by a first major arc section 30 having a diameter 32, and being connected at the second ends thereof 16, 26 by a second major arc section 40 having a diameter 42. The first ends 14, 24 of the first and second leaves 12, 22 are separated by a first chord length 38 being less than the diameter 32 of the first major arc section 30. The second ends 16, 26 of the first and second leaf 12, 22 are separated by a second chord length 48 being less than the diameter 42 of the second major arc section 40. The midpoints 18, 28 of the first and second leaf 12, 22 are arranged on the compression axis and separated by a midpoint distance 50 greater than the chord length 38, 48 of each of the first and second major arc sections 30, 40. Application of a compression force F to the integrally formed spring 10 along the compression axis Z reduces the midpoint distance 50 and reduces chord length 38, 48 of each of the first and second major arc sections 30, 40. An assembly of springs, a bracket, and a vehicle are also disclosed.

Description

INTEGRALLY FORMED SPRING
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates to an integrally formed spring. Aspects of the invention relate to an integrally formed spring, an assembly of springs, a bracket and a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
It is known to provide plastic or polymer springs to maintain contact between components of a vehicle. Previous spring designs have shown poor force and deflection characteristics, are too stiff, and/or the onset of yield results in plastic failure. The present Invention seeks to address the problems associated with previous spring designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Aspects of the invention are defined in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an orthographic view of an integrally formed spring according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of an integrally formed spring according to an embodiment of the invention during compression; Figure 3 is an orthographic view of an integrally formed spring according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is an orthographic view of an assembly of springs according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of an assembly of springs according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is perspective view of a bracket according to an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 7 is a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figure 1, in an embodiment there is an integrally formed spring 10 arranged to be compressible along a compression axis Z. The integrally formed spring comprises a first leaf 12 having a first end 14, a second end 16 and a midpoint 18 between the first and second ends, a second leaf 22 having a first end 24, a second end 26 and a midpoint 18 between the first and second ends, and a first major arc section 30 and second major arc section 40, each having a diameter 32, 42. The first leaf and the second leaf are connected at the first ends thereof by the first major arc section 30 and are connected at the second ends by the second major arc section 40. The first and second major arcs each comprise two ends which may be termed the upper end 34, 44 and a lower end 36, 46 separated by a chord length 38, 48 being less than the diameter 32, 42. The midpoints 18, 28 of the first and second leaf are arranged on the compression axis and separated by a midpoint distance 50, which is greater than the chord length 38, 48 of each of the first and second major arc sections 30, 40. It will be understood that the first and second major arc sections 30, 40 are the major arc of a substantially circular shape, wherein the sweep of the major arc is greater than one hundred and eighty degrees. In an embodiment the spring is formed from a polymer or plastic material which is, for example, injection moulded. It will be appreciated therefore that the term ends is used to designate a point in the moulded part for purposes of description.
In the embodiment of figure 1 the first leaf 12 has a sinusoidal wave profile with a peak of the wave being at the midpoint 18 and a trough of the wave being adjacent to each of the first and second ends 14, 16. The troughs may be at the first and second ends 14, 16. Relative to the first leaf, the second leaf 22 has a sinusoidal wave profile with a trough of the wave being at the midpoint 28 and a peak of the wave being adjacent to each of the first and second ends 24, 26. The peaks may be at the first and second ends 24, 26. The sinusoidal shape is useful to provide an even distribution of stress during compression of the spring. Other profile leaves may be useful. For example, in an embodiment as shown in figure 2, the peak of the first leaf shape is flattened and the trough of the second leaf shape is flattened.
The spring 10 is compressible along the compression axis Z through application of force F. As will be described, the spring mitigates relative movement of the midpoints 18,28 in both the relative X and Y direction. As shown in the figures the X, Y and Z axis have a conventional relationship and accordingly the X axis is shown in a direction into/out of the page. The spring 10 is shown in Figure 1 in an uncompressed condition. Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of the spring under compression. The solid line 52 illustrates the compressed condition. The dashed line 54 illustrates the uncompressed condition.
Application of a compression force to the integrally formed spring along the compression axis reduces the midpoint distance 50' and reduces the diameter 32', 42' and chord length 38', 48' of each of the first and second major arc section relative to the uncompressed values. Advantageously the spring evenly distributes stress due to application of force F to delay the onset of plastic yield. In particular, stress is distributed around the circumference of the first and second major arcs. Embodiments of the integrally formed spring have a maximum compression length calculated as a difference between the midpoint distance 50 when in the uncompressed condition 54 and the midpoint distance 50 when in the compressed condition 52. Beyond the maximum compression length the spring may be configured to fail. It will be appreciated that the schematic illustration of figure 2 applies also to the embodiment of figure 1.
It will also be understood that the first leaf and the second leaf may flex during compression.
Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the integrally formed spring 60 comprising a first foot 61 joining the first leaf 12 at the midpoint 18 thereof; and a second foot 62 joining the second leaf 22 at the midpoint 28 thereof. The feet are integrally formed and advantageously provide a bearing surface for the force F and in turn increase the stability to the integrally formed spring 60 in the X and Y direction.
Figure 4 shows an assembly of springs 100 comprising two integrally formed springs 10, wherein the compression axis Z of each spring is coaxial and wherein the midpoint 28 of the second leaf 22 of a first one 101 of said integrally formed springs 10 abuts the midpoint 18 of the first leaf 12 a second one 102 of said integrally formed springs 10. Figure 5 shows the assembly of springs 100 in perspective view with the compression axis Z and Y and Y axis illustrated. As can be seen each integrally formed spring has a profile depth D, which in the embodiment shown provides a depth of the integrally formed spring in the X direction. Advantageously the depth D provides stability to the integrally formed spring 10 in the X and Y direction. Other arrangements of spring assemblies, for example where the compression axes are coplanar, may be useful.
Figure 6 shows a bracket 150 comprising an assembly of springs 100. The bracket comprises a bottom section 160 and a top section 170 connected through the assembly of springs 100. The bracket can be used to support a vehicle component, for example a tail light, during assembly of the vehicle 200 as shown in Figure 7. During vehicle assembly the bottom section of the bracket is first fixed to a body section of the vehicle. The top section is then moved towards the bottom section through compression of the assembly of springs. A tail light assembly is then placed above the top section of the bracket adjacent to the body section. The assembly of springs 100 biases the top section upwards and in turn biases the tail light assembly toward a body panel, to minimise a gap therebetween. The top section of the bracket is then fixed in position.

