Lateral Support Element for Gas Spring Axial Lateral Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gas spring assemblies for rail vehicles face challenges in balancing ride quality and comfort by managing both axial and lateral movements effectively, while maintaining ease of manufacture, assembly, and reduced costs.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a lateral support element with an element wall that engages the flexible wall of a gas spring assembly, forming an element chamber in communication with the spring chamber, allowing for pressurized gas transfer and optional inclusion of adsorptive materials to adjust spring rate and damping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a higher spring rate is used, then the spring element can support greater loads, but it transmits a greater magnitude of inputs to the sprung mass resulting in a rougher, less-comfortable ride
Solution Approach 1:
The gas spring assembly is segmented into two functional chambers: a spring chamber for axial load support and a lateral support element with an element chamber for lateral movement management. This segmentation allows independent optimization of axial and lateral characteristics, enabling high axial spring rate for load support while providing separate lateral compliance for ride comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention addresses the contradiction by introducing lateral dimension control through the lateral support element, which is dimensioned and configured to manage lateral movements between end members. This adds a dimensional aspect to spring rate management, separating axial and lateral mechanical properties rather than relying on a single spring rate parameter.
2Length of moving object
If lateral movement of end members is not controlled, then the gas spring assembly can accommodate axial movements effectively, but vehicle performance characteristics such as ride quality and comfort are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral support element is provided with specific local qualities through its dimensional characteristics and configuration, making it selectively responsive to lateral movements while remaining compliant with axial movements. The element chamber is dimensioned to provide specific lateral support characteristics without interfering with the primary axial spring function.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a lateral support element is added to control lateral movements, then ride quality and comfort are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral support element serves multiple functions: it provides lateral support to control lateral movements, defines an element chamber for optional adsorptive material placement, and integrates with the existing gas spring assembly structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate lateral control mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If adsorptive material is placed in the element chamber, then spring rate and damping can be adjusted, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The element chamber is pre-formed as part of the lateral support element structure, allowing adsorptive material to be placed in advance during the assembly process. This preliminary formation of the chamber simplifies the manufacturing process compared to creating the chamber in-situ, and allows for efficient material placement before final assembly.
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 configuration enhances the vehicle's ride quality by managing lateral movements and adjusting spring rate, improving comfort and performance while maintaining manufacturing efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the element chamber and the spring chamber are in fluid communication with one another
Implementation Method 2
optional inclusion of adsorptive materials to adjust spring rate and damping
Data Source
AI summary
Lateral support elements include an element wall with an exterior surface dimensioned to abuttingly engage an associated flexible wall and an interior surface that at least partially defines an element chamber within the lateral supporting element. Gas spring assemblies include a flexible spring member that at least partially defines a spring chamber. The lateral support element is disposed along and operatively connected to the flexible spring member. The element chamber can, optionally and in some cases, be disposed in fluid communication with the spring chamber. The gas spring assembly can include one or more end members operatively connected to the flexible spring member. Suspension systems and methods of assembly are also included.