Flexible Membrane Hydraulic Mount for Vibration Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydraulic mount apparatuses require a relatively large actuator stroke to effectively cancel external excitations due to an unfavorable surface area ratio between the piston-shaped moving members and the flexible body, limiting their efficiency, especially when using actuators with short strokes like piezostack actuators.
Innovation Solution
The hydraulic mount apparatus incorporates a moving member with an axially extending, flexible material that radially flexes outwardly and inwardly, increasing the surface area within the pumping chamber, allowing for a smaller actuator stroke and utilizing limited radial space, and is compatible with piezostack actuators for high-frequency vibration cancellation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a piston-shaped moving member is used in the hydraulic mount, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the surface area ratio is unfavorable requiring a relatively large actuator stroke
Solution Approach 1:
The moving member transitions from a rigid piston shape to a flexible membrane structure that can dynamically change its configuration. The flexible membrane deforms and flexes in response to pressure changes, increasing the effective surface area that interacts with the fluid in the pumping chamber, thereby reducing the required actuator stroke while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the rigid piston with a flexible membrane made of elastomeric material. This flexible membrane can expand and contract radially within the pumping chamber, significantly increasing the surface area ratio compared to a piston of equivalent size. The flexible nature allows it to conform to pressure changes while maintaining contact with the fluid, achieving effective vibration cancellation with shorter actuator strokes
2Reliability
If a larger actuator stroke is used to compensate for the unfavorable surface area ratio, then the moving member can effectively cancel external excitations, but the device complexity increases and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane structure inherently increases the surface area ratio without requiring additional components or complex mechanisms. The membrane's ability to flex and deform provides the necessary fluid displacement for vibration cancellation using a simpler, more compact actuator system
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane utilizes radial expansion and contraction (adding a radial dimension of movement) in addition to axial displacement. This multi-dimensional movement increases the effective surface area interaction with the fluid, improving vibration cancellation effectiveness without requiring a longer actuator stroke or more complex device architecture
3Length of moving object
If a flexible membrane moving member is used to increase surface area, then the actuator stroke can be reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane is constructed from elastomeric material that can be manufactured using standard rubber molding techniques. The membrane incorporates reinforcing ribs that provide structural support while maintaining flexibility. This construction method allows for reliable manufacturing of the flexible component without requiring exotic materials or complex fabrication processes
Solution Approach 2:
The moving member combines elastomeric material for flexibility with reinforcing ribs (typically rigid material) for structural integrity. This composite construction provides the necessary combination of flexibility for increased surface area and rigidity for maintaining shape and withstanding pressure differential, while remaining manufacturable using conventional composite fabrication techniques
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 design enables effective cancellation of external excitations with reduced actuator stroke requirements, optimizing vibration isolation and ride comfort in automotive applications by utilizing the increased surface area of the moving member, particularly beneficial for high-frequency vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible body is interconnected with the housing for deforming elastically in response to movement of a vibration source relative to the housing
Implementation Method 2
An actuator is operatively coupled to the moving member for moving the moving member to create a volume change in the pumping chamber to maintain the volume of the pumping chamber to prevent a pressure increase in the pumping chamber during the deformation of the flexible body
Implementation Method 3
The moving member includes an axially extending moveable wall of a flexible material and defines a moving member chamber for flexing radially outwardly and inwardly relative to the first axis to amplify the volume change in the pumping chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A mount apparatus (20) for supporting a vibration source on a base is provided. The mount apparatus (20) includes a moving member (134) that is partially disposed in a pumping chamber (64) for moving within the pumping chamber (64) along a first axis (A) to create a volume change in the pumping chamber (64) to maintain the volume of the pumping chamber (64) to prevent a pressure increase in the pumping chamber (64) during the deformation of a flexible body (46) in response to an external excitation to effectively cancel the external excitation. The moving member (134) includes a moveable wall (144) of a flexible material, having a generally hour glass-shape in steady state, and extending between moving member upper and lower ends (140, 142). The moveable wall (144) flexes radially outwardly and inwardly relative to the first axis (A) in response to relative axial movement between the moving member upper and lower ends (140, 142), to amplify the volume change in the pumping chamber (64).