Gas Spring Damper Assembly Nested Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Gas spring and gas damper assemblies face challenges in accommodating varying heights, limiting component housing and maintaining operational connectivity, due to significant differences in compressed and extended heights, which affects vehicle suspension systems' performance and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A gas spring and gas damper assembly design that includes a flexible wall between end members, with a gas damper assembly housed within the spring chamber, featuring multiple damper elements and biasing elements to manage movement and pressure, allowing for telescopic extension and compression, and maintaining fluidic isolation to optimize damping performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gas spring devices are designed to accommodate significant travel between minimum and maximum heights, then the spring rate can be reduced to improve ride quality, but the overall height difference becomes substantial making it difficult to house components within the device
Solution Approach 1:
The gas damper assembly is nested within the gas spring chamber, with multiple damper elements arranged concentrically. The first damper element is received within the spring chamber, the second damper element is received within the first damping chamber, creating a nested configuration that accommodates significant travel while maintaining a compact overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping system is segmented into multiple independent damper elements (first damper element, second damper element, third damper element) with separate damping chambers. This segmentation allows each element to be optimized for specific damping requirements while collectively managing the significant height variation through telescopic movement.
2Volume of moving object
If the gas damper assembly is contained entirely within the gas spring assembly, then the overall structure is compact, but the minimum compressed height limits the length of components that can be housed
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a single-dimensional linear arrangement to a multi-dimensional nested configuration. By arranging damper elements concentrically within the spring chamber and utilizing radial space, the design accommodates longer effective component lengths while maintaining a compact overall volume.
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 design enhances the ability to manage varying heights, maintains operational connectivity, and improves damping performance by controlling pressure differentials, leading to improved vehicle ride quality and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
the gas damper portion permits gas flow between two or more volumes of pressurized gas, such as through one or more orifices... Generally, there is some resistance to the movement of pressurized gas through these passages or ports, and this resistance acts to dissipate energy associated with the gas spring portion and thereby provide some measure of damping
Implementation Method 2
A flexible wall can be secured between the first and second end members and can extend circumferentially about the longitudinal axis to at least partially define a spring chamber between the first and second end members
Data Source
AI summary
A gas spring and gas damper assembly can include a gas spring and a gas damper. The gas spring can include a first end member, a second end member and a flexible wall that at least partially form a spring chamber. The gas damper can include first, second and third damper elements that are telescopically interconnected with one another. The first and third damper elements can be operatively connected to the first and second end members. The second damper element can be operatively supported between the first and third damper elements. First and second biasing elements can be operatively interconnected between the second damper element and one of the first and third damper elements. A method of assembling a gas spring and gas damper assembly is also included.