Multi-stage air spring

Abstract

The multistage air spring comprises an air cylinder body, a plurality of supporting rubber springs, a plurality of sealing rubber springs and a piston, the piston and the air cylinder body are connected through the supporting rubber springs and the sealing rubber springs, the low shear rigidity of the rubber springs allows the piston to move freely in the axial direction relative to the air cylinder body, and the flexible spring connecting effect is achieved; the high radial pressure-bearing rigidity of the rubber spring can provide effective radial support for the piston, so that the piston rod can bear large radial load, and the effect of radially supporting the bearing is achieved; the supporting rubber spring and the sealing rubber spring are connected with the piston and the cylinder body to form a gapless sealing interface, so that the leakage problem can be effectively avoided, the pressure of compressed air in the air cylinder can be greatly improved, and the bearing capacity of the air spring can also be greatly improved; the multiple air springs are communicated through the piston rods to form parallel connection in rigidity, and the bearing capacity of the unit cross section is greatly improved in a small space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of elastic supporting elements, and in particular to a multi-stage air spring. Background Art

[0002] Air springs confine compressed air in a relatively closed space and use the compressibility of air to achieve the spring function of the device. They have the advantages of low natural frequency and no static deformation, and are widely used in vibration tables to balance the static load of moving masses. As the scale of infrastructure construction increases, the load scale of vibration simulation tests is also increasing, which places higher and higher requirements on the load-bearing capacity of air springs.

[0003] Traditional air springs mainly include capsule air springs, membrane air springs and cylinder air springs. Among them, the moving connection parts and fixed supports of capsule air springs and membrane air springs are connected as a whole through rubber capsules or rubber diaphragms, and the compressed air is constrained in a closed space by rubber capsules or rubber diaphragms. The elasticity of the rubber capsules or rubber diaphragms allows the moving connection parts to move relative to the fixed supports within a certain range. Due to the strength of rubber, the pressure of compressed air is limited, and it is difficult to improve the axial load-bearing capacity of capsule air springs and membrane air springs. At the same time, due to the weak ability of the rubber capsules or rubber diaphragms to resist deformation, the radial load-bearing capacity of capsule air springs and membrane air springs is very low.

[0004] The cylinder air spring relies on the piston and cylinder body to constrain the compressed air in the cylinder. Since the piston and the cylinder need to move relative to each other, there is inevitably a gap between the piston and the inner wall of the cylinder body, forming a leakage channel for the compressed air, causing continuous leakage of gas and noise. Therefore, the pressure of the compressed air in the cylinder air spring is also difficult to increase, and the axial load capacity is limited. Due to the gap between the piston and the cylinder body, the radial load will cause the piston and the cylinder body to contact and cause wear. Therefore, the radial load that the cylinder air spring can withstand is also very low.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to develop a multi-stage air spring to solve the above problems. Summary of the invention

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to design a multi-stage air spring in order to solve the above problems.

[0007] The present invention achieves the above-mentioned purpose through the following technical solutions: A multi-stage air spring, comprising: Cylinder body; bottom cylinder, at least one middle cylinder, top cylinder; bottom cylinder, middle cylinder, top cylinder are all formed into a barrel-shaped structure, bottom cylinder, at least one middle cylinder, top cylinder are axially connected in sequence from one end to the other end; a first air supply hole is provided at the bottom of the bottom cylinder, a first exhaust hole is provided above the side wall of the bottom cylinder; a second exhaust hole is provided above the side wall of the middle cylinder; a first mounting hole is provided at the bottom center of the middle cylinder, and a second mounting hole is provided at the bottom center of the top cylinder; Multiple supporting rubber springs; A plurality of sealing rubber springs; the supporting rubber spring and the sealing rubber spring are both formed in a ring shape; The piston comprises a piston rod, a plurality of first piston discs, a plurality of positioning sleeves, and a nut. The piston rod comprises a second piston disc, a lower column section, and an upper column section. The first piston disc and the second piston disc are both formed into a ring shape. The plurality of first piston discs and the second piston discs are arranged in parallel with each other. The positioning sleeve is formed into a ring-shaped column structure. The lower end of the upper column section is connected to the upper end of the lower column section. The upper end of the upper column section is used to connect an external load. An external thread is arranged on the outer wall of the upper column section. The nut cooperates with the external thread. The outer wall of the lower end of the lower column section is connected to the middle part of the second piston disc. A plurality of positioning sleeves and a plurality of first piston discs are sleeved on the lower column section. The lower end of the positioning sleeve at the bottom is connected to the top of the second piston disc. The first piston disc at the top is installed between a positioning sleeve and the nut. The remaining first piston discs are placed between two adjacent positioning sleeves. A second air supply hole is axially arranged in the lower column section. The lower column section The side wall is provided with third air supply holes with the same number as the positioning sleeve, the side wall of the positioning sleeve is provided with fourth air supply holes, and the second air supply holes are respectively connected with multiple third air supply holes; and a third air supply hole and a fourth air supply hole connected with the third air supply hole are provided between the bottom of each middle cylinder and the first piston disc near the top thereof, and between the bottom of the top cylinder and the first piston disc near the top thereof; supporting rubber springs are mounted on the outer walls of the first piston disc and the second piston disc, the second piston disc is arranged in the bottom cylinder, and a first piston disc is arranged in the top cylinder and each middle cylinder, and the middle part of the inner side wall of the bottom cylinder, the middle cylinder and the top cylinder is connected with the outer wall of the supporting rubber spring; a sealing rubber spring is mounted on the outer wall of each positioning sleeve, and the outer wall of the sealing rubber spring is connected to the side wall of the first mounting hole or the side wall of the second mounting hole.

