Hydraulic Bushing With Adjustable Connecting Channel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydraulic bushings for rail vehicles require complex and costly manufacturing processes to adjust the length of the connecting channel, limiting the ability to easily change the dynamic stiffness behavior and making it difficult to use conventional materials.

Innovation Solution

The design includes axially outward annular edging elements with a connecting channel accessible from the outside, allowing the length of the connecting channel to be changed without dismantling the bushing, using a series of rotatable rings with grooves and bores to adjust the channel length and flow volume, enabling easy modification of damping characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the connecting channel length is adjusted to change dynamic stiffness behavior, then the damping characteristics can be optimized, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping characteristics adjustmentVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting channel is divided into multiple separate components (first component with first connecting channel, second component with second connecting channel) that can be manufactured independently and then assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be produced using simpler, more cost-effective processes while enabling flexible adjustment of the total channel length to optimize damping characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first and second components are nested or joined together to form the complete bushing assembly, with the connecting channels aligned and connected. This nesting approach allows the complex adjusted-length channel system to be built from simpler modular units, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while achieving the desired damping performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the connecting channel length is changed to adjust dynamic stiffness, then the damping behavior can be optimized for different conditions, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedynamic stiffness adjustmentVSAvoidconstruction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bushing is segmented into multiple components, each containing a portion of the connecting channel. This segmentation enables independent manufacturing and assembly of components with standardized processes, reducing the complexity of constructing the complete adjusted-length channel system while maintaining the ability to optimize dynamic stiffness through component selection and arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design allows for flexible configuration of the connecting channel length by selecting and assembling appropriate components, enabling the dynamic stiffness to be adjusted for different operating conditions without requiring a completely different manufacturing process for each configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution simplifies the adjustment of dynamic stiffness and damping properties without extensive construction efforts, allowing the use of conventional materials and enabling adaptable damping characteristics for various operational conditions.

Implementation Method 1

When the hydraulic bushing is under load, the compression of the ring spring element reduces the size of one chamber, causing some of the hydraulic fluid in that chamber to flow through the connecting channel into the other chamber. The connecting channel then acts as a hydraulic throttle, specifically as a throttle channel. The flow through this specially designed throttle channel generates dissipation and thus damping work.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic throttling: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 2

an annular gap is filled with a ring spring element made of rubber-elastic material to provide elasticity to the connected parts, i.e., between the outer housing of the bearing bushing and the inner pin or pin receptacle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

high-frequency vibrations, i.e., vibrations in the frequency range above this value, pass through almost undamped due to the inertia and incompressibility of the hydraulic fluid and the rubber spring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInertia: Inertia

Data Source

PatentEP3120040B1Hydraulic bushing
Publication Date: 2019.07.24 CONTITECH LUFTEDERSYSTEME GMBH
  • EP3120040B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3120040B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3120040B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention describes a bushing for a mount for the elastic connection of parts of a running gear, of a vehicle, in particular of a rail vehicle, and/or of movable machine elements, for receiving a journal of the running gear and/or of the machine elements in an axial receiving opening (7) which is defined by a substantially inner housing element (5c), which inner housing element is, at each face side of the bushing, at least partially encompassed by a radially encircling enclosure element (5a, 5b) and radially by an outer housing element (3), with the formation of a ring-shaped gap (4), wherein the ring-shaped gap is filled with a resiliently elastic material, such that at least two chambers (9c, 9d) that can be filled with a hydraulic fluid are formed between the outer housing element and the resiliently elastic material, which chambers are connected to one another via a connecting duct (12), and wherein the connecting duct is provided, outside the ring-shaped gap, in the ring-shaped enclosure elements. The invention also provides a bearing formed with the bushing.