Pendulum Rocker Damper Pretensioning to Prevent Roller Lift-Off

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pendulum rocker dampers in drive trains face issues with roller movement slippage, noise, and increased wear due to potential sliding and loss of contact force, especially at low torsion angles or torque levels, leading to rattling and vibration problems in motor vehicles.

Innovation Solution

The pendulum rocker damper incorporates a secondary energy storage element that exerts a second pretensioning force perpendicular to the roller tracks, ensuring a minimum pretensioning force and preventing roller lift-off, while also shifting the natural frequency of the system to non-critical ranges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the pendulum rocker damper uses only a first energy storage element for pretensioning rollers on roller tracks, then the device complexity is reduced, but roller lift-off occurs at low torsion angles or low torque levels causing rattling and noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of energy storage elementsVSAvoidrattling and noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pretensioning function is segmented into two independent energy storage elements: the first energy storage element provides primary pretensioning force along the roller track direction, while the second energy storage element provides additional pretensioning force perpendicular to the roller track. This segmentation ensures that both force components are independently controlled, preventing roller lift-off and eliminating rattling and noise without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Use of energy by moving object

If the pendulum rocker damper operates at minimum torsion angle or low torque level, then the energy consumption is reduced, but the rollers lose contact force with roller tracks causing slippage and wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidroller contact stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The second energy storage element is configured to exert a pretensioning force component perpendicular to the roller track direction, acting in advance to maintain continuous contact between rollers and roller tracks. This preliminary action ensures that even at minimum torsion angles or low torque levels, the rollers remain firmly pressed against the tracks, preventing slippage and wear while allowing the damper to operate with reduced energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the pendulum rocker damper allows natural vibration modes at low frequencies (15-40 Hz), then the system responds dynamically to operational excitations, but the rollers are brought into resonance causing vibration and noise modulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic response to excitationVSAvoidvibration and noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The second energy storage element modifies the vibration characteristics of the pendulum rocker damper by adding a pretensioning force component perpendicular to the roller track. This changes the natural frequencies of the system, shifting them away from the critical 15-40 Hz range where operational excitations occur. The modified vibration behavior prevents resonance, eliminating the harmful modulation of contact forces that causes vibration and noise, while the system retains its dynamic response capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

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 effectively prevents roller slippage and noise, reduces wear, and maintains consistent torque transmission by ensuring continuous contact between rollers and tracks, even under dynamic conditions.

Implementation Method 1

at least one first energy storage element (9) for exerting a first pretensioning force (10)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

at least one second energy storage element (15), which is configured to exert a second pretensioning force (16)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

The at least one roller (11, 12) is mounted such that it can roll on a rocker-side roller track (13) and an outer roller track (14)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling: Roller

Data Source

PatentUS20250052283A1Pendulum rocker damper with an axis of rotation for a drive train

Publication Date: 2025.02.13 SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG

AI summary

A pendulum rocker damper includes an axis of rotation, a first outer connection, a primary side connected to the first outer connection, a second outer connection, a secondary side connected to the second outer connection, a rocker element, a rocker-side roller track, an outer roller track complementary to the rocker-side roller track, a roller arranged to roll on the roller tracks, and first and second energy storage elements. The first energy storage element is arranged to pretension the roller against the rocker-side roller track and the outer roller track. The second energy storage element is arranged in the roller, or in the rocker-side roller track or in the outer roller track, and arranged to pretension the roller against one of the rocker-side roller track or the outer roller track when the first energy storage element is in a resting position.