Air Spring Fastening With Plastic Acoustic Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening systems for air springs in motor vehicles fail to effectively decouple chassis noise, leading to unpleasant noise transmission into the vehicle interior, particularly with the use of screw connections that are complex and do not fully prevent direct metallic contact.
Innovation Solution
A device using plastics parts for acoustic decoupling, where a first plastics part is clamped between the body portion and a securing element, and a second plastics part is positioned below the body portion, preventing direct metallic contact and reducing the effective surface area for sound transmission, utilizing thermoplastics or thermosetting plastics with high creep behavior for preload and sound absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screw connections are used to fasten the air spring cover to the body portion, then the air spring can be securely attached, but direct metallic contact remains which transmits structure-borne sound waves into the vehicle interior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary acoustic bearing consisting of multiple disks with elastomer material layers between them. This acoustic bearing is positioned between the air spring cover and the body portion, serving as a mediator that transmits mechanical forces while blocking sound wave transmission. The elastomer material absorbs and dampens vibrations, preventing direct sound transmission through the fastening path.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic bearing employs composite construction by combining solid disks (metal or plastic) with elastomer material layers. This composite structure leverages the strength and rigidity of the solid disks for force transmission while the elastomer layers provide acoustic decoupling and vibration damping, achieving both mechanical reliability and noise reduction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an acoustic bearing with multiple disks and elastomer layers is used for decoupling, then sound wave transmission is inhibited, but the screw connection becomes elaborate and awkward during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic bearing is segmented into multiple discrete disks with elastomer layers, allowing the assembly to be constructed by stacking individual components. This segmentation enables straightforward assembly where components are simply stacked and secured with fastening means, avoiding complex assembly procedures while maintaining effective acoustic decoupling through the layered structure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If three fastening means are used to connect the air spring cover to the acoustic bearing and three further fastening means to connect the acoustic bearing to the body portion, then acoustic decoupling is achieved, but the fastening system becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is segmented into two functional groups: fastening means for connecting the air spring cover to the acoustic bearing, and separate fastening means for connecting the acoustic bearing to the body portion. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each connection interface and simplifies assembly by enabling modular installation of the acoustic bearing component.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic bearing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides acoustic decoupling, transmits mechanical forces, and acts as a mounting interface for fastening means. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, simplifying the overall fastening system while achieving effective noise isolation.
4Ease of operation
If direct metallic contact is maintained between the fastening means and the body portion, then the fastening is simple, but structure-borne sound waves are transmitted unimpeded into the vehicle interior
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic bearing acts as an intermediary component positioned between the fastening means and the body portion. It provides a non-metallic interface that breaks the direct metallic contact path, thereby blocking structure-borne sound wave transmission while still enabling secure mechanical fastening through its disk and elastomer layer construction.
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
Significantly reduces the transmission of structure-borne sound waves, achieves weight reduction and cost savings, and provides versatile design options while ensuring no direct metallic contact, effectively addressing the challenge of noise decoupling in air spring fastening systems.
Implementation Method 1
a first and a second plastics part are provided for acoustic decoupling of the air spring, wherein the first plastics part is clamped between the body portion and the securing element and the second plastics part is arranged below the body portion
Implementation Method 2
utilizing thermoplastics or thermosetting plastics with high creep behavior for preload and sound absorption
Data Source
AI summary
A device for fastening an air spring to a body portion of a motor vehicle, at least comprising an air spring cover, wherein the air spring cover comprises at least one fastening means, by means of which the air spring can be connected to the body portion of the motor vehicle, wherein, for attachment of the air spring, the fastening means is plugged through an opening of the body portion and is fixed to said body portion in a force-fitting manner by a securing element, wherein a first and a second plastics part are provided for acoustic decoupling of the air spring, wherein the first plastics part, is clamped between the body portion and the securing element, and the second plastics part is provided so as to be positioned below the body portion.