Air Spring Chamber Structure for Multi-Level Stiffness Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air springs in air suspension systems face a trade-off between operation stability and comfort, with existing solutions offering limited stiffness levels and high costs due to the use of electromagnetic switch valves.
Innovation Solution
An air chamber with a movable piece that controls the communication of multiple second cavities with a main cavity through vent holes, allowing for adjustable stiffness levels without the need for additional components, thereby reducing costs and improving reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If high stiffness is used in the air spring, then operation stability is improved, but comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the air spring stiffness adjustable rather than fixed. A movable piece can shift positions to change the communication state between auxiliary cavities and the main cavity, dynamically adjusting the effective air volume and thus the stiffness. This allows the system to adapt stiffness levels according to different operating conditions, resolving the contradiction between stability and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of effective air volume to control stiffness. By varying the number of auxiliary cavities communicating with the main cavity through the movable piece's position, the effective volume changes, which directly adjusts the stiffness parameter. This enables flexible control over the stiffness-comfort-tradiction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple stiffness levels are achieved using electromagnetic switch valves, then stiffness adjustability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the electromagnetic switch valves from the system. Instead of using complex electronic control components, it employs a purely mechanical movable piece structure that can be driven by simple actuators. This removal of complex components directly reduces device complexity and cost while maintaining stiffness adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electromagnetic control system with a mechanical control system. The movable piece, driven by mechanical actuators (such as motors or linkages), physically blocks or opens communication paths between cavities. This mechanical substitution eliminates the need for electromagnetic valves and associated control electronics, simplifying the overall system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple auxiliary cavities are added to achieve multiple stiffness levels, then stiffness range is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple auxiliary cavities into a single integrated air chamber structure. Instead of treating each auxiliary cavity as a separate component requiring individual manufacturing and assembly, they are combined into one unified chamber with internal partitions. This merging significantly reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while preserving the ability to provide multiple stiffness levels through the movable piece mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
An air chamber, an air spring, an air suspension system, and a vehicle are provided. The air chamber is configured to communicate with a main cavity of the air spring (10). The air chamber includes a housing (21). The housing (21) has a first cavity (211), a plurality of second cavities (212), and a plurality of first breather holes (216). Each second cavity (212) communicates with the first cavity (211) through one first vent hole (216). The first cavity (211) is configured to communicate with the main cavity (31), and is configured to fit with a movable piece (22), so that N second cavities (212) communicate with the main cavity (31), where N is a natural number.