Hybrid Vehicle Damper Layout for Compact Vibration Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional damper devices for hybrid vehicles face challenges in mounting and stability due to the axial misalignment and heavy dynamic vibration absorbers, leading to increased noise and vibrations.

Innovation Solution

A damper device configuration featuring a pair of intermediate members with mass bodies disposed on their surfaces, located radially outer to the second rotating body, and supported by a bush for improved axial and radial positioning, along with an elastic mechanism and dynamic vibration absorber, enhances stability and compactness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the dynamic vibration absorber is disposed at a position largely shifted in the axial direction with respect to the intermediate member, then the vibration absorption performance is improved, but the axial length of the damper device increases and mounting becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration absorption performanceVSAvoidaxial length
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions the dynamic vibration absorber from an axial arrangement to a radial arrangement. The mass bodies are disposed on the outer side of the second rotating body in the radial direction, changing the spatial dimension from axial (Z-axis) to radial (R-axis), thereby reducing axial length while maintaining vibration absorption functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of placing the dynamic vibration absorber axially offset from the intermediate member as in conventional designs, the patent inverts the arrangement by positioning the mass bodies radially outward from the second rotating body, with both components sharing substantially the same rotational plane in the axial direction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the dynamic vibration absorber is disposed at a position shifted in the axial direction with respect to the hub, then the vibration absorption performance is improved, but the stability of the damper device deteriorates due to inclination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration absorption performanceVSAvoidstability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the spatial arrangement from axial offset to radial offset, positioning the mass bodies in the radial direction while maintaining axial alignment with the hub. This dimensional change eliminates the axial shift that causes inclination and instability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by placing the dynamic vibration absorber in the radial direction rather than axial direction, with both the absorber and hub having substantially the same rotational plane, thereby improving stability while maintaining vibration absorption performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Length of moving object

If the mass bodies are disposed on the surface of the intermediate member in the radial direction, then the axial length is reduced and mounting is facilitated, but the outer diameter increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial lengthVSAvoidouter diameter
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent redistributes the mass bodies from an axial arrangement to a radial arrangement, utilizing the radial dimension to accommodate the mass bodies. This transfers the spatial requirement from the axial direction to the radial direction, reducing axial length at the cost of increased outer diameter

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 allows for a compact axial length, reduced inclination, and improved stability of the damper device, effectively reducing power transmission loss and enhancing mounting efficiency on vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

a first elastic body configured to elastically interconnect the first rotating body and at least one of the pair of intermediate members in a rotational direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a second elastic body configured to elastically interconnect at least one of the pair of intermediate members and the second rotating body in the rotational direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

a dynamic vibration absorber including a pair of mass bodies arranged with the pair of intermediate members interposed therebetween

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInertial force: Inertia

Data Source

PatentEP3636955B1Damper device
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 AISIN SEIKI KK
  • EP3636955B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3636955B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3636955B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A damper device (10) includes: a first rotating body (100); a second rotating body (200) configured to rotate coaxially with the first rotating body; a pair of intermediate members (300) configured to rotate coaxially with the first and second rotating bodies and disposed with the second rotating body interposed therebetween in an axial direction; an elastic mechanism (400) including a first elastic body (410) configured to elastically interconnect the first rotating body and at least one of the pair of intermediate members in a rotational direction and a second elastic body (420) configured to elastically interconnect at least one of the pair of intermediate members and the second rotating body in the rotational direction; and a dynamic vibration absorber (500) including mass bodies (501, 502) arranged with the pair of intermediate members interposed therebetween, and located at an outer side of the second rotating body in a radial direction.