Hydroelastic Device Locking System for Fluid Loss Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hydroelastic devices face instability due to loss of damping liquid, which compromises their ability to effectively dampen vibrations, as existing technologies do not provide a reliable solution to maintain stiffness and functionality in the absence of pressurized damping fluid.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a blocking system with a rigid blocking part and a deformable biasing part that transitions between inactive and active positions based on the device's filling state, ensuring continuous force transmission and increased stiffness when the damping liquid is lost, thereby maintaining stable behavior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the damping space is filled with pressurized damping fluid to dampen vibrations, then the vibration damping performance is improved, but the device becomes vulnerable to fluid loss which compromises stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration damping performanceVSAvoiddamping fluid loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a locking system with a blocking part and biasing part that activates beforehand when damping fluid is lost. The biasing part is pre-configured to push the blocking part into position to seal the damping space, cushioning against the harmful effect of fluid loss before it compromises device stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of damping fluid loss into a beneficial triggering mechanism. When fluid pressure drops due to loss, this harmful condition activates the biasing part which then engages the blocking part to seal the damping space, transforming the harmful fluid loss into a useful signal that triggers the protective sealing action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a locking system is integrated to compensate for fluid loss, then the device stability is maintained, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice stabilityVSAvoidlocking system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking system is designed to be self-activating through the biasing part that automatically pushes the blocking part into the sealing position when damping fluid is lost. The system serves itself by using the pressure differential caused by fluid loss to trigger the sealing action without requiring external control systems, sensors, or complex actuation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The biasing part acts as an intermediary element between the damping fluid pressure and the blocking part. It translates the pressure differential caused by fluid loss into mechanical motion that positions the blocking part, mediating the interaction between the fluid system and the sealing mechanism while keeping the overall system simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively compensates for the loss of damping liquid by maintaining high stiffness and ensuring stable behavior, even when the damping space is not filled with pressurized fluid, thus preventing the device from entering a state of low stiffness and ensuring proper operation.

Implementation Method 1

a deformable biasing part (13) controlled by the state of the device with regard to the filling, so that it is in a compressed state when the device is in the filled state, in an extended state when the device is in the loss-of-fill state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a damping fluid of relatively low viscosity, filling under pressure the damping space formed by the two damping chambers and the damping channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3619444B1Hydroelastic device comprising a locking system
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 ANVIS HLDG
  • EP3619444B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3619444B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3619444B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a device comprising solid force-transmission elements including two armatures (2, 3), a damping body (6), and a damping space including a damping chamber (7), wherein the device normally is in a filled state in which the damping space is filled with a damping liquid (10), and can accidentally be in a filling-loss state, said device comprising specific built-in means (11) for compensating the filling loss, which are inactive in the filled state and activated in the filling-loss state in which they bring the hydroelastic device (1) to a high level of rigidity, said means (11) comprising a locking system including an entirely rigid locking part (12) and a deformable urging part (13) controlled by the state of the device with respect to the filling.