Claims (9)

  1. CLAIMS1. An integrally formed spring (10) arranged to be compressible along a compression axis (Z), the integrally formed spring comprising: a first leaf (12) having a first end (14), a second end (16) and a midpoint (18) between the first and second ends; a second leaf (22) having a first end (24), a second end (26) and a midpoint (18) between the first and second ends; and the first leaf and the second leaf being connected at the first ends thereof by a first major arc section (30) having a diameter (32), and being connected at the second ends thereof by a second major arc section (40) having a diameter (42), wherein: the first ends of the first and second leaf are separated by a first chord length (38) being less than the diameter of the first major arc section; the second ends of the first and second leaf are separated by a second chord length (48) being less than the diameter of the second major arc section; the midpoints (18, 28) of the first and second leaf are arranged on the compression axis and separated by a midpoint distance (50) greater than the chord length (38, 48) of each of the first and second major arc sections (30, 40), and application of a compression force (F) to the integrally formed spring (10) along the compression axis (Z) reduces the midpoint distance (50) and reduces chord length (38, 48) of each of the first and second major arc section (30, 40). 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
  2. An integrally formed spring (60) according to claim 1, comprising: a first foot (61) joining the first leaf (12) at the midpoint (18) thereof; and a second foot (62) joining the second leaf (22) at the midpoint (28) thereof.
  3. An integrally formed spring (10) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first leaf (12) has a sinusoidal wave profile with a peak of the wave being at the midpoint (18) and a trough of the wave being adjacent to each of the first and second ends (14, 16), and the second leaf (22) has a sinusoidal wave profile with a trough of the wave being at the midpoint (28) and a peak of the wave being adjacent to each of the first and second ends (24, 26).
  4. An integrally formed spring (10) according to claim 3, wherein the peak of the first leaf shape is flattened and the trough of the second leaf shape is flattened.
  5. An integrally formed spring (10) according to any preceding claim formed of a polymer.
  6. An assembly of springs (100) comprising two or more integrally formed springs (10) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the compression axis of each spring is coaxial and wherein the midpoint (28) of the second leaf (22) of a first one (101) of said integrally formed springs (10) abuts the midpoint (18) of the first leaf (12) a second one (102) of said integrally formed springs (10).
  7. An assembly of springs (100) according to claim 6 wherein the assembly is integrally formed.
  8. 8. A bracket (150) for mounting a vehicle component comprising an integrally formed spring (10) according to any of claims 1 to 5 or an assembly of springs (100) according to claim 6 or 7.
  9. 9. A vehicle (200) comprising: an integrally formed spring (10) according to any of claims 1 to 5; an assembly of springs (100) according to claim 6 or claim 7; or a bracket (150) according to claim 8.
GB2008719.3A 2020-06-09 2020-06-09 Integrally formed spring Active GB2595875B (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2008719.3A GB2595875B (en) 2020-06-09 2020-06-09 Integrally formed spring
DE102021205816.7A DE102021205816A1 (en) 2020-06-09 2021-06-09 INTEGRALLY DEVELOPED SPRING

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2008719.3A GB2595875B (en) 2020-06-09 2020-06-09 Integrally formed spring

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB202008719D0 GB202008719D0 (en) 2020-07-22
GB2595875A true GB2595875A (en) 2021-12-15
GB2595875B GB2595875B (en) 2022-09-07

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ID=71616007

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB2008719.3A Active GB2595875B (en) 2020-06-09 2020-06-09 Integrally formed spring

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DE (1) DE102021205816A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2595875B (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US662876A (en) * 1900-03-05 1900-11-27 William Parfrey Spring for vehicles.
US20060033252A1 (en) * 2004-08-13 2006-02-16 Elmoselhy Salah A M Sigma Sigma-springs for suspension systems
EP2289372A1 (en) * 2009-09-01 2011-03-02 Ofner, Helmut Spring and mattress
FR3009357A1 (en) * 2013-08-02 2015-02-06 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A COMPRESSION SPRING ASSEMBLY POSITIONED BETWEEN TWO ROTATING JOINT BEARINGS.

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US662876A (en) * 1900-03-05 1900-11-27 William Parfrey Spring for vehicles.
US20060033252A1 (en) * 2004-08-13 2006-02-16 Elmoselhy Salah A M Sigma Sigma-springs for suspension systems
EP2289372A1 (en) * 2009-09-01 2011-03-02 Ofner, Helmut Spring and mattress
FR3009357A1 (en) * 2013-08-02 2015-02-06 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A COMPRESSION SPRING ASSEMBLY POSITIONED BETWEEN TWO ROTATING JOINT BEARINGS.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE102021205816A1 (en) 2021-12-09
GB2595875B (en) 2022-09-07
GB202008719D0 (en) 2020-07-22

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