Hydraulic Engine Mount Gel Cap Cavitation Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic engine mounts face challenges in adjusting stiffness and damping parameters post-assembly, leading to cavitation and increased noise and vibration issues, particularly due to pressure differentials and parasitic noise during engine operation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves inserting air-filled dissolving gel caps into a chamber of the hydraulic engine mount, which dissolves in a glycol solution to release air bubbles, reducing pressure differentials and minimizing cavitation, noise, and vibration by sealing the chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high damping is provided during engine motive conditions, then engine vibration attenuation is improved, but parasitic noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the fluid by dissolving gel caps containing air bubbles into the hydraulic fluid. This alters the fluid's compressibility and damping characteristics, allowing vibration attenuation while reducing parasitic noise through modified pressure differential behavior
2Adaptability or versatility
If engine mount parameters are adjusted during late stages in production, then performance requirements are met, but manufacturing cost increases and vehicle performance may be detrimental
Solution Approach 1:
The gel caps are pre-installed into the engine mount chamber during assembly before the hydraulic fluid is added. This preliminary action allows the caps to dissolve and adjust the mount parameters in advance, eliminating the need for costly late-stage adjustments and enabling optimization for different vehicle applications
3Reliability
If pressure differentials across the engine mount are reduced, then cavitation is minimized, but this requires additional components and manufacturing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the hydraulic fluid by dissolving gel caps that release air bubbles into the fluid. This modifies the fluid's compressibility and pressure differential characteristics, reducing cavitation without requiring additional mechanical components or complex structural modifications to the engine mount
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 approach effectively reduces cavitation and noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) by stabilizing pressure differentials within the engine mount, enhancing the engine's operational performance and reducing the likelihood of component damage.
Implementation Method 1
an air filled dissolving gel cap may be inserted into a chamber of the hydraulic engine mount, the chamber filled with glycol solution and sealed. The gel cap may dissolve in the glycol solution and release air bubbles
Implementation Method 2
cavitation phenomena which occurs when a local fluid pressure falls below fluid vapor pressure as the fluid flows through the engine mount producing gas bubbles. The generated gas bubbles may grow larger and later collapse rapidly against internal walls of the engine mount
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for manufacturing a hydraulic engine mount. During assembly, one or more gel caps may be inserted into a chamber of the engine mount, the chamber is then filled with a fluid and sealed to allow the gel caps to dissolve. Upon dissolving, the gel caps may release air bubbles to reduce pressure differentials across the engine mount to reduce occurrence of cavitation and NVH issues.