Compact Suspension Assembly for Out-of-Phase Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suspension systems fail to effectively minimize displacement and vibration during transportation, leading to discomfort and potential injury for operators and passengers, as they are limited by rigid coupling of spring and damping elements, resulting in excessive friction and inadequate vibration mitigation.
Innovation Solution
A suspension apparatus comprising a coarse suspension device, a mechanical assembly, and a fine suspension device that converts vertically directed forces and displacements into horizontally directed forces and displacements, providing adjustable neutral height and variable damping to achieve out-of-phase movements and reduced friction, thereby enhancing vibration mitigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional suspension systems use rigid coupling of spring and damping elements, then structural simplicity is maintained, but excessive friction and inadequate vibration mitigation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system is divided into separate coarse suspension device and fine suspension device components, each handling different aspects of vibration mitigation. The coarse device handles large displacements while the fine device handles high-frequency vibrations, allowing each component to be optimized independently rather than requiring a single complex rigid coupling system.
Solution Approach 2:
A mechanical assembly acts as an intermediary between the coarse and fine suspension devices, converting vertical forces into horizontal forces that the fine suspension device can effectively damp. This intermediary mechanism enables the fine suspension device to mitigate vibrations that would otherwise be transmitted directly through rigid coupling.
2Volume of moving object
If vertically directed forces are converted to horizontally directed forces, then space requirements are reduced, but mechanical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical assembly transforms the problem from a vertical dimension to a horizontal dimension by converting vertical forces into horizontal forces. This allows the fine suspension device to operate in the horizontal plane, significantly reducing the vertical space required for the overall suspension system while effectively mitigating vertical vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical assembly changes the directional parameter of the forces from vertical to horizontal, enabling the fine suspension device to dampen high-frequency vibrations in a different orientation. This parameter transformation allows compact vertical space utilization while maintaining effective vibration mitigation through horizontal damping action.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the neutral height is made adjustable, then adaptability to different payloads is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The neutral height is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the suspension system to adapt to different payload weights and center of gravity positions. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to optimize its performance for various operating conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through the use of adjustable mechanical components.
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 suspension apparatus significantly reduces friction and enhances vibration mitigation by allowing the payload to move out of phase with the base frame, resulting in improved comfort and reduced residual accelerations, with a mechanical advantage that increases damping efficiency at higher velocities.
Implementation Method 1
a mechanical assembly that converts forces and/or displacements of the base frame or supported frame in a generally vertical direction into forces or displacements that are generally in a horizontal direction
Implementation Method 2
The converted horizontal force or displacement is then damped by the fine suspension device, which is generally horizontally disposed
Data Source
AI summary
A space-saving suspension apparatus comprising a coarse suspension device, a mechanical assembly, and a fine suspension device coupling a supported frame to a base frame at a neutral height such that forces and/or displacements of either the base frame or the supported frame result in oppositely directed forces and/or displacements of the other of the base frame and the supported frame. In some embodiments, the neutral height is adjustable.