Adaptable Airspring Reservoir for Flexible Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air spring reservoirs occupy space and may need to be placed in remote locations or are limited in size, making them inflexible for various vehicle packaging requirements, which limits their proximity to other air spring components.
Innovation Solution
An adaptable air spring assembly with a reservoir that can be shaped to fit different packaging needs, including tube-shaped, spherical, rectangular, or coil-shaped configurations, allowing it to be positioned near or around the air spring components, and featuring a valve for adjusting air volume, enabling flexible placement and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the reservoir is placed in a remote location to meet packaging requirements, then packaging flexibility is improved, but the proximity to air spring components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is designed with flexible mounting capabilities, allowing it to be dynamically positioned in various locations (remote or close to components) depending on specific packaging requirements. The reservoir can be mounted on the frame, on the air spring assembly, or in intermediate locations, making the system adaptable rather than fixed in one configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir is designed as a separate, modular component that can be independently positioned and mounted. This segmentation allows the reservoir to be placed in different locations relative to the air spring components, providing packaging flexibility while maintaining functional connection through fluid communication.
2Quantity of substance
If the reservoir size is increased to provide greater air volume, then air spring performance is improved, but space occupation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir can be positioned to surround or enclose other components of the air spring assembly, effectively nesting the reservoir around the components it serves. This allows the reservoir to provide maximum air volume while utilizing the space efficiently and minimizing the overall footprint of the suspension system.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir is designed to extend in multiple directions and can be configured in various shapes (tube-shaped, spherical, rectangular, square-shaped, or coil-shaped). This multi-dimensional approach allows the reservoir to maximize air volume while adapting to the three-dimensional space available in the vehicle packaging environment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the reservoir is shaped to fit specific packaging requirements, then packaging adaptability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir design allows for variation in key parameters such as shape (tube-shaped, spherical, rectangular, square-shaped, or coil-shaped), size, and mounting location. These parameter changes enable the reservoir to adapt to different packaging requirements while maintaining a relatively simple basic structure that can be manufactured using standard processes.
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 adaptable reservoir design allows for efficient use of space and flexible placement, enhancing the air spring system's performance by optimizing air volume distribution and accommodating diverse vehicle packaging requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a reservoir which provides a greater volume of working space to supplement the cavity filled with compressed air
Implementation Method 2
The compression of air in the combined volume of the bellow and the reservoir is a result of movement of the piston and damper body during travel of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
An air spring assembly for a vehicle having a reservoir which is adaptable to meet different packaging requirements. The air spring assembly includes a damper body, at least one piston connected to the damper body, and a bellow connected to the piston, the bellow having a cavity. A top cap is connected to the bellow, and a fitting is connected to the top cap. A reservoir is connected to the fitting such that the reservoir is in fluid communication with the cavity. Air flows between the bellow and the reservoir as a result of movement of the piston and damper body during travel of the vehicle. The reservoir may be tube-shaped, having a consistent diameter, or a varying diameter. The reservoir may also be spherical-shaped, rectangular-shaped, square-shaped, or may be shaped to fit specific packaging requirements such that the reservoir may be positioned in any area of the vehicle.