Nested Connecting Element for Damping Element Gas Spring Volume

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing damping elements in vehicles often have a connecting element that extends non-coaxially, leading to a small volume of compressible medium, resulting in a steep and uncomfortable spring characteristic due to limited space, which affects vibration isolation between the passenger cell and wheels or chassis.

Innovation Solution

The connecting element is designed with a tube cross-section matching the cylinder's inner diameter, tightly connected to the cylinder, allowing the compressible medium to occupy the entire connecting element and part of the cylinder, with a displaceable piston limited by the connecting element's end face, providing a larger volume for a flatter spring characteristic and easy installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the connecting element is designed as a cylindrical tube extending at an angle to the cylinder axis, then the connecting element can be routed around other components, but the volume of compressible medium is reduced leading to a steep spring characteristic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting flexibilityVSAvoidvolume of compressible medium
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting element is inserted into the cylinder, nesting one component within another. This allows the connecting element to extend non-coaxially for routing flexibility while utilizing the cylinder's internal space to maintain a large volume of compressible medium, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If the connecting element extends non-coaxially, then installation flexibility is improved, but the spring characteristic becomes steep and uncomfortable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidsteep spring characteristic
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By nesting the connecting element inside the cylinder, the design achieves non-coaxial extension for installation flexibility while maintaining sufficient compressible medium volume to avoid steep spring characteristic, thus eliminating the harmful effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Volume of moving object

If the connecting element is tightly connected to the cylinder, then the volume of compressible medium is maximized, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume of compressible mediumVSAvoidconnection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting element's own end face serves as the stop for the separating piston, eliminating the need for separate stopping mechanisms. This self-service approach achieves tight connection for maximum compressible medium volume while keeping manufacturing simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Stability of the object's composition

If the end face of the connecting element is aligned perpendicular to the cylinder axis, then tilting of the separating piston is avoided, but the design flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiston alignment stabilityVSAvoiddesign flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting element's end face automatically serves as the stop for the separating piston, with its orientation perpendicular to the cylinder axis. This self-service design ensures piston alignment stability while the connecting element itself can still be shaped flexibly to adapt to installation conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

This configuration results in a flatter spring characteristic and reduced temperature influence on the gas spring, with easy production and installation, avoiding bending moments and allowing coaxial loading, thus improving vibration isolation comfort and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a cylinder (1) in which a piston (2) is slidably arranged, which divides the interior of the cylinder into a first cylinder chamber (3) and a second cylinder chamber (4), both of which are filled with a hydraulic medium, with a throttle connection between the first and the second cylinder chamber (3, 4)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Pascal's Law

Implementation Method 2

an area of the connecting element (8), which is filled with a pressurized compressible medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas compression: Boyle's Law

Data Source

PatentEP2690308B1Damping element
Publication Date: 2019.07.24 ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • EP2690308B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2690308B1 patent drawingFigure 2~5

AI summary

The damping element has a cylinder (1) in which a piston (2) is displaceably arranged, so that the cylinder interior is divided into two cylinder chambers (3,4). An end portion (10) of a connecting element (8) is extended coaxially to the cylinder, such that the outer diameter of the end portion is firmly and tightly connected with the inner diameter of the cylinder. A movable separating piston (11) is slidably located in the cylinder, so that the displacement of the separating piston is limited to the end region of the cylinder through the end face (13) of the connecting element.