Liquid Composite Spring With Flow Channels for Rail Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional rubber cone springs used in rail vehicles face limitations in dynamic stiffness and damping performance, particularly at high frequencies and in dissipating vibration energy, due to the inherent properties of rubber materials.
Innovation Solution
A liquid composite spring design featuring a core shaft, outer sleeve with upper and lower liquid chambers connected by a metal-rubber main spring with flow channels, allowing liquid communication and providing variable stiffness and enhanced damping through fluid circulation and resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional rubber cone springs are used, then different values of stiffness in vertical, horizontal and longitudinal directions can be achieved with improved nonlinear characteristics, but the dynamic stiffness will be reduced as the frequency of vibration increases and damping performance is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure combining rubber material and liquid damping medium. The rubber cone spring provides nonlinear stiffness characteristics in multiple directions, while the liquid damping medium (connected through flow channels) provides high-frequency dynamic stiffness and damping. This composite approach allows the system to achieve both directional stiffness adaptability and high-frequency reliability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a hydraulic damping system where liquid flows through flow channels connected to the rubber cone spring. The liquid damping medium provides frequency-dependent stiffness characteristics, maintaining dynamic stiffness at high frequencies where traditional rubber alone would soften. The hydraulic element complements the rubber's elastic properties without compromising its nonlinear stiffness characteristics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional rubber cone springs are used, then nonlinear characteristics are improved, but the capability for dissipating vibration energy is limited due to small damping performance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines rubber material (providing nonlinear elastic characteristics) with liquid damping medium (providing energy dissipation through viscous flow). The rubber cone spring maintains its superior nonlinear characteristics while the liquid damping medium dissipates vibration energy through flow resistance in the flow channels, achieving both goals simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic damping system uses liquid flowing through flow channels to dissipate vibration energy. The viscous flow of liquid creates damping forces that convert mechanical vibration energy into thermal energy, significantly enhancing energy dissipation capability while the rubber component preserves the nonlinear stiffness characteristics.
3Reliability
If liquid chambers and flow channels are added to create liquid composite spring, then variable stiffness and damping effect are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the rubber cone spring and liquid damping system into an integrated liquid composite spring. The flow channels are embedded within or connected to the rubber cone structure, and the liquid chambers are positioned to work synergistically with the spring. This merging reduces the need for separate damping devices and simplifies the overall system architecture while achieving enhanced damping performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow channels are nested within or integrated into the rubber cone spring structure. The liquid damping system is embedded within the existing spring geometry, utilizing the internal space of the cone spring for flow channels and liquid chambers. This nesting approach adds damping functionality without significantly increasing external dimensions or overall structural complexity.
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 liquid composite spring effectively reduces vibrations, offers variable stiffness, and improves damping performance across a range of frequencies, addressing the limitations of traditional rubber cone springs.
Implementation Method 1
a flow channel body provided in the metal-rubber main spring, so that liquid in the upper liquid chamber and liquid in the lower liquid chamber are communicated with each other through the flow channel body
Implementation Method 2
generate a certain damping force during flow of the liquid
Implementation Method 3
a metal-rubber main spring with flow channels, allowing liquid communication and providing variable stiffness
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid composite spring for vehicles includes: a core shaft; an outer sleeve arranged on an upper portion of the core shaft, the upper portion of the core shaft being located inside the outer sleeve while the lower portion of the core shaft being located outside the outer sleeve; an upper liquid chamber formed in an upper portion of the outer sleeve, a lower end of the upper liquid chamber being connected to a top of the core shaft; and a lower liquid chamber formed in a lower portion of outer sleeve, the lower liquid chamber and the upper liquid chamber being connected with each other through a metal-rubber main spring. At least one flow channel body is provided in the metal-rubber main spring, so that liquid in the upper liquid chamber and liquid in the lower liquid chamber are communicated with each other through the flow channel body.