Damped Connecting Rod Structure for Vibration Without Axial Strength Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Connecting rods made of composite material face issues such as transmission of parasitic movements, noise, and fatigue, leading to a limited lifespan, particularly due to the inability to effectively absorb vibrations and attenuate noise without compromising structural resistance.
Innovation Solution
A connecting rod device with damping capabilities, featuring a body with a longitudinal weakening zone and associated damping means, comprising a slot with elastically deformable material links that absorb transverse deformations, maintaining structural rigidity while attenuating dynamic movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If damping means are integrated into the connecting rod body to absorb vibrations and reduce noise, then the damping capability is improved, but the resistance in the axial direction to compression or traction is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting rod body has different structural characteristics in different regions: the longitudinal edges contain grooves with damping material for vibration absorption, while the central region maintains solid composite structure for axial strength. This local differentiation allows the rod to simultaneously dampen vibrations and maintain compression/tension resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting rod is segmented into functional zones: solid central regions for structural integrity and longitudinal groove regions for damping. The grooves are positioned at specific locations (e.g., near attachment means) to provide damping where needed without compromising the overall axial load-bearing capacity of the rod.
2Weight of moving object
If the connecting rod is made of composite material to achieve lightness and rigidity, then the weight is reduced and structural strength is improved, but the ability to absorb vibrations and attenuate noise is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting rod uses a composite structure combining solid composite material (for lightness and rigidity) with damping material (for vibration absorption). The damping material is embedded in grooves within the composite body, creating a hybrid structure that leverages the advantages of both materials: the composite material provides weight reduction and structural strength, while the damping material provides vibration and noise attenuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping material is locally applied in longitudinal grooves at specific positions along the connecting rod, rather than uniformly throughout the entire structure. This allows the rod to maintain its lightweight composite construction while providing targeted vibration damping where parasitic movements occur most intensely.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If damping material is embedded in the connecting rod body to attenuate dynamic movements, then the vibration absorption is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damping function is merged into the connecting rod body by embedding damping material directly within longitudinal grooves of the rod structure. This integration eliminates the need for separate damping components or attachments, reducing overall system complexity while providing effective vibration attenuation. The damping material becomes an intrinsic part of the connecting rod rather than an add-on component.
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 effectively reduces parasitic movements, enhances fatigue resistance, and increases the lifespan of structures by absorbing dynamic stresses without altering the resistance to compression or traction, thus improving the structural damping and comfort of vehicles or objects.
Implementation Method 1
consisting of an element made of elastically deformable material
Implementation Method 2
the shear resistance of the link made of damping material limiting the shrinking deformation
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A connecting rod device with damping capabilities, of the type comprising a body (30) equipped with two distant attachment means (31). The body (30) has, in the longitudinal direction, at least one weakened zone in the transverse direction, designed to generate, under axial compression or tension, a deformation in the transverse direction, in that said weakened zone is associated with damping means (37) designed to attenuate said deformation. The weakened zone consists of at least one slot extending in the longitudinal direction, while the damping means consist of at least one connecting means (37) of the two longitudinal edges of the slot, joined to the two edges and made of an element (37) of elastically deformable material.