Integral Metal Piston Damping Structure for Durable Fluid Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing damping devices for furniture, such as those disclosed in US patents US 9,021,656 B2 and US 9,057,214 B2, face issues with structural complexity and potential damage due to material differences between piston rods and pistons under great pressure, leading to inefficiencies and durability concerns.

Innovation Solution

A damping device with a housing, cover assembly, piston rod, piston, and elastic member, where the piston rod and piston are integrally formed from a metal material, and a groove in the housing allows a damping medium to flow, providing a consistent cross-sectional area for efficient damping medium flow and reduced structural complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the piston rod and piston are made of different materials (metal piston rod and plastic piston), then the damping device can be manufactured with simpler material requirements, but the piston may be damaged due to long-term use under great pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial selection flexibilityVSAvoidpiston durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the piston rod and piston into a single integrally formed component made of metal material. This eliminates the interface between different materials (metal piston rod and plastic piston) and ensures uniform mechanical properties throughout the component, resolving the reliability issue while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through integral forming processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the piston rod and piston are integrally formed from metal material, then the structural strength and durability are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiston durabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The piston rod and piston are combined into a single integrally formed metal component, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly of these parts. This approach improves reliability through uniform material properties while the integral forming process keeps manufacturing complexity manageable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If the groove in the housing has constant cross-sectional area, then the damping medium flow efficiency is improved, but the housing design complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping medium flow efficiencyVSAvoidhousing design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing incorporates a groove with constant cross-sectional area specifically in the region where damping medium flow efficiency is critical. This localized design feature optimizes fluid flow without requiring the entire housing to be redesigned, thus improving productivity while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 enhances structural strength and simplifies the damping device structure, reducing the risk of damage and improving the damping effect by ensuring the piston rod and piston are made from the same material, while maintaining efficient medium flow for effective damping performance.

Implementation Method 1

The elastic member is arranged in the chamber of the housing and configured to provide an elastic force to the piston

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The groove is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the housing and has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3214246B1Damping device
Publication Date: 2022.09.21 KING SLIDE WORKS CO LTD
  • EP3214246B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3214246B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3214246B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A damping device (20, 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e, 20f, 20g) includes a housing (22), a cover assembly (34), a piston rod (30), a piston (24) and an elastic member (32). The housing (22) has an inner wall (40) defining a chamber (36), and an opening (38). The chamber (36) is filled with a damping medium (52). The cover assembly (34) is arranged adjacent to the opening (38). The piston rod (30) penetrates through the cover assembly (34). The piston (24) is connected to the piston rod (30) . The piston (24) includes an extension part (54) and an expansion part (56) located between the piston rod (30) and the extension part (54). A width of the expansion part (56) is greater than a width of the piston rod (30). The elastic member (32) is arranged in the chamber (36, and configured to provide an elastic force to the piston (24).