Elastomer Bearing with Bidirectional Valve for Rigidity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elastomer bearings with hydraulically damping solutions fail to reduce rigidity independently of initial load and require complex structures for fine adjustability, limiting miniaturization and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
An elastomer bearing with two liquid chambers connected by ducts, featuring a bidirectionally acting valve that allows for varying rigidity by controlling fluid exchange, implemented cost-effectively with an elastomer body under prestress and connected to both inner and outer parts, enabling decoupling of amplitudes and forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a device with coil and magnetic field is used to apply variable force to the oscillatory body, then fine adjustability of rigidity is achieved, but structural and electronic expenditure increases making the bearing more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex magnetic field generation device (coils, power supplies, control electronics) from the bearing system. Instead, it uses a simple passive oscillatory body that moves freely within the decoupling duct, controlled only by hydraulic pressure differences and gravity, thereby eliminating expensive electronic components while maintaining rigidity adjustment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The oscillatory body serves itself by automatically positioning based on hydraulic pressure and gravitational forces. The system uses the bearing's own operational parameters (pressure differences, fluid weight) to control the oscillatory body's position, eliminating the need for external actuators, sensors, or control systems
2Adaptability or versatility
If an integrated orifice in the oscillatory body is provided, then rigidity control is enabled, but miniaturization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the integrated orifice from the oscillatory body. Instead of having fixed flow restriction features built into the oscillatory body, the system uses the clearance between the oscillatory body and the decoupling duct wall, allowing for more compact design while maintaining hydraulic control functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic control function is localized to the clearance region between the oscillatory body and duct wall rather than requiring integrated orifices within the oscillatory body structure. This allows the oscillatory body to be simpler and smaller while achieving the same rigidity control effect through the localized clearance gap
3Volume of moving object
If the bearing structure is miniaturized, then installation space is limited and clearance setting accuracy is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the oscillatory body with the hydraulic damping function by making the oscillatory body itself the element that provides both motion control and hydraulic flow regulation. The decoupling duct serves dual purposes as both a mechanical guide and a hydraulic passage, eliminating the need for separate control mechanisms and reducing overall structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The decoupling duct is designed to perform multiple functions: guiding the oscillatory body, providing hydraulic fluid passage, and establishing the clearance that controls fluid flow. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, allowing for miniaturization without proportionally increasing 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 solution provides a cost-effective means to adjust rigidity based on amplitude and frequency, allowing for effective damping and decoupling of dynamic forces, while maintaining structural integrity and miniaturization potential.
Implementation Method 1
a bidirectionally acting valve is provided in a first of the ducts. The first duct can be opened and/or closed by the bidirectionally acting valve, in particular in each direction of flow
Implementation Method 2
The elastomer body preferably comprises elastically deformable chamber walls, which bound the liquid chambers, and act, in particular, as dent springs
Implementation Method 3
The elastomer bearing is a hydraulically damping, elastomer bearing
Implementation Method 4
The elastomer bearing preferably comprises a system that is capable of oscillating, which has, in particular, the chamber walls, or at least the chamber walls that act as dent springs, the liquid chambers and the ducts
Implementation Method 5
In particular, the elastomer body is arranged under prestress between the inner part and the outer part
Data Source
AI summary
An elastomer bearing has an inner part, an outer sleeve that surrounds the inner part, and an elastomer body that is arranged between the inner part and the outer sleeve. The elastomer body extends from the inner part as far as the outer sleeve. The elastomer body comprises two liquid chambers, which are filled with a liquid and arranged one on top of the other in an axial direction, and a duct carrier arranged radially between the elastomer body and the outer sleeve. The duct carrier surrounds the elastomer body in a region of the liquid chambers and bounds the chambers. The elastomer body is vulcanized to the inner part. To reinforce the elastomer body, two, annular reinforcement inlays are embedded in the elastomer body, and form parts, separate from one another, of a cage that is embedded in the elastomer body.