Leaf Spring Suspension With Gas-Chamber Damping Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suspension devices require a separate suspension spring and buffer, leading to a complex structure due to the need for additional attachment portions, complicating the overall design.
Innovation Solution
A suspension device integrating a leaf spring and a buffer with expandable and contractible gas chambers and a damping passage, where the leaf spring applies elastic force and the buffer generates damping force through gas flow resistance, simplifying the structure by combining the functions of the suspension spring and buffer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate suspension spring and buffer are provided, then the suspension device can provide both elastic force and damping force, but the structure becomes complicated due to additional attachment portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the suspension spring and buffer into a single integrated device. The buffer includes a piston connected to the suspension spring, with the spring positioned in the extension direction of the piston. This merging eliminates the need for separate attachment portions while maintaining both elastic force generation and damping force generation functions, thereby reducing structural complexity without compromising suspension performance
2Ease of manufacture
If separate attachment portions are provided for the buffer and suspension spring, then both components can be independently mounted, but the number of parts and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension spring is integrated within the buffer structure, with one end of the spring connected to the piston and the other end to the buffer body. This integration reduces the total number of parts and eliminates separate attachment portions, while the modular buffer design still allows for relatively easy assembly and manufacturing
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 integrated design simplifies the structure, allows for adjustable damping force, and reduces complexity by eliminating the need for separate attachment points for the suspension spring and buffer, while effectively suppressing relative movement between sprung and unsprung members.
Implementation Method 1
The first expansion/contraction member forms a first gas chamber filled with gas therein and is provided so as to be expandable and contractible. The second expansion/contraction member forms a second gas chamber filled with gas therein and is provided so as to be expandable and contractible.
Implementation Method 2
The damping passage allows the first gas chamber and the second gas chamber to communicate with each other, and applies resistance to a flow of gas flowing between the first gas chamber and the second gas chamber.
Implementation Method 3
The leaf spring applies elastic force for relatively moving the unsprung member in a predetermined direction with respect to the sprung member of the vehicle.
Data Source
AI summary
A suspension device includes a leaf spring and a buffer. The leaf spring applies an elastic force for relatively moving an unsprung member in a predetermined direction with respect to a body (sprung member) of a vehicle. The buffer includes a first expansion/contraction member, a second expansion/contraction member, an intermediate member, and a damping passage. The first and second expansion/contraction members form first and second gas chambers filled with gas therein and are expandable and contractible. An upper end and a lower end of the first and second expansion/contraction members are connected to the body. The intermediate member couples the first and second expansion/contraction members and is connected to the leaf spring. The damping passage allows the first and second gas chambers to communicate with each other, and applies resistance to flow of flowing gas. When one of the first and second expansion/contraction members expands, the other contracts.