Dual-Hardness Rubber Decoupler for Low-Cost Hydraulic Mount Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydraulic mount apparatuses for automotive vehicles require metallic inserts to vary damping characteristics, increasing manufacturing costs and risking the moving member's extrusion under pressure or vacuum.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic mount apparatus with a moving member molded from two elastomeric materials of different hardness levels, eliminating the need for metallic inserts and allowing for hinge action and secure positioning to prevent extrusion, while using a decoupler and cap to manage volume changes and damping forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If metallic inserts are embedded in the moving member to vary stiffness, then damping characteristics can be adjusted, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The moving member is constructed with two elastomeric materials of different hardness levels positioned in different regions. The first elastomeric material has a first hardness level and the second elastomeric material has a second hardness level, creating local variations in stiffness to adjust damping characteristics without requiring metallic inserts throughout the entire component.
Solution Approach 2:
The moving member combines two different elastomeric materials with different hardness levels to create a composite structure. This composite approach allows for varied damping characteristics across different regions of the moving member while maintaining the benefits of elastomeric materials and avoiding the use of metallic inserts.
2Strength
If metallic inserts are used in the moving member, then stiffness can be varied, but the moving member may extrude under pressure or vacuum
Solution Approach 1:
The cap includes a protrusion that engages with the outer portion of the moving member to provide localized reinforcement at the vulnerable extrusion point. This localized support prevents extrusion under pressure or vacuum while maintaining the elastomeric properties of the moving member throughout its structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusion of the cap acts as an intermediary structural element between the moving member and the external pressure or vacuum forces. It provides mechanical support to prevent extrusion without requiring metallic inserts within the moving member itself, thus maintaining reliability while avoiding the extrusion problem.
3Ease of manufacture
If the moving member is made from a single elastomeric material, then manufacturing is simpler, but damping characteristics cannot be selectively adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The moving member incorporates two elastomeric materials with different hardness levels in specific regions to provide selective damping adjustment. The first elastomeric material has a first hardness level and the second elastomeric material has a second hardness level, allowing different parts of the moving member to respond differently to vibrational frequencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The moving member is constructed as a composite of two elastomeric materials with different hardness levels, enabling selective adjustment of damping characteristics for different vibration frequencies while maintaining relative manufacturing simplicity through co-molding or assembly of the two materials.
4Ease of operation
If the outer portion of the moving member is made from softer elastomeric material, then hinge action is enabled, but the moving member may be more susceptible to extrusion
Solution Approach 1:
The outer portion of the moving member is made from a second elastomeric material with a second hardness level that is less than the first hardness level, enabling hinge action in response to volume changes. The cap includes a protrusion that engages with this outer portion to provide localized support and prevent extrusion, thus maintaining both hinge action capability and extrusion resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusion of the cap serves as an intermediary support structure that allows the softer outer portion of the moving member to perform hinge action while preventing extrusion. It provides the necessary mechanical support at the critical location without restricting the hinge motion of the softer elastomeric material.
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 reduces manufacturing costs and prevents extrusion issues, providing a low-cost hydraulic mount with adjustable damping characteristics and enhanced vibration isolation by utilizing the differing hardness levels of the elastomeric materials.
Implementation Method 1
The moving member is molded from a first elastomeric material and a second elastomeric material. The first elastomeric material has a first hardness level and the second elastomeric material has a second hardness level whereby the first hardness level and the second hardness level are different from one another.
Implementation Method 2
Conventional mounts exist for supporting and providing vibration isolation of vibration sources. These mounts typically operate to provide engine vibration isolation while also to control the motion of the engine and connected powertrain components with respect to the vehicle frame or body structure.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A hydraulic mount apparatus includes a housing having an upper and a lower portion disposed on a center axis and defining a housing chamber. A partition member is disposed in the housing chamber dividing the housing chamber into a pumping chamber and a receiving chamber. The pumping chamber extends between the upper portion and the partition member. The receiving chamber extends between the lower portion and the partition member. A decoupler attaches to the partition member separating the pumping and the receiving chambers. A moving member of elastomeric material, disposed in the pumping chamber, attaches to the decoupler. The moving member is molded from a first elastomeric material having a first hardness level and a second elastomeric material having a second hardness level with the first hardness level and the second hardness level being different from one another. The second hardness level is preferably less than the first hardness level.