Resilient Pulsation Attenuator for Wide Frequency Band

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing attenuation devices for fluid systems are either too bulky and heavy due to gas volumes, limiting their use in space-constrained applications, or are limited to higher frequencies, preventing effective use in automotive engineering for wide frequency bands.

Innovation Solution

A compact and lightweight attenuation device using a combination of annular bodies made of different materials with varying resilience, arranged to optimize attenuation characteristics within specific frequency bands, housed in a double-walled casing with fluid-tight separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hydropneumatic attenuators with additional gas volume are used, then good attenuation properties are achieved in frequency band from very low frequencies to about 400 Hz, but the device becomes bulky and heavy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattenuation actionVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the gas volume from the attenuation device, replacing it with a resilient material that provides attenuation through its elastic properties rather than gas compression. This eliminates the need for a gas-filled chamber while maintaining attenuation functionality, thereby reducing weight and volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the hydraulic-mechanical system (gas compression) with a material science-based solution (resilient material deformation). The resilient material absorbs pressure pulsations through its inherent elasticity, substituting the mechanical gas compression mechanism with a material property-based attenuation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If hydropneumatic attenuators with additional gas volume are used, then good attenuation properties are achieved in frequency band from very low frequencies to about 400 Hz, but the device becomes bulky

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattenuation actionVSAvoidvolume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the gas volume from the attenuation device, replacing it with a resilient material that provides attenuation through its elastic properties rather than gas compression. This eliminates the need for a gas-filled chamber while maintaining attenuation functionality, thereby reducing weight and volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a resilient material that acts as a flexible attenuation element within the device. This flexible material provides the necessary compliance for attenuation without requiring the rigid, voluminous gas-filled chambers of traditional hydropneumatic attenuators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Weight of stationary object

If silencers are used, then compact and lightweight construction is achieved, but attenuation action is sufficient only at higher frequencies of more than about 200 Hz

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveweightVSAvoidfrequency band coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the resilient material (density, hardness, geometry) to tune the attenuation characteristics across different frequency ranges. By selecting appropriate material parameters, the device achieves effective attenuation from very low frequencies up to high frequencies, extending the usable frequency band beyond what traditional silencers can provide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite construction combining the resilient material with the casing structure to create a multi-functional attenuation element. This composite approach allows the device to maintain compact dimensions while achieving broad frequency coverage through the combined properties of the resilient material and structural components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 provides effective attenuation across a wide frequency band, ensuring optimal performance in automotive applications while maintaining a lightweight and compact design, reducing temperature-dependent variations and gas losses.

Implementation Method 1

An attenuation element in the form of a resilient material is located in the casing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

An attenuation element of resilient material is located in the casing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscoelasticity: Viscoelasticity

Implementation Method 3

reducing the resulting vibrations and noise

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS8132645B2Attenuation device particularly pulsation attenuator

Publication Date: 2012.03.13 HYDAC TECH GMBH

AI summary

An attenuation device, particularly a pulsation attenuator, has a casing (1) defining a fluid chamber (11) through which a fluid may flow along a flow axis (7), and has an attenuation element made of a resilient material located within the casing (1). The attenuation element has at least two annular bodies (15, 17) that are disposed in an at least partially overlapping manner, surrounding the flow axis (7) at least partially.