Series Fluid-Mechanical Isolator With Parallel Spring Compression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shock and vibration isolators face limitations in providing enhanced isolation capacity while maintaining a small footprint, particularly in larger systems.
Innovation Solution
The use of a fluid spring assembly and a mechanical spring assembly arranged in series, where the mechanical spring assembly includes two springs functionally coupled in parallel, allowing for increased shock isolation capacity without increasing the isolator's footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the size of the coil spring is increased to strengthen shock isolation, then the shock isolation capacity is improved, but the isolator footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical spring assembly is segmented into two separate coil springs (first coil spring and second coil spring) that are arranged in parallel. This segmentation allows each spring to contribute independently to the shock isolation capacity, effectively doubling the isolation capacity while maintaining a compact footprint comparable to a single spring configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The first coil spring and second coil spring are nested within the same cylindrical housing space. The intermediate actuator mechanism allows the second spring to be compressed indirectly through the first spring's movement, enabling both springs to occupy overlapping spatial envelopes and thereby double the isolation capacity without proportionally increasing the footprint.
2Strength
If a single mechanical spring is used, then the isolator structure is simple, but the shock isolation capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediate actuator is introduced as a mediator between the fluid spring assembly and the second coil spring. This intermediary component translates the compression force from the fluid spring assembly into indirect compression of the second coil spring, enabling the parallel spring configuration without requiring complex direct mechanical linkages between the two springs.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid spring assembly and mechanical spring assembly are merged into a single integrated isolator system with series arrangement. This combination allows the system to leverage both fluid-based and mechanical spring-based isolation mechanisms, achieving enhanced shock isolation capacity while maintaining a unified compact structure suitable for retrofitting existing systems.
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 configuration doubles the effective spring constant of the isolator, providing enhanced shock and vibration isolation for sensitive or critical systems without requiring larger isolators, suitable for retrofitting existing systems where space is limited.
Implementation Method 1
The mechanical spring assembly includes a first spring and a second spring arranged so that a compressive force applied to the mechanical spring assembly simultaneously directly compresses the first spring and indirectly compresses the second spring
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Shock and vibration isolators and their use to isolate loads from vibration and shock, where the isolators include a fluid spring assembly and a mechanical spring assembly, where the fluid spring assembly and the mechanical spring assembly are arranged in series. The mechanical spring assembly includes a first spring and a second spring arranged so that compression of the mechanical spring assembly simultaneously directly compresses the first spring and indirectly compresses the second spring via an intermediate actuator, such that the first and second spring are compressed in parallel.