Air Spring Adsorbent Material Spring Rate Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air springs for vehicular and industrial applications require additional reservoirs to lower spring rate and natural frequency, which are expensive, bulky, and increase maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an adsorbent material, such as activated carbon, into the air spring chamber to reduce the spring rate and natural frequency, while maintaining effective vibration isolation and providing a more linear spring rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If auxiliary reservoirs are added to lower spring rate and natural frequency, then vibration isolation effectiveness is improved, but device complexity, weight, and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the reservoir function with the main air spring chamber into a single integrated structure. The bellows assembly itself serves as both the active spring chamber and the auxiliary reservoir, eliminating the need for separate reservoir components while maintaining the desired spring rate and natural frequency characteristics for vibration isolation
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows assembly is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the primary spring chamber, the auxiliary reservoir, and the vibration isolation element. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by eliminating dedicated separate components for each function
2Object-affected harmful factors
If auxiliary reservoirs are added to lower spring rate and natural frequency, then vibration isolation effectiveness is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the reservoir function into the bellows assembly, the patent eliminates the weight of separate reservoir components. The same bellows structure that provides spring action also serves as the reservoir, thereby achieving the desired vibration isolation without additional weight
3Object-affected harmful factors
If auxiliary reservoirs are added to lower spring rate and natural frequency, then vibration isolation effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of reservoir and spring chamber functions into the bellows assembly reduces the total number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and sealed. This simplification lowers manufacturing complexity and associated costs while achieving the required vibration isolation performance
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional bellows design reduces the bill of materials and assembly steps required for production. By making the bellows assembly serve multiple purposes, the patent reduces manufacturing cost compared to designs requiring separate dedicated reservoir and spring chamber components
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 use of adsorbent materials like activated carbon allows for a smaller air spring design with improved vibration isolation and reduced maintenance costs, achieving a smoother ride and better vibration shielding without the need for auxiliary reservoirs.
Implementation Method 1
the chamber contains a mass of adsorptive material to lower the spring rate of the air spring
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an air spring for supporting a load, the air spring comprises a chamber for holding a pressurised gas in use, a load-bearing surface arranged to transmit a force from a load in use to the pressurised gas held in the chamber. Importantly, in order to lower the spring rate, the chamber contains a mass of adsorptive material. There is also provided a use of an adsorptive material for the purpose of lowering the spring rate of an air spring, including a gas strut and a pneumatic wheel. There is also provided a method of designing an air spring using an adsorptive material to lower the spring rate.