Gas Spring End Member Assembly for Rotation Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas spring and damper assemblies face issues with rotation-induced twisting of flexible walls, leading to performance degradation, and known designs to mitigate this often result in increased manufacturing complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
The end member assembly features a first end member with projections that engage a second end member in a rotationally-fixed manner, forming a substantially fluid-tight connection with the damper assembly, thereby isolating relative rotation and maintaining a stable fluid-tight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the upper end member is rigidly secured to the sprung mass, then structural stability is improved, but rotation-induced twisting of the gas spring flexible wall occurs leading to performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The end member assembly is divided into separate components: a first end member with projections and a second end member with corresponding grooves. This segmentation allows the connection to be both stable and rotation-resistant, as the projections engage with the grooves to prevent relative rotation while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between end members uses asymmetric features (projections and grooves) that prevent relative rotation. The projections extend beyond the first surface portion and engage with the second end member in a manner that creates a non-symmetric, rotationally-fixed connection, eliminating the twisting issue while maintaining stability.
2Ease of operation
If friction-reducing bearings are used to support the lower end member, then rotational freedom is improved, but lateral movement of the end member relative to the damper housing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The connection features (projections and grooves) create an asymmetric, rotationally-fixed connection that prevents both unwanted rotation and lateral movement. The geometric engagement between projections and grooves provides inherent constraints against lateral displacement while allowing the necessary operational movement.
3Stability of the object's composition
If sealing arrangements are designed to minimize lateral movement, then lateral movement is reduced, but manufacturing complexity and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric projection-groove connection provides inherent lateral movement constraints through its geometric design, eliminating the need for complex sealing arrangements. The connection features themselves create the necessary constraints, simplifying both manufacturing and assembly while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection features serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural support, prevent relative rotation, and constrain lateral movement. By merging these functions into a single connection mechanism, the design avoids the need for separate sealing components, reducing manufacturing complexity and assembly time.
4Reliability
If complex end member constructions are used to prevent rotation, then rotation-induced twisting is reduced, but assembly time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The end member assembly uses segmented components with simple geometric features (projections and grooves) that prevent rotation through direct mechanical engagement. This segmented design with simple features reduces assembly complexity and time compared to complex monolithic constructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric projection-groove connection provides effective rotation prevention through simple geometric engagement. The asymmetric features create inherent rotational constraints without requiring complex mechanisms, thereby reducing assembly time and costs while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
End member assemblies having a longitudinal axis are dimensioned for securement to a flexible spring member. The end member assemblies include a first end member with a first surface portion and a plurality of projections disposed in peripherally-spaced relation to one another about the longitudinal axis. A second end member includes a plurality of grooves dimensioned to receive one of projections. Gas spring and damper assemblies include a damper assembly and a gas spring assembly that includes an end member assembly as well as an end member assembly with a flexible spring member secured between the end member assemblies. A suspension system including one or more gas spring and damper assemblies is also included.