Exhaust Mount Spring Fingers Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Exhaust systems in vehicles are prone to destruction due to resonance caused by vibration pulses from engine combustion and road irregularities, which can lead to structural failure, and existing damping mechanisms like thermal blankets are insufficient to prevent resonance.
Innovation Solution
A mount comprising a spring band and a plurality of spring fingers is used to securely attach exhaust gas components within an exhaust pipe, providing increased radial stiffness to counteract transverse vibrations and prevent resonance, while allowing for thermal expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal blankets are used as damping mechanism, then vibration damping is provided, but resonance is not effectively prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the mounting system by using spring fingers with specific stiffness characteristics. The spring fingers are designed with controlled radial stiffness to counteract transverse vibrations at the natural frequency of the exhaust system, thereby preventing resonance while allowing thermal expansion. This parameter change transforms the mounting system from a rigid or lightly-damped configuration to one with optimized vibration resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring fingers act as a pre-configured cushioning mechanism that is designed beforehand to counteract the expected vibration pulses from engine combustion and road irregularities. By pre-positioning the spring fingers with appropriate stiffness, the system is prepared in advance to absorb and dampen vibration energy before resonance can build up, preventing the harmful resonant conditions rather than reacting to them after they occur.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If system stiffness is increased to reduce vibrations, then vibration amplitude is reduced, but thermal expansion capability is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The spring fingers are designed with localized stiffness characteristics - they provide high radial stiffness to counteract transverse vibrations and prevent resonance, while maintaining flexibility in the axial direction to accommodate thermal expansion. This local differentiation of mechanical properties allows the mounting system to simultaneously address vibration control and thermal expansion requirements without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring fingers provide dynamic vibration isolation while maintaining static thermal accommodation. The spring elements are designed to be compliant in the axial direction, allowing the mounted component to expand and contract with temperature changes, while providing sufficient radial stiffness to counteract transverse vibrations. This dynamic response characteristics enable the system to adapt to both thermal and vibrational demands.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid mounting is used to secure components, then component stability is improved, but resonance prevention is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mounting parameters from rigid to spring-based, where the spring fingers provide controlled compliance. The spring fingers are designed with specific stiffness values that allow them to maintain component stability while introducing damping characteristics that counteract resonance. This parameter change transforms the mounting system from one that transmits vibrations rigidly to one that isolates and dampens vibrational energy.
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 prevents the exhaust system from reaching resonance, thereby enhancing its longevity and reducing the risk of structural damage by absorbing and distributing vibration forces effectively.
Implementation Method 1
The spring fingers contact the exhaust gas component and provide increased radial stiffness to counteract transverse vibrations
Implementation Method 2
The phenomenon in which a relatively small, repeatedly applied force causes the amplitude of an oscillating system to become very large is called resonance
Implementation Method 3
allowing for thermal expansion
Implementation Method 4
The spring band is configured to contact and substantially pass around an outer surface of the exhaust gas component
Data Source
AI summary
A mount (50) for mounting an exhaust gas component (30, 32, 16) in an exhaust pipe (34) or in a component housing includes a spring band (54) and a plurality of spring fingers (64). The spring band (54) is configured to contact and substantially pass around an outer surface (52) of the exhaust gas component (30, 32, 16). The plurality of spring fingers (64) extend from the spring band (54) generally axially with respect to the exhaust gas component (30, 32, 16) and generally radially from the spring band. The spring fingers (64) contact the exhaust gas component (30, 32, 16).