MR Fluid Damper Sealing Structure for Stable Washer Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional magnetic viscous fluid dampers in washing machines face issues with fluid leakage due to dimensional and assembly precision errors, leading to reduced vibration damping force and variable characteristics.
Innovation Solution
The use of a thermoplastic resin to mold and fix the coil assembly, including yokes and bobbins, with sealing members to prevent magnetic viscous fluid leakage, ensuring precise alignment and enhanced fixation strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If dimensional precision and assembly precision of components are reduced to simplify manufacturing, then ease of manufacture is improved, but gaps occur between components allowing magnetic viscous fluid to leak
Solution Approach 1:
A seal member (intermediary component) is introduced between the bobbin and yokes to prevent magnetic viscous fluid leakage. The seal member compensates for gaps caused by dimensional variations in the bobbin and yokes, maintaining sealing effectiveness without requiring high manufacturing precision of the original components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the sealing mechanism from relying on precise dimensional parameters of the bobbin and yokes to using a seal member with specific elastic properties and cross-sectional shape. This parameter change allows the sealing function to be decoupled from the manufacturing precision of the main structural components.
2Device complexity
If fixation of the bobbin and yokes to the cylinder becomes insufficient to reduce assembly complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but vibration damping force decreases and characteristics vary
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing portions are merged into a single integrated structure formed by resin molding. The resin simultaneously bonds the bobbin and yokes to the cylinder, combining multiple fastening functions into one operation, thereby reducing assembly complexity while ensuring consistent fixation strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Resin material is used as a composite bonding agent to fix the bobbin and yokes to the cylinder. The resin provides both mechanical bonding and gap-filling properties, ensuring reliable fixation without requiring complex mechanical fastening structures.
3Reliability
If a seal is provided between the shaft and yokes to prevent leakage, then reliability is improved, but when dimensional precision is reduced, the seal becomes ineffective and fluid leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing approach changes from relying on tight dimensional tolerances of the shaft and yokes to using a seal member with specific elastic properties. The seal member's cross-sectional shape and material characteristics enable it to maintain sealing pressure and prevent leakage even when component dimensions vary within acceptable ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
An elastic seal member (flexible element) is used to create the sealing interface between the shaft and yokes. The flexibility of the seal member allows it to deform and compensate for dimensional variations in the rigid components, maintaining effective sealing without requiring high manufacturing precision.
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
Prevents fluid leakage and maintains consistent vibration damping performance by improving dimensional precision and assembly strength, thereby enhancing the mechanical integrity and reliability of the damper.
Implementation Method 1
one which is known employs as an operating fluid a magnetic viscous fluid (MR fluid) changing its viscosity according to the intensity of magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
a seal is provided between the shaft and the yokes to prevent the magnetic viscous fluid from leaking
Data Source
AI summary
A damper includes a bobbin which is housed in a cylinder and on which a coil is wound and yokes housed in the cylinder. At least one of the yokes is disposed at a first axial side of the bobbin, and at least one other of the yokes is disposed at a second axial side of the bobbin. A magnetic viscous fluid is retained on inner surfaces of the yokes and an inner surface of the bobbin. Sealing members are configured to prevent leakage of the magnetic viscous fluid. A shaft extends through the yokes, the bobbin and the sealing members and is configured to be axially reciprocable relative to the yokes, the bobbin and the sealing members such that reciprocation of the shaft does not substantially displace the magnetic viscous fluid. The coil, the bobbin and the yokes are fixed together by a resin.