Stepped Pendulum Roller for Centrifugal Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing centrifugal pendulum devices in motor vehicle drive trains face issues with noise, wear, and rotational irregularities due to the use of collars and centering rims, which increase friction and complexity, and require additional spacer elements.

Innovation Solution

A centrifugal pendulum device with a spherical roller having a step-bolt-like shape and centering sections designed as ramp-like transitions, eliminating the need for collars and spacers, reducing wear and noise by allowing the pendulum mass to be guided with minimal friction and improved alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If collars and centering rims are used to guide the pendulum mass, then the pendulum mass can be constrained and guided, but friction increases and wear occurs on the collars and carrier part

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance of pendulum massVSAvoidwear and friction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the collars from the pendulum roller design. Instead of using collars to guide the pendulum mass, the patent uses a stepped roller geometry where the pendulum mass is guided by the stepped surfaces and centering sections directly integrated into the roller body, removing the source of wear and friction associated with collars

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the centering function and guidance function into the roller body itself through integrated centering sections and stepped surfaces. The centering sections with ramp-like transitions are directly formed as part of the roller geometry, combining multiple functions (guidance, centering, and mass support) into a single unified component that eliminates separate wearing parts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If collars and spacers are used to maintain distances and prevent contact, then the pendulum mass remains separated from the carrier part, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of contactVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the spacer elements from the design. The distance maintenance and contact prevention functions are achieved through the stepped roller geometry and centering sections, which inherently maintain proper spacing between the pendulum mass and carrier part without requiring separate spacer components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the spacing and positioning functions into the roller body geometry itself. The stepped surfaces and centering sections are integrated features of the roller that simultaneously provide distance maintenance, alignment, and contact prevention, eliminating the need for separate spacer components and reducing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If collars with larger diameter are used to guide the pendulum mass, then the guidance is provided, but the pendulum roller requires larger dimensions and increased bending loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance functionVSAvoidroller dimensions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by creating localized contact surfaces on the roller body. Instead of requiring a uniformly large-diameter roller with collars, the patent uses stepped surfaces and centering sections that provide guidance only where needed, concentrating the guidance function in specific localized areas of the roller geometry rather than requiring overall larger dimensions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 design reduces wear on the pendulum mass carrier and pendulum mass, improves noise behavior, and simplifies the construction by eliminating the need for spacers and centering rims, resulting in a more robust and cost-effective solution with reduced bending loads and precise guidance.

Implementation Method 1

at least one pendulum mass which is arranged displaceably on the pendulum mass carrier part under the action of centrifugal force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP2861889B1Centrifugal-force pendulum device comprising a pendulum roller
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG
  • EP2861889B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2861889B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a pendulum roller (44) for a centrifugal-force pendulum device with at least one pendulum mass (84, 88) and a pendulum mass support part (86), said pendulum roller having a pendulum roller rotational axis, two first roller portions, each of which has a first diameter, and a second roller portion, which is arranged between the first roller portions in the direction of extension of the pendulum roller rotational axis and which has a second diameter. The first diameter is smaller than the second diameter, and a centering portion which is formed as a ramp-like transition between the first diameter and the second diameter is arranged between each of the first roller portions and the second roller portion in order to improve the structure and/or the function of the pendulum roller (44). The invention also relates to a centrifugal-force pendulum device, in particular for a powertrain of a motor vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine, having a pendulum mass support part (86) which can be rotated about a rotational axis and at least one pendulum mass (84, 88) which is arranged on the pendulum mass support part (86) so as to be movable under the effect of centrifugal force, the at least one pendulum mass (84, 88) being guided on the pendulum mass support part (86) by means of at least one such pendulum roller (44) in order to provide a centrifugal-force pendulum device which is structurally and/or functionally improved.