External Damping Rings for Flexible Coupling NVH
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible couplings in hot exhaust gas conduits suffer from noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) issues due to the interaction of mesh or braid sleeves with bellows, leading to potential fatigue and reduced durability in harsh environments.
Innovation Solution
The use of damping rings made from materials like compressed stainless steel mesh wire or heat-resistant polymers, placed exteriorly or under the braid between bellows convolutions, serves as a damper to mitigate NVH without restricting motion, and can be adjusted for optimal placement at critical frequency nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a surrounding mesh or outer braid overwrap sleeve is used about the bellows convolutions to dampen vibrations, then dampening is provided, but the mesh sleeve engages and abrades on the bellows convolutions producing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH)
Solution Approach 1:
A damping ring made of resiliently elastic heat resistant material is introduced as an intermediary component between the bellows and the mesh sleeve. This damping ring absorbs vibrations and dampens NVH while preventing direct contact and abrasion between the mesh sleeve and bellows convolutions, thereby eliminating the harmful grinding noises and vibrations caused by the mesh-bellows interaction
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter by using a resiliently elastic heat resistant material for the damping ring that can deform and absorb vibrational energy. This material property allows the damping ring to effectively dampen NVH while maintaining flexibility and resistance to high temperatures in exhaust applications
2Object-generated harmful factors
If no surrounding mesh sleeve is used to eliminate abrasion, then NVH from abrasion is reduced, but dampening of bellows vibrations is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The damping ring serves as a dedicated vibration dampening intermediary that is specifically positioned between the bellows and the external environment. It provides the necessary dampening function without requiring a surrounding mesh sleeve, thereby eliminating abrasion-related NVH while maintaining effective vibration control
3Reliability
If damping rings are placed exteriorly about the bellows between convolutions, then dampening is improved without restricting motion, but the bellows structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The damping function is segmented into discrete damping rings that are positioned at specific locations between bellows convolutions rather than using a continuous surrounding mesh sleeve. This segmentation allows for targeted dampening at critical vibration nodes while maintaining simplicity and flexibility in the overall coupling structure
Solution Approach 2:
The damping rings are designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing the bellows to expand and contract freely during operation. The damping rings dynamically respond to vibrations by deforming and absorbing energy, providing effective dampening without restricting the motion capabilities of the bellows
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 solution effectively dampens NVH without the need for external mesh sleeves, enhancing durability and maintaining motion capabilities, even in extreme conditions, by strategically locating damping rings between bellows convolutions.
Implementation Method 1
an annular, flexible, resiliently elastic damping cushion of heat resistant material is arranged between the metallic hose and the longitudinal support means
Implementation Method 2
an annular, flexible, resiliently elastic damping cushion of heat resistant material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Damping rings (25) of suitable disclosed material are disposed exteriorly and between spaced apart convolutions (12, 13, 14, 15; 31, 32) of a bellows (21; 28) of a flexible coupling (10; 30). One, two or more damping rings (25) are oriented in a coupling (10; 30) between bellows convolutions (12, 13, 14, 15; 31, 32) and the convolutions (12, 13, 14, 15; 31, 32) adjacent a damping ring (25) extend radially outward of an outer periphery (25a) of the ring (25). Optional outer braids (40) are held radially outward of the damping rings (25).