Lockable Gas Spring Inner Tube Finish for Low Piston Friction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas springs suffer from high friction forces on the floating piston due to rough inner tube surfaces, leading to premature wear and potential leakage, which compromises the sealing performance and lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A low resistance lockable gas spring design with an inner tube and outer tube configuration, featuring a floating piston and multiple sealed chambers, reduces friction through low surface roughness and optimized sealing, ensuring stable operation and minimal leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the inner tube surface has large roughness to generate larger friction force, then the floating piston is easier to control, but the floating piston wears out quickly and sealing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface quality requirements to different locations: the inner tube surface where the floating piston moves is designed with low roughness (Ra≤0.8μm) to reduce friction and wear, while other surfaces maintain normal roughness for adequate friction control. This localized quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between needing friction for control and preventing wear for reliability.
2Force
If the inner tube surface has large roughness to generate larger friction force, then the floating piston is easier to control, but the floating piston lifetime is short
Solution Approach 1:
The inner tube surface in contact with the floating piston is specifically treated to have low roughness (Ra≤0.8μm) only in the sliding region, while maintaining normal roughness elsewhere. This localized smooth surface reduces friction and wear on the floating piston, extending its service life while other surfaces maintain adequate friction for control.
3Force
If the inner tube surface has large roughness to generate larger friction force, then the floating piston is easier to control, but leakage of liquid and gas is more likely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that the inner tube surface where the floating piston slides must have low roughness (Ra≤0.8μm) to minimize leakage paths and improve sealing. This localized surface quality improvement prevents liquid and gas leakage while other surfaces maintain normal characteristics for friction control.
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 design enhances the lifespan of the floating piston by reducing friction, improves sealing performance, and minimizes gas and oil leakage, while maintaining high locking force and quick response.
Implementation Method 1
the roughness on the outer surface of the inner tube is normally pretty large, to generate the larger friction force during the motion of the floating piston
Implementation Method 2
the end of the valve needle away from the top rod extends through the valve chamber and into the lower chamber, and the end of the valve needle away from the top rod has a flow stopper aligned to the valve piston
Implementation Method 3
The valve piston has a valve chamber and an overflow hole for connecting the upper chamber with the valve chamber
Implementation Method 4
The pressure inside the chamber/tube is several or over ten times higher than the air pressure outside. The pressure difference generated by the cross-sectional area of the piston rod smaller than the cross-sectional area of the piston will move the piston rod up and down.
Data Source
AI summary
A gas spring having concentric outer and inner tubes that define a first chamber between the tubes is provided with a floating piston sealingly and slidingly radially disposed against an inner surface of the inner tube and axially disposed between a valve piston and a rear cap.