Spring Damping Element with Parallel Elastomer and Steel Springs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring-damping elements fail to provide a soft, temperature-independent vertical suspension with comfortable damping while maintaining stiff horizontal guidance, requiring minimal installation space and ensuring long service life without wear.
Innovation Solution
The arrangement of an elastomer spring and a steel spring acting in parallel, with the elastomer spring dividing a hydraulic medium-filled volume into two working spaces connected via a damping channel, and the steel spring designed as a helical spring enclosing a pot-shaped container, ensures hydraulic damping and adjustable damping characteristics depending on frequency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rubber spring is used as the main suspension spring, then vertical damping is provided, but the spring characteristic becomes temperature-dependent and less reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a rubber spring and a steel spring in parallel to merge their functions. The steel spring provides temperature-independent elastic support, while the rubber spring contributes vertical damping. This combination resolves the temperature dependency issue by not relying solely on the rubber spring for the main suspension function.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension system uses a composite arrangement of different materials (rubber and steel) with complementary properties. The steel spring offers thermal stability and linear elastic behavior, while the rubber spring provides nonlinear damping characteristics, creating a composite system that overcomes the limitations of individual materials.
2Ease of operation
If an elastomer spring with lower vertical stiffness is used, then comfortable suspension is achieved, but horizontal guidance becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomer spring is designed with anisotropic properties where the vertical stiffness is deliberately reduced for comfort, while the horizontal stiffness is maintained high for guidance. This local quality differentiation allows the same component to fulfill opposing requirements in different directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomer spring exhibits asymmetric stiffness characteristics, being softer in the vertical direction and stiffer in the horizontal direction. This asymmetry is intentionally designed to provide comfortable vertical suspension while maintaining firm horizontal guidance for proper wheel alignment.
3Force
If a liquid-filled bearing with rubber spring and steel spring in series is used, then vertical spring forces and lateral shock resistance are absorbed, but the overall height increases and the steel spring serves only as overload protection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the steel spring and elastomer spring in parallel rather than in series, allowing both springs to actively participate in force absorption simultaneously. This eliminates the need for a tall series arrangement and enables the steel spring to contribute to normal operation, not just overload protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a vertical series arrangement (one dimension) to a parallel concentric arrangement (utilizing radial space). This dimensional change allows both springs to work together without increasing overall height, as they share the same vertical space rather than stacking vertically.
4Loss of energy
If damping is provided through a complex row arrangement of damping devices, then vertical damping is achieved, but the installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damping devices are nested concentrically around the spring assembly, with damping elements positioned in the annular space between the springs and the housing. This nesting approach provides effective damping without increasing the overall footprint or installation space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic medium serves multiple functions: it provides damping forces during vertical motion, lubricates moving parts, and can be contained within the existing structural space. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated damping components that would increase space requirements.
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 provides a soft vertical spring characteristic, temperature-independent performance, and rigid horizontal guidance, enabling effective damping and stable lateral support, particularly suitable for vehicle chassis applications under high loads and tight rail radii.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomer spring arranged between the unsprung and sprung mass with a lower spring stiffness in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction
Implementation Method 2
a steel spring arranged between the unsprung and sprung mass that can only be loaded in the vertical direction
Implementation Method 3
spring movements of the spring-damping element in the vertical direction are subject to hydraulic damping
Implementation Method 4
a damping element consisting of two damping devices, with a fluid flowing through/around an annular gap on the one hand and a damping plate on the other
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a spring damping element (1) having varying spring constants in the vertical and horizontal load direction, wherein the spring damping element transfers the primary spring forces in the vertical load direction and substantially transfers guiding forces in the horizontal direction, and an elastomer spring (2) and a steel spring (3) are arranged between a spring-loaded and a non-spring-loaded mass acting in parallel and concentrically so that one spring encloses the other spring, and so that the elastomer spring divides a volume filled with a hydraulic medium (5) into two operating chambers (9, 10) that are connected by a separating element having a damping channel (11) so that spring movements of the spring damping element are subject to hydraulic damping in the vertical direction.