Progressive Damping Device with Elastoplastic Valve Fins
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing damping devices for furniture with self-closing systems do not provide progressive damping based on speed and energy, leading to complex designs and increased production costs, with assembly difficulties and potential rupture points in the elastoplastic components.
Innovation Solution
A progressive damping device featuring a cylindrical sleeve with a displaceable elastoplastic valve and symmetrical resilient fins that adjust their position based on impact force, allowing fluid flow to vary and absorb energy progressively, while being easy to assemble and produce without critical dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a basket structure is added to the piston extension to achieve progressive damping, then damping performance is improved, but device complexity and production difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the damping function directly into the piston structure by adding resilient fins to the piston body itself, eliminating the need for a separate basket structure. This integration maintains progressive damping capability while simplifying the overall device design and reducing assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by adding resilient fins only to specific regions of the piston where damping action is needed. These fins are strategically positioned to interact with the fluid in the cylinder, providing progressive damping locally without requiring complex structures throughout the entire device.
2Productivity
If injection molding is used to produce the piston with basket, then production efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision and reliability decrease due to unpredictable flexure modulus and rupture points
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameters by using elastoplastic material for the resilient fins, which allows for more predictable and controllable mechanical properties. This material selection enables better control over flexure modulus and reduces the risk of unpredictable rupture points compared to traditional injection molded structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite material principles by combining elastoplastic material with the piston structure, creating a hybrid component that leverages the advantages of both rigid and flexible materials. This composite approach provides predictable mechanical behavior while maintaining production efficiency.
3Ease of manufacture
If the piston and basket are produced as a single integrated part, then assembly ease is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the piston and damping elements into a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate basket structures and reducing the number of assembly steps. This integration simplifies both manufacturing and assembly processes while maintaining the progressive damping function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies segmentation by dividing the piston into functional zones - the main piston body and the resilient fins - which can be manufactured as separate components and then assembled. This segmentation allows for specialized manufacturing techniques for each component while maintaining overall assembly simplicity.
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 device effectively dampens impacts according to speed and force, facilitating re-arming with minimal effort and reducing production complexities, ensuring reliable performance and ease of assembly.
Implementation Method 1
piston which has a rod provided with an elastoplastic valve, which is provided with symmetrical resilient fins
Implementation Method 2
cylinder in which a dynamic fluid circulates... progressive damping based on speed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
Progressive damping device for furniture which comprises a cylinder body (1) through which a dynamic fluid circulates, and the interior of which comprises a piston (2) with a rod (3) which extends outside the cylinder body (1), and delimits two chambers, for compression during damping (4), and for expansion (5), and which have a variable volume, depending on the position of the piston (2), the piston (2) being a cylindrical sleeve (10) which contains in its interior a displaceable elastoplastic valve (6) provided with symmetrical resilient fins (7) with a total radial dimension which is greater than the inner diameter of the interior annular projection (11) of the cylindrical sleeve (10), the longitudinal position of these resilient fins (7) when not flexed being such that their distance to the wall (9a) which closes the head (9) of the elastoplastic valve (6) is greater than the distance between the active side (11a) of the interior annular projection (11) and the seating wall (10a) of the cylindrical sleeve (10), with these resilient fins (7) reaching the active side (11a) of the interior annular projection (11) before the wall (9a) which closes the head (9) of the elastoplastic valve (6) abuts the seating wall (10a) of the cylindrical sleeve (10).