[0008] The beneficial effects of the present invention are: The present invention connects the piston and the cylinder body with a supporting rubber spring and a sealing rubber spring. The low shear stiffness of the rubber spring allows the piston to freely move axially relative to the cylinder body, playing the role of a flexible spring connection; the high radial pressure-bearing stiffness of the rubber spring can provide effective radial support for the piston, allowing the piston rod to withstand a large radial load, playing the role of a radial support bearing; The supporting rubber spring and the sealing rubber spring are connected with the piston and the cylinder body to form a gapless sealing interface, which can effectively avoid leakage problems, greatly increase the compressed air pressure in the cylinder, and greatly improve the load-bearing capacity of the air spring; By connecting multiple air springs through piston rods to form a parallel connection in terms of stiffness, the load-bearing capacity per unit cross section is greatly improved in a smaller space; The present invention can effectively solve the problems of low load-bearing capacity, weak radial rigidity, large gas leakage, etc. of the existing air spring, and the axial load-bearing capacity and radial load-bearing capacity of the air spring can be greatly improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of this application (section view); Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram (cross-section view) of the cylinder block in this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the supporting rubber spring in this application; Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the piston in this application (cross-section view).

[0010] Legend: 1-cylinder body; 1-1-bottom cylinder; 1-2-middle cylinder; 1-3-top cylinder; 1-4-first exhaust hole; 1-5-first air supply hole; 1-6-second exhaust hole; 1-7-first mounting hole; 1-8-second mounting hole; 2-support rubber spring; 2-1-thin rubber column shell; 2-2-thin metal column shell; 3-piston; 3-1-piston rod; 3-2-first piston disc; 3-3-positioning sleeve; 3-4-sealing ring; 3-5-nut; 3-6-second piston disc; 3-7-lower column section; 3-8-upper column section; 3-9-second air supply hole; 3-10-third air supply hole; 3-11-fourth air supply hole; 4-sealing rubber spring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Generally, the components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the drawings here can be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0012] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the invention claimed for protection, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0013] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters denote similar items in the following drawings, and therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, further definition and explanation thereof is not required in subsequent drawings.

