Hydraulic Spring Base Adjustment Without Sliding Seals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle suspension systems face challenges in maintaining a constant vehicle level under varying loads, requiring complex and expensive sliding seals that increase power consumption and are prone to sealing issues, especially in systems without integrated shock absorbers.
Innovation Solution
A device that adjusts the base point of a spring element using a chamber with an incompressible fluid, where the chamber wall's surface area remains largely constant during volume changes, eliminating the need for sliding seals and allowing for high-speed control of vehicle dynamics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sliding seals are used in hydraulic cylinders for base point adjustment, then the adjustment function is achieved, but the device becomes complex, expensive, and vulnerable to sealing issues with increased power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the sliding seal component from the hydraulic cylinder system. By using a telescopic cylinder design where the piston rod can extend and retract without sliding seals, the invention removes the source of sealing problems, friction, and complexity while maintaining the base point adjustment function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional sealed hydraulic cylinder mechanism with a telescopic cylinder mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for sliding seals by using a different mechanical approach where the piston rod extends axially without lateral movement, thereby reducing friction and sealing requirements.
2Power
If sliding seals are used in hydraulic cylinders, then the adjustment function is achieved, but friction increases the power required during adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the sliding seal component that generates friction. By eliminating this component, the system reduces the power required for adjustment operations while maintaining the necessary adjustment function through the telescopic cylinder mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the high-friction sliding seal mechanism with a low-friction telescopic cylinder mechanism. This replacement significantly reduces the power consumption during adjustment operations while simplifying the overall device structure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a linear guide function is implemented in the hydraulic cylinder for free-standing springs, then the spring is properly guided, but additional height is required
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic cylinder serves multiple functions: it provides both the hydraulic actuation for base point adjustment and the linear guidance for the spring element. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate linear guide components, thereby reducing the overall height requirement while maintaining spring positioning stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the linear guide function with the hydraulic cylinder structure itself. The telescopic design integrates guidance features into the cylinder walls and piston rod, combining what would traditionally be separate components into a unified structure that achieves both actuation and guidance in a more compact form.
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 solution provides a simple, cost-effective means to adjust the vehicle level quickly and efficiently, reducing power consumption and maintaining optimal vehicle dynamics without the need for complex sealing mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
The chamber 18 has an incompressible fluid 27. The amount of incompressible fluid in the chamber defines the volume of the chamber.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (10) for adjusting a base point of a spring element (12) for a vehicle, comprising a first wall element (14) for connecting to a vehicle, a second wall element arranged at a distance from the first wall element for connecting to the spring element, and a chamber (18) arranged between the first and second wall elements (16) for changing the distance between the first and second wall elements by changing the volume of the chamber, wherein the chamber contains an incompressible fluid (27) and the first and/or second wall element comprises a passage opening (20) for the fluid to the chamber, wherein the passage opening is fluidly communicable with an inlet/outlet device (22) for the fluid to change the volume of the chamber, and wherein the chamber has a chamber wall (24) with at least one third wall element (25) extending from the first to the second wall element.the mass of which remains constant when the volume of the chamber changes, wherein the third wall element has a portion that is suspended over a flange (13) of the second wall element, and wherein the third wall element can be clamped between the first and second wall elements when the amount of incompressible fluid in the chamber is increased. The invention provides a device that is simple in design, cost-effective, and offers a high control speed for vehicle dynamics control.