Adjustable Damper Mounting Adapter for Vehicle Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mass-manufactured fluid pressure operated devices, such as gas springs and fluid dampers, often have externally mounted structures that are fixed in position, leading to conflicts with vehicle structures, making them unusable or requiring re-machining, as they cannot be easily adjusted to accommodate different vehicle configurations without affecting the device's length or performance.
Innovation Solution
An adapter assembly is used between the body cap and the damper cylinder, eliminating the need for threads by using a press-fit disk with an o-ring and a retaining ring, allowing the body cap to be rotated for orientation adjustment without changing the device's length, enabling flexible mounting without thread-related issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If externally mounted structures are fixed in position on the damper, then manufacturing is simplified, but the device cannot be mounted on vehicles with conflicting structures
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting element is made adjustable relative to the damper body through a threaded adjustment mechanism, allowing the position to be dynamically changed during installation to accommodate different vehicle configurations while maintaining fixed manufacturing specifications
Solution Approach 2:
The position parameter of the mounting element can be changed by adjusting the threaded connection, enabling the same damper to be mounted at different positions on different vehicles without re-machining
2Adaptability or versatility
If the device is customized for every possible application, then mounting adaptability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single damper design with an adjustable mounting element serves multiple mounting configurations and vehicle applications, eliminating the need to manufacture separate customized dampers for each application while maintaining universal adaptability
3Adaptability or versatility
If re-machining is performed to resolve mounting conflicts, then adaptability is improved, but production time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism allows end-users or installers to self-adjust the mounting element position during installation without requiring specialized machining facilities or expertise, eliminating the need for re-machining operations
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is generally directed to the field of fluid pressure operated devices such as air springs and fluid dampers and more specifically directed to the field of such devices having externally mounted structures. In particular, one of the mounting elements, such as a mounting hole for mounting the device between sprung and un-spring masses can be reoriented relative to the device and its externally mounted structures. Therefore, the reorientation of the mounting element may be achieved: using ordinary maintenance techniques and tools, without accessing the inside of the device and especially the fluid contained within the device, and/or without changing the length of the device.