Torsional Damper Support Structure Against Elastic Element Detachment

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional damper devices face challenges in maintaining torsional characteristics while preventing the elastic element from being detached due to centrifugal forces, which often requires increasing the device size or degrading its performance.

Innovation Solution

A damper device design that includes a support member with a restrictor, such as a protrusion and hook mechanism, to inhibit the support member and elastic element from detaching from the rotational elements, allowing the elastic element to be placed further radially outward without adding additional restricting members, thus maintaining performance and size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the elastic element is placed on the outer circumferential side of the rotational elements, then the elastic element can be secured against detachment by centrifugal force, but the size of the damper device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of elastic element detachmentVSAvoidsize of damper device

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

a support member that is intervenient between the third rotational element and the first elastic element, to support the first elastic element; and a restrictor provided with the third rotational element, to: rotatably support the support member in a plane orthogonal to the rotational center, restrict the support member from rotating beyond a certain angle, and restrict the support member from moving away from the third rotational element in the rotational directions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If the elastic element is placed more radially inward to prevent device size increase, then the device size is reduced, but the torsional characteristics of the damper device degrade

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of damper deviceVSAvoidtorsional characteristics

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

a support member that is intervenient between the third rotational element and the first elastic element, to support the first elastic element; and a restrictor provided with the third rotational element, to: rotatably support the support member in a plane orthogonal to the rotational center

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If an additional restricting member is added on the outer circumferential side of the elastic element to prevent detachment, then detachment is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of elastic element detachmentVSAvoidnumber of additional members

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

a support member that is intervenient between the third rotational element and the first elastic element, to support the first elastic element; and a restrictor provided with the third rotational element, to: rotatably support the support member in a plane orthogonal to the rotational center, restrict the support member from rotating beyond a certain angle, and restrict the support member from moving away from the third rotational element in the rotational directions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 effectively prevents detachment of the elastic element while maintaining or improving torsional characteristics, allowing the elastic element to be positioned radially outward without increasing the device size, thereby enhancing the damper device's performance and stability.

Implementation Method 1

a first elastic element that is located between the first rotational element and the third rotational element and is elastically compressed by relative rotation of the first rotational element with respect to the third rotational element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic compression: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

A centrifugal force acts on the elastic element of the damper device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentUS11566683B2Damper device

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 AISIN CORP

AI summary

A damper device includes first to third rotating elements rotatable about a rotational center; a first elastic element located between the first and third rotational elements and compressed by relative rotation of the first rotational element to the third rotational element in one rotational direction; a second elastic element located between the second and third rotational elements and compressed by relative rotation of the third rotational element to the second rotational element in the one rotational direction, a support member intervenient between the third rotational element and the first elastic element to support the first elastic element; and a restrictor provided with the third rotational element to rotatably support the support member in a plane orthogonal to the rotational center, to restrict the support member from rotating beyond a certain angle and from moving away from the third rotational element in rotational directions.