Jounce Bumper Assembly With Local Stiffening for Peak Load Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard jounce bumpers in automotive suspension systems exhibit highly progressive nonlinear stiffness, leading to high peak strut loads and undesirable ride characteristics, which can result in force overload and reduced design flexibility for wheel size and unsprung mass, necessitating costly structural reinforcements.
Innovation Solution
A jounce bumper assembly with a support member and stiffening element that limits radial deformation, comprising a resiliently deformable wall section and a stiffening element made of high-strength material, such as steel, to manage peak loads and improve energy absorption, while maintaining a low-cost solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard jounce bumper is used in the suspension system, then the basic shock absorption function is provided, but highly progressive nonlinear stiffness develops leading to high peak strut loads and force overload
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed with a wall section that is selectively deformable in specific regions. The wall section has varying thickness or material properties along its axial extension, allowing localized radial deformation in certain areas while maintaining structural integrity in others. This local quality variation enables the support member to manage peak loads by deforming only where needed, rather than uniformly across the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member combines materials with different mechanical properties to achieve optimal performance. The wall section may incorporate layers or regions of different materials that provide both flexibility for radial deformation and strength for load bearing. This composite approach allows the support member to simultaneously absorb energy through deformation and resist excessive peak loads.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the jounce bumper allows full radial deformation to absorb energy, then energy absorption is improved, but the support member deflects radially over its entire axial extension causing force overload
Solution Approach 1:
The wall section is designed with non-uniform properties along its axial extension, creating regions of different stiffness. Some regions are designed to be more compliant to allow radial deformation for energy absorption, while other regions maintain higher stiffness to prevent excessive deflection and protect structural integrity. This spatial variation in material or geometric properties enables selective deformation behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member's wall section can be viewed as segmented into different functional zones along its axial length. Each zone is optimized for specific deformation characteristics, with some segments designed to deform radially under load while others serve as stiffening regions. This segmentation allows the structure to distribute deformation energy across multiple zones rather than concentrating it in a single location.
3Strength
If the support member is made more rigid to prevent radial deflection, then structural integrity is maintained, but the ability to absorb energy through radial deformation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than making the entire support member uniformly rigid, the design incorporates local variations in the wall section properties. Certain axial regions have reduced thickness or modified material properties that enable radial deformation for energy absorption, while other regions maintain full thickness and strength for structural support. This localized approach to rigidity allows simultaneous achievement of both structural integrity and energy absorption capabilities.
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 reduces the risk of jounce bumper overload, enhances peak load performance, and provides a smoother energy absorption, resulting in improved vehicle handling and reduced structural reinforcement needs.
Implementation Method 1
the jounce bumper may contact a stop in the vehicle body and elastically deform responsive to the force of the contact of the jounce bumper against the vehicle body
Implementation Method 2
the support member having a wall section which is arranged around the bottom portion and resiliently deformable with the jounce bumper in the axial and radial direction
Implementation Method 3
at least one stiffening element associated to the wall section and configured to locally limit the radial deformation of the support member
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a jounce bumper assembly (100) for use in a suspension system (1000) for an automotive vehicle (400). It is suggested that the assembly comprises a jounce bumper (110) having a longitudinal axis (120), a bottom portion (112) and a tip portion (114) spaced apart from the bottom portion (112) in the axial direction (120), wherein the jounce bumper (110) is resiliently deformable between an uncompressed basic state and an axially compressed state, a support member (130) for supporting the jounce bumper (110), the support member (130) having a wall section (132) which is arranged around the bottom portion (112) and resiliently deformable with the jounce bumper (110) in the axial and radial direction (120, 122), and at least one stiffening element (140) 10 associated to the wall section (132) and configured to locally limit the radial deformation of the support member (130).