Asymmetric Sleeve Spring for Multi-Axis Vibration Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elastic coupling members for vibration absorption in motor vehicle parts, such as steering columns and wheels, are limited in their ability to effectively absorb vibrations across a wide range of excitation loads and directions, leading to inadequate resonance vibration mitigation.

Innovation Solution

The elastic coupling member features a sleeve-shaped spring body with varying radial section planes, allowing for adjustable spring rigidity in multiple spatial axes, enabling targeted vibration absorption by differing spring stiffness in vertical and horizontal directions, thereby compensating for different resonance frequencies and amplitudes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional elastic coupling member with uniform spring body is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it can only absorb vibrations in a particular vibration excitation direction and cannot effectively mitigate resonance vibrations in different directions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration absorption capability in different excitation directionsVSAvoidstructural complexity of spring body

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring body is designed with different wall thicknesses in different radial section planes. Specifically, the wall thickness varies in a first radial section plane compared to a second radial section plane that is circumferentially offset, creating different spring rigidities in different spatial directions. This allows the same absorption mass to effectively counter vibrations in multiple excitation directions by matching the local stiffness characteristics to the vibration characteristics in each direction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The sleeve-shaped spring body is intentionally made asymmetric with respect to radial section planes. The wall thickness distribution is non-uniform, with thicker sections in certain radial directions and thinner sections in others. This asymmetric geometry creates different natural frequencies and stiffness characteristics in different directions, enabling the vibration absorber to address multiple vibration modes simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If the spring body wall thickness is increased to enhance vibration absorption, then the spring rigidity increases and vibration absorption improves, but the device becomes more complex and harder to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration absorption effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity of non-uniform spring body

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the spring body, specifically the wall thickness, as a function of the radial angle. By varying the wall thickness parameter in different radial section planes, the spring rigidity is adjusted to match the vibration characteristics in different directions. This parameter variation allows effective vibration absorption without requiring multiple separate components or complex assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This solution allows for effective attunement of the absorber's oscillating behavior to match expected excitations, enabling efficient vibration absorption across various spatial axes, thereby improving vibration mitigation in diverse driving situations.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic coupling member for a three- (or more) point connection... a spring body in a sleeve shape... the spring rigidity of the absorption system can be adjusted in a load-specific manner in at least two spatial axes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

different resonance frequencies in different radial directions can be annihilated and thus compensated by the same absorption mass... different spring stiffnesses, deviating in the two radial directions, both excitations, for example in vertical and horizontal direction can be effectively absorbed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentUS9200691B2Coupling member and multiple point connection

Publication Date: 2015.12.01 ANVIS DEUTLAND

AI summary

For an elastic coupling member for a three (or more) point connection of a vibration absorber mass, like a gas generator for an airbag, to a motor vehicle part exposed to vibrations or oscillations, like a steering wheel structure, comprising a sleeve-shaped spring body firmly connectable to the vibration absorber mass and the motor vehicle part and having an axial direction, it is provided that the spring body has a different shape in its first radial sectional plane, in particular a vertical radial sectional plane, compared to a second, in particular horizontal radial section plane circumferentially offset from the first one.