Elastomeric Compression Spring Load Tuning for Vibration Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manufacturing elastomeric compression springs to achieve specific load-displacement performance is challenging due to the lack of efficient methods, leading to excessive trial-and-error iterations.
Innovation Solution
The design of an elastomeric compression spring with grooves or ribs on its outer surface, which alter the thickness and stiffness, allowing for customizable load-displacement performance by adjusting the depth, length, and circumferential distance of these features to achieve desired vibration isolation characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional elastomeric compression springs are manufactured without load tuning features, then manufacturing process is simple, but load-displacement performance cannot be precisely controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing grooves or ribs at specific locations on the elastomeric compression spring. These localized structural modifications change the thickness and stiffness only in specific regions, allowing precise control of load-displacement performance without complicating the entire spring structure. The grooves reduce local thickness to create softer regions, while ribs increase local thickness for stiffer regions, enabling targeted performance adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by modifying geometric parameters such as groove depth, rib height, groove spacing, and rib spacing to achieve desired load-displacement characteristics. By adjusting these parameters, the spring's stiffness and load-bearing capacity can be precisely tuned without changing the overall spring dimensions or material properties, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving performance control.
2Productivity
If elastomeric compression springs are manufactured through excessive trial-and-error iterations, then design flexibility is maintained, but manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating load tuning features (grooves or ribs) directly into the spring manufacturing process. By pre-calculating and pre-forming these features with specific geometries, the desired load-displacement performance is achieved in the initial manufacturing run, eliminating the need for subsequent trial-and-error iterations and reducing design iteration time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes to enable precise control of spring performance through geometric modifications. By establishing relationships between groove/rib parameters and load-displacement characteristics, designers can predictably tune spring performance without repeated manufacturing cycles, thereby improving productivity and reducing time loss.
3Manufacturing precision
If grooves are added to reduce local thickness and stiffness, then load-displacement performance is tuned, but material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using grooves to reduce material thickness only in specific regions where stiffness reduction is needed, rather than uniformly reducing thickness across the entire spring. This localized approach achieves the desired load-displacement performance tuning while minimizing overall material usage compared to alternative designs that would require thicker walls throughout.
4Manufacturing precision
If ribs are added to increase local thickness and stiffness, then load-displacement performance is tuned, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using ribs to increase material thickness and stiffness only in specific regions where additional load-bearing capacity is needed. These localized reinforcement features enable precise load-displacement performance tuning without significantly increasing overall device complexity, as the ribs are integrated into the spring's existing cylindrical geometry and can be formed using standard manufacturing processes.
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
This approach enables precise tuning of load-displacement performance, reducing design and manufacturing iterations, increasing efficiency, and promoting cost savings by allowing for predictable and precise adjustment of vibration isolation characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one groove creates a localized reduction in a thickness of the tube and a stiffness of the elastomeric compression spring at the at least one groove
Implementation Method 2
Elastomeric compression springs are used to isolate vibrations in some applications
Implementation Method 3
The tube is configured to compress in the direction
Data Source
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AI summary
An elastomeric compression spring for isolating vibrations between a first part and a second part. The first part is movable in a direction relative to the second part. The elastomeric compression spring comprises a tube elongated along a central axis of the tube. The central axis of the tube is perpendicular to the direction. The tube is configured to compress in the direction. The tube comprises an outer surface comprising an initial contact line configured to initially receive contact from the first part. The tube further comprises at least one load tuning feature in the outer surface, parallel to the central axis, and circumferentially spaced apart from the initial contact line. The at least one load tuning feature creates a localized change in a thickness of the tube and a stiffness of the elastomeric compression spring at the at least one load tuning feature.