Elastomer Seat Suspension Spring for High Flexural Vibration Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coil spring suspension devices for vehicle seats and cabins are inadequate in absorbing high flexural forces, leading to deformation and reduced functionality due to dominant flexural forces during vibrations, and require complex constructions to handle strong vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A suspension device using a rod-shaped spring member made from flexible elastomer material with varying flexural properties and integrated metal strip members, allowing for differential absorption of flexural forces and adjustable spring constants, and enabling progressive spring characteristics through varying metal strip distances and positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional coil springs are used to absorb vibrations, then the suspension device can provide basic spring force, but the device cannot absorb high flexural forces and the coil spring deforms after longer periods of use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from conventional spring steel to elastomer material, which fundamentally alters the mechanical properties. The elastomer material provides both high flexural force absorption capacity and resistance to deformation, resolving the contradiction between strength and reliability by utilizing the viscoelastic properties and high toughness of elastomers that allow energy dissipation without permanent deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite structures by combining elastomer material with metal components (such as metal plates or reinforcement elements) to create a hybrid suspension device. This composite approach leverages the high flexibility and damping capacity of elastomers while incorporating the strength and dimensional stability of metals, thereby achieving both high flexural force absorption and long service life.
2Strength
If multiple coil springs are arranged to commonly absorb flexural forces, then the flexural force absorption capacity increases, but the construction of the suspension device becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple springs into a single elastomer-based spring member. The elastomer material's inherent ability to distribute and absorb flexural forces across its entire structure allows one component to perform what would traditionally require multiple coil springs, thereby reducing construction complexity while maintaining or enhancing flexural force absorption capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the flexible nature of elastomer material to create a thin-film or shell-like spring structure that can bend and deform to absorb flexural forces. This flexible structure provides high flexural force absorption in a compact, simple form factor, eliminating the need for complex multi-spring arrangements while maintaining strength.
3Ease of operation
If the elastomer material is made softer to damp low vibration forces, then the damping capability for low forces improves, but the capacity to absorb strong flexural forces during strong vibrations decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the non-linear viscoelastic properties of elastomer material, which exhibits different effective stiffness at different strain levels. At low vibration forces, the elastomer displays softer, more compliant behavior providing excellent damping. At high vibration forces, the material stiffens and can absorb strong flexural forces, thus resolving the contradiction through the inherent multi-scale mechanical response of the elastomer material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits the dynamic, time-dependent mechanical properties of elastomer material that allow it to adapt its stiffness characteristics based on the magnitude and frequency of applied forces. This dynamic response enables the same material to provide both soft damping for low forces and strong force absorption for high forces, eliminating the need to choose between the two extremes.
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 effectively absorbs high flexural forces, maintains simple design, and provides adjustable damping and cushioning capabilities, preventing deformation and ensuring reliable vibration absorption and damping across different vibration intensities.
Implementation Method 1
an elongate spring member made from a flexible elastomer material, which is formed to be rod-shaped, is used in order to apply a spring force to a vibratory motion
Implementation Method 2
This elastomer material may be designed, due to its structuring and the arrangement of various clearance holes or the like, in such a manner that it has different flexural properties for absorbing flexural forces in different regions
Implementation Method 3
the elastomer material and the at least one metal strip member form a composite structure
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a suspension device for vehicle seats and/or vehicle cabins for applying a spring force to a vibratory motion of a first component relative to a second component, preferably in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the vehicle, wherein at least one elongate spring member extending at least in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the vehicle is connected in at least one end region to the first component and in the central region thereof to the second component, wherein the elongate spring member is made from a flexible elastomer material that is formed to be rod-shaped.