Vibration Damper Stop Cover Adjustment for Spring Travel Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibration damper units in motor vehicles experience premature failure and loss of comfort due to load-dependent preloading, which causes discrepancies in spring travel and preload, leading to excessive stress and reduced ride height.
Innovation Solution
The vibration damper unit features a stop cover element connected to a base point adjustment device, allowing adjustable spring travel and preload, independent of vehicle load, through which the distance between the auxiliary spring and stop cover element is adjusted, limiting maximum spring travel and maintaining ride height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the base point of the compressed spring is adjusted to restore the original ride height, then the ride height is restored, but the distance between the auxiliary spring and the stop cover element increases, creating a discrepancy that leads to premature spring failure
Solution Approach 1:
The stop cover element is separated from the damper body and made adjustable via the base point adjustment device. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of the stop cover element's position relative to the auxiliary spring, enabling restoration of ride height while maintaining the correct distance to the auxiliary spring, thus preventing spring failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop cover element is made dynamically adjustable through the base point adjustment device, allowing it to be positioned at different distances from the auxiliary spring depending on the loading condition. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the distance between the stop cover element and auxiliary spring corresponds to the actual spring travel under current load, preventing over-compression and failure.
2Force
If the spring travel is increased to accommodate load-dependent preloading, then the spring can handle the preload, but the maximum spring travel exceeds the design limit, causing premature failure
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable stop cover element acts as a feedback mechanism that limits the maximum spring travel. By adjusting the stop cover element's position based on the actual spring preload and travel, the system provides feedback that prevents the spring from exceeding its design travel limits, thereby extending spring lifespan while accommodating load-dependent preloading.
3Productivity
If the distance between the auxiliary spring and stop cover element is fixed for unloaded vehicles, then the spring travel is optimized for empty vehicles, but the spring fails under loaded conditions due to excessive stress
Solution Approach 1:
The distance between the auxiliary spring and stop cover element is changed from a fixed parameter to an adjustable parameter. The base point adjustment device enables this distance to be modified according to the vehicle's loading condition, optimizing spring travel efficiency for unloaded vehicles while preventing excessive stress and failure under loaded conditions.
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
Prevents premature failure of the spring and maintains vehicle ride height and comfort by adjusting spring stiffness based on load, reducing stress on the spring and minimizing vibration.
Implementation Method 1
a spring which is supported at one end on the base point adjustment device and at the other end on the counter bearing
Implementation Method 2
an additional spring which is arranged between the base point adjustment device and the counter bearing and is opposite the stop cover element along the longitudinal axis
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a vibration damper unit (10) through which a longitudinal axis (L) projects, comprising a damper (12) with a stop cover element (14) arranged on the end face, a base point adjustment device (16), a counter bearing (18) which is opposite the base point adjustment device (16) along the longitudinal axis (A), a spring (20) which is supported at one end on the base point adjustment device (16) and at the other end on the counter bearing (18), an additional spring (22) which is arranged between the base point adjustment device (16) and the counter bearing (18) and which is opposite the stop cover element (14) along the longitudinal axis (L), wherein the stop cover element (14) is connected, connectable, coupled or can be coupled to the base point adjustment device (16).