Fluid-Mechanical Isolator for High-Capacity Shock Isolation in Tight Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shock and vibration isolation systems face limitations in providing enhanced isolation capacity while maintaining a small footprint, particularly for larger systems where physical constraints restrict the size of shock isolators.
Innovation Solution
The use of a combination of fluid and mechanical spring assemblies arranged in series, where a compressive force directly compresses a first coil spring and indirectly compresses a second coil spring via an intermediate actuator, allowing both springs to be compressed in parallel, thereby increasing the effective spring constant without increasing the isolator's footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the size of the coil spring is increased to strengthen shock isolation, then shock isolation capacity is improved, but the isolator footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical spring assembly is segmented into two separate coil springs (first coil spring and second coil spring) that operate in parallel. This segmentation allows the isolation capacity to be distributed across multiple smaller spring elements rather than requiring a single large spring, thereby maintaining high shock isolation capacity while reducing the overall footprint of the isolator.
Solution Approach 2:
The first coil spring and second coil spring are arranged concentrically within the cylindrical housing, with one spring nested inside or alongside the other. This nested configuration allows both springs to occupy overlapping spatial volumes, effectively doubling the isolation capacity without proportionally increasing the external dimensions of the isolator.
2Strength
If multiple spring assemblies are arranged in series, then isolation capacity is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid spring assembly and mechanical spring assembly are merged into a single integrated isolator unit with a unified cylindrical housing. The two assemblies are arranged in series within the same housing structure, sharing common mounting interfaces and structural support, which reduces overall system complexity compared to separate isolated assemblies while maintaining enhanced isolation capacity.
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 configuration enhances shock and vibration isolation capacity for sensitive or critical loads without requiring larger isolators, making it suitable for applications where space is limited, such as in vehicle suspension systems and sensitive instrumentation.
Implementation Method 1
The mechanical spring assembly includes a first coil spring and a second coil spring configured so that a compressive force applied to the mechanical spring assembly results in the first coil spring acting directly to compress the first coil spring and the fluid spring assembly simultaneously acting indirectly on the second coil spring via an intermediate actuator that compresses the second coil spring
Data Source
AI summary
Shock and vibration isolators and their use to isolate loads from vibration and shock, where the isolators include a fluid spring assembly and a mechanical spring assembly, where the fluid spring assembly and the mechanical spring assembly are arranged in series. The mechanical spring assembly includes a first spring and a second spring arranged so that compression of the mechanical spring assembly simultaneously directly compresses the first spring and indirectly compresses the second spring via an intermediate actuator, such that the first and second spring are compressed in parallel.