[0014] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "inside", "outside", "left", "right", etc. indicate directions or positional relationships based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, or are directions or positional relationships in which the product of the invention is usually placed when in use, or are directions or positional relationships commonly understood by those skilled in the art. These directions or positional relationships are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0015] Furthermore, the terms “first”, “second”, etc. are merely used for distinguishing descriptions and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0016] In the description of the present invention, it is also necessary to explain that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms such as "setting" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0017] The specific implementation modes of the present invention are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0018] like Figure 1-4 As shown, a multi-stage air spring comprises: Cylinder body 1; bottom cylinder 1-1, two middle cylinders 1-2, top cylinder 1-3; bottom cylinder 1-1, middle cylinder 1-2, top cylinder 1-3 are all formed into a barrel-shaped structure, and bottom cylinder 1-1, two middle cylinders 1-2, top cylinder 1-3 are axially connected in sequence from one end to the other end; a first air supply hole 1-5 is provided below the bottom cylinder 1-1, and a first exhaust hole 1-4 is provided above the side wall of the bottom cylinder 1-1; a second exhaust hole 1-6 is provided above the side wall of the middle cylinder 1-2; a first mounting hole 1-7 is provided at the bottom center of the middle cylinder 1-2, and a second mounting hole 1-8 is provided at the bottom center of the top cylinder 1-3; Four supporting rubber springs 2; Three sealing rubber springs 4; the supporting rubber spring 2 and the sealing rubber spring 4 are both formed in a ring shape; Piston 3; The piston 3 includes a piston rod 3-1, three first piston discs 3-2, three positioning sleeves 3-3, and a nut 3-5. The piston rod 3-1 includes a second piston disc 3-6, a lower column section 3-7, and an upper column section 3-8. The first piston disc 3-2 and the second piston disc 3-6 are both formed in an annular shape. The three first piston discs 3-2 and the second piston disc 3-6 are arranged parallel to each other. The positioning sleeve 3-3 is formed in an annular column structure. The lower end of the upper column section 3-8 is connected to the upper end of the lower column section 3-7. The upper end of the upper column section 3-8 is used to connect an external load. An external screw is arranged on the outer wall of the upper column section 3-8. The nut 3-5 is matched with the external thread. The outer wall of the lower end of the lower column section 3-7 is connected to the middle of the second piston disc 3-6. Three first piston discs 3-2 and three positioning sleeves 3-3 are mounted on the lower column section 3-7. The lower end of the positioning sleeve 3-3 at the bottom is connected to the top of the second piston disc 3-6. The first piston disc 3-2 at the top is installed between a positioning sleeve 3-3 and the nut 3-5. The remaining first piston discs 3-2 are placed between two adjacent positioning sleeves 3-3. A second air supply hole 3-9 is axially arranged in the lower column section 3-7, and a The number of third air supply holes 3-10 is the same as that of the positioning sleeve 3-3, and the side wall of the positioning sleeve 3-3 is provided with fourth air supply holes 3-11, and the second air supply holes 3-9 are respectively connected with the three third air supply holes 3-10; and a third air supply hole 3-10 and a fourth air supply hole 3-11 connected thereto are provided between the bottom of each middle cylinder 1-2 and the first piston disk 3-2 near the top thereof, and between the bottom of the top cylinder 1-3 and the first piston disk 3-2 near the top thereof, and the three third air supply holes 3-10 are respectively radially aligned with the three fourth air supply holes 3-11; A supporting rubber spring 2 is mounted on the outer walls of the first piston disc 3-2 and the second piston disc 3-6. The second piston disc 3-6 is arranged in the bottom cylinder 1-1. A first piston disc 3-2 is arranged in the top cylinder 1-3 and each middle cylinder 1-2. The middle parts of the inner walls of the bottom cylinder 1-1, the middle cylinder 1-2 and the top cylinder 1-3 are connected to the outer wall of the supporting rubber spring 2. A sealing rubber spring 4 is mounted on the outer wall of each positioning sleeve 3-3. The outer wall of the sealing rubber spring 4 is connected to the side wall of the first mounting hole 1-7 or the side wall of the second mounting hole 1-8.

[0019] In this embodiment, the nut 3-5 is used to press the first piston disc 3-2 and the positioning sleeve 3-3 onto the piston rod 3-1, so that the piston rod 3-1, the first piston disc 3-2, the positioning sleeve 3-3 and the nut 3-5 form a whole. The bottom positioning sleeve 3-3 is sleeved on the lower column section 3-7, and the bottom of the bottommost positioning sleeve 3-3 is pressed against the second piston disc 3-6, and the top supports the first piston disc 3-2. The bottoms of other positioning sleeves 3-3 are pressed against the first piston disc 3-2 below, and the tops support the first piston disc 3-2 above.

[0020] In some embodiments, an annular sealing groove is provided on the inner side wall of the first piston disc 3 - 2 , and a sealing ring 3 - 4 is provided in the sealing groove.

[0021] In some embodiments, the supporting rubber spring 2 and the sealing rubber spring 4 are both composed of a plurality of annular thin-skin rubber column shells 2 - 1 and a plurality of thin-skin metal column shells 2 - 2 cross-stacked in the radial direction.

