Intermeshing Rib Damper for Leak-Free Temperature-Stable Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing damper apparatuses have complex constructions that are prone to leakage and temperature-dependent dampening behavior, making them costly and inefficient for manufacturing and assembly, while also being sensitive to ambient conditions.
Innovation Solution
A damper apparatus with a blade or rib structure and a ridge structure that uses elastic deformation to convert kinetic energy into thermal energy, eliminating the need for fluid displacement and allowing for adjustable and temperature-independent dampening, featuring a modular design for easy adaptation to specific applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air or hydraulic dampers with working fluid displacement are used, then dampening function is achieved, but construction complexity increases and leakage risk arises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the working fluid system from the damper, replacing it with a dry friction mechanism. The blade structure interacts directly with the housing through controlled friction without requiring seals, reservoirs, or fluid pathways, thereby simplifying construction while maintaining dampening reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the hydraulic/mechanical fluid displacement system with a pure mechanical friction-based damping mechanism. The blade-housing interaction generates friction forces that provide dampening without requiring any fluid medium, thus reducing construction complexity and eliminating leakage risks.
2Force
If liquid working media such as oils are used, then dampening force is generated, but temperature-dependent viscosity changes affect dampening behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fluid-based viscous damping with solid-based friction damping. The friction force between the blade and housing depends primarily on normal force and friction coefficient, both of which are relatively temperature-independent compared to liquid viscosity. This substitution eliminates the temperature-dependent dampening behavior characteristic of oil-based dampers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental damping mechanism from viscous force (fluid-based) to friction force (solid-based). This parameter change in the physical mechanism eliminates sensitivity to temperature-induced viscosity variations, providing more consistent dampening force across different operating temperatures.
3Reliability
If complex sealing arrangements are implemented to prevent leakage, then reliability improves, but manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sealing system entirely from the damper design by eliminating the working fluid. Without fluid containment requirements, complex seals, gaskets, and sealing arrangements are unnecessary, greatly simplifying manufacturing and assembly while maintaining reliability through the sealed-free friction mechanism.
4Reliability
If rotary or linear dampers with multiple components are used, then dampening capability is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional components into a unified blade-housing structure. The blade serves simultaneously as the damping element, the friction surface, and the structural component, eliminating the need for separate seals, fluid reservoirs, pistons, or linkages found in traditional dampers, thereby reducing component count while maintaining dampening capability.
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 simplifies the construction of the damper apparatus, reduces noise, and provides a consistent dampening characteristic that is independent of temperature, while being cost-effective and adaptable to various applications through modular components.
Implementation Method 1
The dampening mechanism comprises a blade or rib structure connected to the first or second damper component with a plurality of protruding regions, which are elastically deflectable at least partially or regionally in the direction of movement of the first damper component relative to the second damper component
Implementation Method 2
The dampening mechanism comprises a ridge structure connected to the second or first damper component having at least one tooth or protrusion, wherein, at least in a state in which the second damper component is not moved relative to the first damper component, the at least one tooth or protrusion of the ridge structure is arranged at least partially or regionally in an intermeshing manner between two adjacent protruding regions of the blade or rib structure
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a damper apparatus for dampening a movement of a second part movable relative to a first part. The damper apparatus includes a first damper component, a second damper component, and a dampening mechanism arranged between the first and second damper components. The second damper component is movable, at least partially or regionally, relative to the first damper component. The dampening mechanism reduces a movement of the second damper component relative to the first damper component. The damper apparatus includes a blade or rib structure connected to the first or second damper component with protruding regions, such as blades, ribs, or knobs. The protruding regions are elastically deflectable at least partially or regionally in the direction of movement of the first damper component relative to the second damper component. The dampening mechanism includes a ridge structure connected to the second or first damper component having at least one and preferably a plurality of teeth or protrusions. The tooth or protrusion of the ridge structure is arranged at least partially or regionally in an intermeshing manner between two adjacent protruding regions of the blade or rib structure.