Damper Rod Bushing Elastomeric Seal for Gas Spring Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional damper rod bushings in gas spring and damper assemblies require sealing assemblies to isolate them from pressurized gas, which complicates their design and increases costs, weight, and assembly complexity, while also limiting their performance and packaging efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A damper rod bushing design featuring an inner and outer support element connected by an elastomeric connector element, which forms a fluid-tight seal and maintains performance under pre-load forces from pressurized gas without the need for a sealing assembly, allowing for improved packaging, reduced weight, and lower manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional damper rod bushings are isolated from pressurized gas using sealing assemblies, then they can maintain simple designs and controlled operating characteristics, but the device complexity, weight, and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric connecting element performs multiple functions simultaneously: it connects the inner and outer support elements structurally while also forming a fluid-tight seal between them. This merging of structural and sealing functions eliminates the need for separate sealing assemblies, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable operating characteristics under pressurized gas exposure
Solution Approach 2:
The bushing employs composite construction with an inner support element, outer support element, and elastomeric connecting element made of different materials. The elastomeric material provides both structural connection and sealing capabilities, while the support elements provide mechanical strength. This composite approach allows the bushing to withstand pressurized gas loads while maintaining fluid-tight sealing without additional sealing components
2Reliability
If sealing assemblies are added to isolate damper rod bushings from pressurized gas, then fluid isolation is achieved, but the weight of the assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric connecting element combines structural support and sealing functions in a single component. This eliminates the need for separate sealing assemblies, thereby reducing the overall weight of the damper rod bushing assembly while maintaining fluid-tight isolation between the pressurized gas environment and the bushing interior
3Reliability
If sealing assemblies are used to protect damper rod bushings from pressurized gas, then the bushings are protected, but the manufacturing costs and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric connecting element is manufactured to perform both structural connection and sealing functions simultaneously. This integration reduces the total number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing assembly complexity while providing adequate protection from pressurized gas
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric connecting element serves multiple purposes: it structurally connects the support elements, provides fluid-tight sealing, and protects the bushing interior from pressurized gas. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate protective components, lowering manufacturing costs and simplifying assembly procedures
4Device complexity
If conventional bushings are designed for fluid isolation, then they can be simpler in design, but packaging efficiency and operational performance are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric connecting element merges structural and sealing functions into a single component, allowing the bushing to be exposed to pressurized gas without requiring complex sealing assemblies. This enables more efficient packaging and improved operational performance while maintaining relatively simple design
Solution Approach 2:
The composite construction with elastomeric connecting elements provides both structural integrity and sealing capability in a compact design. This allows the bushing to withstand pressurized gas environments and improves packaging efficiency without significantly increasing design complexity
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 design provides a linear rate of change in deflection force over a range of axial deflection, enhancing the operational characteristics and reducing the complexity and weight of the bushing, while maintaining a fluid-tight seal, thus addressing the limitations of conventional bushings.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric connecting element extending between and operatively connecting the inner and outer support elements such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween
Implementation Method 2
configured such that during use under a pre-load force from pressurized gas, the damper rod bushing will exhibit an approximately linear rate of change of the deflection force
Data Source
AI summary
A damper rod bushing operatively connects an end member of a gas spring and a damper rod of a damper to at least partially form a gas spring and damper assembly. The damper rod bushing is constructed for exposure to gas pressure within a spring chamber of a gas spring and damper assembly such that pre-load forces due to gas pressure within said spring chamber act on said damper rod bushing. The damper rod bushing can include an outer support element, an inner support element and an elastomeric connector element operatively connected between the outer and inner support elements such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween. A gas spring and damper assembly including such a damper rod bushing, as well as a suspension system including one or more of such gas spring and damper assemblies and a method of assembly are also included.