[0022] In some embodiments, the supporting rubber spring 2 is bonded to the bottom cylinder 1-1, the middle cylinder 1-2, the top cylinder 1-3, the first piston disk 3-2, and the second piston disk 3-6, and the sealing rubber spring 4 is bonded to the first mounting hole 1-7, the second mounting hole 1-8, and the positioning sleeve 3-3.

[0023] In some embodiments, flanges are provided at the top of the bottom cylinder 1-1, the top and bottom of the middle cylinder 1-2, and the bottom of the top cylinder 1-3. The bottom cylinder 1-1 and the middle cylinder 1-2, the middle cylinder 1-2 and the middle cylinder 1-2, and the middle cylinder 1-2 and the top cylinder 1-3 are all connected by flanges, and the contacting flanges are axially connected by screws.

[0024] In some embodiments, the supporting rubber spring 2 and the sealing rubber spring 4 are in a pre-compressed state during installation.

[0025] In some embodiments, the supporting rubber spring 2 and the sealing rubber spring 4 are both formed in annular shapes; the thin-skinned rubber column shell 2-1 and the thin-skinned metal column shell 2-2 are both formed in annular structures; the bottom cylinder 1-1, the middle cylinder 1-2, and the top cylinder 1-3 are all formed in barrel-shaped structures; the first piston disc 3-2 and the second piston disc 3-6 are both formed in annular shapes; the lower column section 3-7 is formed in a cylindrical structure, and the positioning sleeve 3-3 is formed in an annular columnar structure.

[0026] In some embodiments, the first exhaust holes 1-4 and the second exhaust holes 1-6 above the side walls of the bottom cylinder 1-1 and the middle cylinder 1-2 are arranged in groups, each group includes a plurality of evenly distributed first exhaust holes 1-4 at the same axial distance, and each group includes a plurality of evenly distributed second exhaust holes 1-6 at the same axial distance.

[0027] In this application: The bottom cylinder 1-1, the supporting rubber spring 2 and the piston 3 constitute a closed air chamber 1.

[0028] The middle cylinder 1-2, the supporting rubber spring 2, the piston 3 and the positioning sleeve 3-3 constitute a closed air chamber 2.

[0029] The top cylinder 1-3, the supporting rubber spring 2, the piston 3 and the positioning sleeve 3-3 constitute a closed air chamber three.

[0030] The air chamber 1, the air chamber 2 and the air chamber 3 are connected together through the second air supply hole 3-9, the third air supply hole 3-10 on the lower column section 3-7 and the fourth air supply hole 3-11 on the side of the positioning sleeve 3-3.

[0031] The supporting rubber spring 2 and the sealing rubber spring 4 are composed of a thin-skin rubber column shell 2-1 and a thin-skin metal column shell 2-2 cross-stacked. The closed structure in the circumferential direction and the bonding effect of the thin-skin metal column shell 2-2 can limit the deformation of the thin-skin rubber in the circumferential surface. Affected by the Poisson effect, the radial compression deformation of the thin-skin rubber is limited, but the axial shear deformation is not limited. Therefore, the supporting rubber spring 2 and the sealing rubber spring 4 have higher radial compression stiffness and lower axial shear stiffness.

[0032] During operation, the top of the upper column section 3-8 is connected to the external load. High-pressure gas enters the bottom cylinder 1-1 through the first air supply hole 1-5 at the bottom of the bottom cylinder 1-1, and enters the lower part of the middle cylinder 1-2 and the top cylinder 1-3 through the second air supply hole 3-9 and the third air supply hole 3-10 on the lower column section 3-7 and the fourth air supply hole 3-11 on the positioning sleeve 3-3. High-pressure gas acts on the lower surface of the second piston disc 3-6 and the lower surface of the first piston disc 3-2 to support the piston 3. Adjusting the pressure of the high-pressure gas can balance the gas force on the piston 3 with the external load. Since the supporting rubber spring 2 and the sealing rubber spring 4 have lower axial shear stiffness, the piston 3 can move axially in the cylinder relatively freely. Since the supporting rubber spring 2 and the sealing rubber spring 4 have higher radial compression stiffness, the piston 3 can withstand a larger radial load. When the external load increases, the piston 3 moves downward under the action of the load and compresses the gas sealed in the lower air chambers 1, 2 and 3 of the bottom cylinder 1-1, the middle cylinder 1-2 and the top cylinder 1-3. The volume of the air chambers 1, 2 and 3 gradually decreases, the internal pressure gradually increases, and the supporting force of the gas on the first piston disc 3-2 and the second piston disc 3-6 gradually increases until it is balanced with the load. When the external load decreases, the piston 3 moves upward under the action of the compressed gas. The volume of the air chambers 1, 2 and 3 gradually increases, the internal pressure gradually decreases, and the supporting force of the gas on the first piston disc 3-2 and the second piston disc 3-6 gradually decreases until it is balanced with the load. The bottom cylinder 1-1 is connected to the outside through the first exhaust hole 1-4, and the middle cylinder 1-2 is connected to the outside through the second exhaust hole 1-6.

