Hydraulic Shock Absorber Stroke Limiter Automated Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydraulic shock absorbers for vehicle suspension face challenges in automated assembly of stroke limiter components and generate noise due to gaps between parts, affecting passenger comfort and assembly efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic stop design featuring a tubular shell, a concentric tubular body, and an axially movable reciprocating rod with an annular elastomeric stroke limiter, comprising a retaining ring, locking ring, and sealing ring, where the retaining ring has elastic projections and a conical recess, allowing for automated assembly and reduced part gaps to minimize noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional hydraulic shock absorbers use multiple component parts for the stroke limiter member, then the damping performance can be maintained, but the automated assembly becomes difficult and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (retaining ring, locking ring, and sealing ring) into a single integrated elastomeric stroke limiter member with molded-in features. This merging eliminates the need for multiple discrete parts and complex assembly sequences, enabling automated assembly while maintaining the functional requirements of retention, locking, and sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and properties of the stroke limiter from a metallic assembly requiring mechanical fastening to an elastomeric component that can be molded as a single piece. This parameter change in material properties and structural integration enables automated assembly processes while reducing device complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If gaps exist between the stroke limiter member components, then the assembly can accommodate manufacturing tolerances, but noise is generated affecting passenger comfort
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the retaining ring, locking ring, and sealing ring into a single elastomeric component with molded-in features, the invention eliminates gaps between separate metal parts. The integrated design maintains manufacturing tolerance accommodation through elastomeric flexibility while preventing noise-generating gaps between components.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of elastomeric material for the integrated stroke limiter member provides both the flexibility needed to accommodate manufacturing tolerances and the seamless construction that eliminates noise-generating gaps. The composite nature of the molded-in metal features within the elastomeric body achieves both tolerance accommodation and noise reduction.
3Productivity
If a conventional stroke limiter design is used, then the mechanical limiting function is provided, but the assembly requires manual intervention and cannot be automated
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of retention, locking, and sealing functions into a single elastomeric stroke limiter member with molded-in features creates a unitary component that can be automatically assembled. This merging eliminates the need for manual assembly of multiple parts, enabling automated production lines while maintaining the complete mechanical limiting function.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric stroke limiter member with molded-in retention and locking features is designed to self-retain and self-lock during automated assembly without requiring additional manual operations. The integrated design allows the component to perform its own retention and locking functions during the assembly process, enabling full automation.
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
Enables automated and sequential assembly of the hydraulic stop components, reducing noise and improving assembly efficiency, while maintaining effective damping performance and passenger comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a shock absorber for the suspension of a vehicle... containing a viscous fluid... the passage of the viscous fluid through said valve... resistance force to the movement
Implementation Method 2
the retaining ring has elastic projections and a conical recess, allowing for automated assembly
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2
AI summary
It is herein described a shock absorber for suspension system and its improved hydraulic stop, said shock absorber comprising a tubular shell, a tubular body (20) and an axially movable reciprocating rod provided with an annular elastomeric stroke limiter member. Said stroke limiter member (6) comprises a retaining ring (7), a locking ring (8) and a sealing ring (9), said retaining ring (7) partially enclosing said locking ring (8) and defining, together with said locking ring (8), a groove (91) capable of receiving said one seal ring (9).