Spring Isolator with Reinforcing Insert and Drain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring isolators fail to effectively isolate road noise and high-frequency vibrations while providing structural support without compromising the pierce point or ride quality.
Innovation Solution
A spring isolator assembly featuring a reinforcing insert with a ramp and spring stop, integrated with a radial outer layer of moldable flexible material, including a drain to remove water and debris, and a track/groove system to distribute and dissipate load, ensuring consistent performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring isolator is designed to isolate road noise and high-frequency vibrations, then vibration isolation performance is improved, but structural support capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spring isolator employs a composite structure combining a flexible material outer layer with an integrated reinforcing insert. The flexible material (such as rubber or polymer) provides vibration isolation and noise damping through its viscoelastic properties, while the reinforcing insert (made of rigid material like metal or hard plastic) maintains structural integrity and support capability. This composite design allows both soft and hard characteristics to coexist in a single component.
Solution Approach 2:
The isolator is segmented into distinct functional zones: the flexible material portion handles vibration and noise isolation, while the reinforcing insert provides structural support. The ramp and spring stop features are integrated as separate functional elements within the composite structure, allowing each segment to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
2Loss of energy
If the spring isolator uses a flexible material to absorb vibrations, then vibration damping is improved, but load-bearing capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible material outer layer dissipates vibration energy through hysteresis and internal friction, converting mechanical vibration energy into heat. The integrated reinforcing insert compensates for the reduced load-bearing capacity by providing a rigid load path, ensuring the isolator can support static and dynamic loads while the flexible material handles vibration damping.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the isolator have different material properties optimized for their specific functions. The flexible material is positioned where vibration absorption is needed, while the reinforcing insert is strategically placed to provide structural support and load-bearing capacity. The ramp and spring stop areas utilize the reinforcing insert to maintain geometric stability under load.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the spring track is sealed to protect internal components, then protection from contaminants is improved, but water and debris accumulation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than completely sealing the spring track, the design extracts the drainage function by incorporating drains that allow water and debris to be removed from the internal cavity. The drains are positioned to enable passive drainage under gravity, preventing accumulation while still providing protection from external contaminants through the flexible material barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible material acts as an intermediary barrier that protects internal components from external contaminants while allowing for controlled drainage. The drains serve as intermediary channels that safely conduct water and debris out of the sealed cavity, mediating between the need for protection and the need for drainage.
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 effectively isolates road noise and vibrations, maintains structural support, and prevents accumulation of foreign materials, thereby enhancing the overall performance and durability of the spring isolator system.
Implementation Method 1
a spring isolator configured of a flexible material that is configured to receive a portion of a spring
Implementation Method 2
The spring isolator may provide support and/or secure the coil spring in a particular position. The spring isolator may maintain the position of the coil spring as the coil spring may be compressed and/or expanded during operation.
Implementation Method 3
Said spring isolator includes at least one drain, wherein the drain is configured to remove water and/or debris from the spring track.
Implementation Method 4
the spring isolator including a ramp and a spring stop, the spring isolator being configured of a flexible material that is configured to receive a portion of a spring
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3
AI summary
A spring isolator (10) that may include a reinforcing insert (14) having at least one flow hole (16), a ramp (18), and a locator pin (28); and an outer layer having a track/groove (22), an inner wall (24), and an outer wall (26). The spring isolator (10) may be molded over the reinforcing insert (14) and/or may be secured to the reinforcing insert via at least one flow hole (16). The spring isolator (10) may include a ramp, a wall, track/groove, an inner wall, and/or an outer wall that may engage and/or retain a coil spring (34). One or more locator pins (28) and/or a cavity (12) and raised portion (42) may secure the spring isolator (10) to a spring seat (32).