[0033] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present invention. These improvements and modifications should also be regarded as the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-stage air spring, characterized in that: include: Cylinder body; bottom cylinder, at least one middle cylinder, top cylinder; bottom cylinder, middle cylinder, top cylinder are all formed into a barrel-shaped structure, bottom cylinder, at least one middle cylinder, top cylinder are axially connected in sequence from one end to the other end; a first air supply hole is provided at the bottom of the bottom cylinder, a first exhaust hole is provided above the side wall of the bottom cylinder; a second exhaust hole is provided above the side wall of the middle cylinder; a first mounting hole is provided at the bottom center of the middle cylinder, and a second mounting hole is provided at the bottom center of the top cylinder; Multiple supporting rubber springs; A plurality of sealing rubber springs; the supporting rubber spring and the sealing rubber spring are both formed in a ring shape; The piston comprises a piston rod, a plurality of first piston discs, a plurality of positioning sleeves, and a nut. The piston rod comprises a second piston disc, a lower column section, and an upper column section. The first piston disc and the second piston disc are both formed into a ring shape. The plurality of first piston discs and the second piston discs are arranged in parallel with each other. The positioning sleeve is formed into a ring-shaped column structure. The lower end of the upper column section is connected to the upper end of the lower column section. The upper end of the upper column section is used to connect an external load. An external thread is arranged on the outer wall of the upper column section. The nut cooperates with the external thread. The outer wall of the lower end of the lower column section is connected to the middle part of the second piston disc. A plurality of positioning sleeves and a plurality of first piston discs are sleeved on the lower column section. The lower end of the positioning sleeve at the bottom is connected to the top of the second piston disc. The first piston disc at the top is installed between a positioning sleeve and the nut. The remaining first piston discs are placed between two adjacent positioning sleeves. A second air supply hole is axially arranged in the lower column section. The lower column section The side wall is provided with third air supply holes with the same number as the positioning sleeve, the side wall of the positioning sleeve is provided with fourth air supply holes, and the second air supply holes are respectively connected with multiple third air supply holes; and a third air supply hole and a fourth air supply hole connected with the third air supply hole are provided between the bottom of each middle cylinder and the first piston disc near the top thereof, and between the bottom of the top cylinder and the first piston disc near the top thereof; supporting rubber springs are mounted on the outer walls of the first piston disc and the second piston disc, the second piston disc is arranged in the bottom cylinder, and a first piston disc is arranged in the top cylinder and each middle cylinder, and the middle part of the inner side wall of the bottom cylinder, the middle cylinder and the top cylinder is connected with the outer wall of the supporting rubber spring; a sealing rubber spring is mounted on the outer wall of each positioning sleeve, and the outer wall of the sealing rubber spring is connected to the side wall of the first mounting hole or the side wall of the second mounting hole.

2. A multi-stage air spring according to claim 1, characterized in that: An annular sealing groove is arranged on the inner side wall of the first piston disc, and a sealing ring is arranged in the sealing groove.

3. The multi-stage air spring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The supporting rubber spring and the sealing rubber spring are both composed of a plurality of annular thin-skin rubber column shells and a plurality of thin-skin metal column shells which are cross-stacked in the radial direction.

4. A multi-stage air spring according to claim 3, characterized in that: The supporting rubber spring is bonded to the bottom cylinder, the middle cylinder, the top cylinder, the first piston disc and the second piston disc; the sealing rubber spring is bonded to the first mounting hole, the second mounting hole and the positioning sleeve.

5. The multi-stage air spring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the bottom cylinder, the top and bottom of the middle cylinder, and the bottom of the top cylinder are all provided with flanges, and the bottom cylinder and the middle cylinder, the middle cylinder and the middle cylinder, and the middle cylinder and the top cylinder are all connected through flanges.

6. The multi-stage air spring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The supporting rubber spring and the sealing rubber spring are in a pre-compressed state during installation.

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