Cam-Track Vibration Damper for Quiet Broad-Speed Torsional Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vibration absorbers for internal combustion engines, such as those described in FR2857073 and DE 10 2010 049929, are complex, noisy, and expensive due to their multiple moving parts and reliance on elastomeric blocks that age prematurely, providing suboptimal filtration over a range of revolution speeds.

Innovation Solution

A vibration absorber with two rotating members, a flywheel, and a member to be damped, connected via link modules featuring a roller and a cam track elastically supported by an elastic element, allowing relative angular displacement and maintaining contact at all speeds, which minimizes friction and noise, and adjusts damping by modifying the cam path profile.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If elastomeric blocks are used to block link modules at high speeds, then the mechanism can prevent pivot stress beyond mechanical limits, but the mechanism becomes more expensive and the elastomer blocks age prematurely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of pivot stressVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the elastomeric blocking elements from the mechanism. Instead of using elastomeric blocks to prevent pivot stress at high speeds, the design allows the pivots to operate continuously without mechanical blocking, thereby eliminating the aging and complexity issues associated with elastomeric components while maintaining reliability through alternative means

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a static blocking mechanism to a dynamic solution where the dampers continuously follow the cam profile without mechanical intervention. The pivots remain in constant contact with the cam surface, allowing the system to adapt dynamically to varying speeds without requiring blocking elements that introduce complexity and reliability issues

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If multiple articulated modules with oscillating arms are used to attenuate vibrations, then vibration filtering is optimized for a specific speed regime, but the mechanism becomes complex with multiple pivots and moving parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration filtering performanceVSAvoidnumber of moving parts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the complex articulated modules, oscillating arms, and connecting rods from the design. The vibration damping function is achieved through a simplified mechanism using cam profiles and elastic dampers that directly follow the cam contour, removing the need for multiple pivots and moving parts while maintaining filtering performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the complex mechanical articulated system with a cam-based mechanism combined with elastic dampers. The cam profile geometry directly controls the damping action, substituting the need for multiple articulated links and pivots with a simpler cam-follower arrangement that achieves the same vibration attenuation with fewer moving parts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If elastomeric blocking elements are added to the mechanism, then high-speed pivot stress is prevented, but the mechanism becomes noisier during transient phases and the elastomer blocks age prematurely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepivot protectionVSAvoidnoise during transient phases
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the elastomeric blocking elements that cause noise during transient phases. By eliminating these elastomeric components, the design prevents the noise generation and premature aging issues while maintaining pivot protection through the continuous cam-following action of the dampers without mechanical blocking

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuous contact between the dampers and cam profile throughout all operating conditions. This continuous action eliminates the intermittent engagement and disengagement of blocking elements that causes noise during transient phases, providing smooth and quiet operation across the entire speed range without elastomeric components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 solution simplifies the structure, reduces noise, and extends the effective frequency range by maintaining contact between the roller and cam track, providing effective vibration absorption across a broader range of speeds with reduced mechanical stress and cost.

Implementation Method 1

a cam track (58) elastically connected by an elastic element (52) to a second of the two rotating members, the elastic member being capable of deforming to ensure elastic support of the cam track against the roller

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

allowing the roller to roll on the cam track when the two rotating members rotate relative to each other on either side of the reference position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

one of the two rotating members being a flywheel oscillating around the axis of revolution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration absorption: Damping

Implementation Method 4

a vibration absorber of the inertial beater type

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInertia: Inertia

Data Source

PatentEP3368789B1Vibration damper, associated damping mechanism and propulsion assembly
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 VALEO EMBRAYAGES SAS
  • EP3368789B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3368789B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3368789B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a vibration damper (30) comprising two rotating members (26, 32), namely an oscillating flywheel (32) and a damping member (26) driven by a torque following a torque path between a drive member and a driven member, the flywheel bei ng kinematically connected to the torque path between the drive member and the driven member only via the damping member. Connection modules (34) between the two rotating members (26, 32) enable a relative angular displacement È between the two rotating me mbers (26, 32) on either side of a reference relative angular position. Each connection module (34) comprises: a roller (50) associated with a first of the two rotating members and a cam track (58) resiliently connected by a resilient element to a second of the two rotating members (32).