Air Spring Damper Lock Ring Assembly for Stable Preload
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dampers face challenges in securely attaching the damper rod to the strut support bearing without loosening, which can lead to improper assembly and fluid foaming due to large tolerances and increased damper rod diameter, affecting the damper's performance and stroke dynamics.
Innovation Solution
A damper design using a lock ring connection between the damper rod and a linkage structure, providing a positive and/or non-positive connection that enhances axial preload forces while reducing dispersion, allowing for a smaller damper rod diameter and minimizing fluid foaming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a bolted connection is used to attach the damper rod to the strut support bearing, then the connection can be easily assembled and disassembled, but the screw connection can loosen leading to unreliable attachment and large tolerances in preload force
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into separate functional elements: the damper rod with external hexagon, the bolt with internal hexagon receptacle, and the lock ring. This segmentation allows the bolt to be pre-assembled with the damper rod in a controlled environment with proper torque application, while the lock ring provides subsequent securing to prevent loosening during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bolt is pre-assembled with the damper rod in a controlled manufacturing or assembly environment where proper torque can be applied and verified. This preliminary action ensures correct preload force before the connection is installed on the vehicle, eliminating the reliability issues of field assembly.
2Reliability
If the damper rod diameter is increased to account for large preload force tolerances, then the minimum preload force can be guaranteed, but the volume displacement in the inner tube increases leading to greater stroke dynamics and fluid foaming risk
Solution Approach 1:
The preload force is determined and set in advance during the bolt assembly process in a controlled environment. This preliminary action ensures that the correct preload force is applied before installation, eliminating the need for oversized damper rod diameter to compensate for tolerance variations that would occur with field assembly.
3Manufacturing precision
If key surfaces or internal hexagons are introduced into the damper rod to prevent rotation during assembly, then the damper rod can be properly torqued, but the diameter of the damper rod must be larger than necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation-preventing feature (external hexagon on damper rod, internal hexagon in bolt) is separated from the load-carrying damper rod shaft. This allows the damper rod to have the minimum necessary diameter for its hydraulic function, while the hexagonal connection interface provides the required torque application precision without increasing the rod's operational diameter.
4Force
If a lock ring connection is used instead of a bolted connection, then the achievable axial preload forces are significantly increased for a given outer tube diameter, but the connection structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The lock ring is integrated with the bolt assembly, where the lock ring secures the bolt to the damper rod. This merging of functions allows the connection structure to achieve high axial preload forces through the direct bolt-to-damper-rod connection while the lock ring simply provides retention, rather than requiring a completely separate locking mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A damper comprising a connection structure and a damper rod connected to the connection structure via a connection. In embodiments, the connection is made via a locking ring. A method of using a locking ring in a damper for fixing a damper rod to a connection structure is disclosed.