Milling Damper Gap Adjustment for Tunable Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing milling damping devices require downtime for adjusting damping characteristics due to the need to replace damping elements for different damping characteristics, limiting the range of achievable damping and increasing operational inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A milling damping device with a mechanism that adjusts the width of a circumferentially extending gap between meshing elements, allowing for reversible adjustment of damping characteristics without replacing damping elements, using a wedge mechanism to compress or relax the damping element based on the gap width.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If damping elements are replaced to adjust damping characteristics, then the range of damping characteristics is expanded, but the adjustment time increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping characteristic rangeVSAvoidadjustment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic adjustment mechanism where the gap between the core meshing element and housing meshing element can be continuously varied during operation. This allows the damping element to be compressed to different degrees without replacement, enabling real-time adjustment of damping characteristics from soft to hard while maintaining continuous operation and high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameter of the damping element by adjusting the gap width between meshing elements. By varying this geometric parameter, the compression degree of the damping element changes, which directly alters its damping characteristics. This allows a single damping element to provide multiple damping characteristics through parameter adjustment rather than requiring multiple different damping elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple damping elements are used for different damping characteristics, then the damping range is expanded, but the device complexity and maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping characteristic rangeVSAvoidnumber of damping elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the single damping element universal by enabling it to perform multiple damping functions through adjustable compression. The same damping element can provide soft damping, hard damping, or intermediate damping characteristics by adjusting the gap width, eliminating the need for multiple specialized damping elements and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the function of multiple damping elements into a single damping element through the adjustable gap mechanism. Instead of having separate damping elements for different damping characteristics, the system combines them into one versatile component whose effective characteristics are controlled by the variable gap between meshing elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables continuous adjustment of damping characteristics from soft to hard without downtime, enhancing operational efficiency by allowing the same damping element to be used for various damping needs, reducing maintenance time and costs.

Implementation Method 1

At least one of the core meshing element and the housing meshing element comprises a first wedge element and a second wedge element in sliding contact with the first wedge element, such that an axial displacement of the first wedge element relative to the second wedge element and parallel to the longitudinal axis is translated into a reduction of the width of the gap.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWedge mechanism: Wedge

Implementation Method 2

Making the gap narrower compresses the damping element, i.e. it becomes harder. Making the gap broader relaxes the damping element, i.e. becomes softer and more compliant.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4011531B1Milling damping device
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 CERATIZIT LUXEMBOURG SARL
  • EP4011531B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4011531B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4011531B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Milling damping device (100), comprising a damping element (1), a housing (2) and a core element (4) mounted rotatably relative to the housing (2) about a longitudinal axis (101) of the milling damping device (100), wherein a core meshing element (4a) of the core element (4) is in meshing engagement with a housing meshing element (56) of the housing (2), and wherein at least one of the core meshing element (4a) and the housing meshing element (56) is designed and arranged to reversibly adjust a circumferentially measured width of a gap (600, 610).