Elastomer-Sprung Vibration Damper With External Spring Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vibration absorbers for motor vehicle parts are expensive to manufacture, require precise preload, and occupy significant space due to their complex design and the need for additional components like pin elements, which complicates assembly and increases the risk of overloading elastomer springs.

Innovation Solution

A vibration absorber design featuring a holding device with receiving means and an absorber mass directly connected via elastomer springs, where the absorber mass acts as a deflection limiting device, eliminating the need for pin elements and allowing for a more compact and modular structure with adjustable oscillation frequency through elastomer spring hardness and geometry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a pin element is used to connect the absorber mass to the holding device, then the vibration absorber can be assembled, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pin element is extracted and removed from the system. The absorber mass is connected directly to the holding device without requiring a separate pin element, thereby reducing the number of components and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining the vibration damping function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection function previously performed by the pin element is merged into the direct connection between the absorber mass and the holding device. The absorber mass itself serves as the connecting element, eliminating the need for a separate pin component and reducing assembly complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Volume of moving object

If the elastomer spring connecting section is arranged inside the receiving means, then the structure is compact, but the gimbal deflection increases and impact forces increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation spaceVSAvoidgimbal behavior
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The elastomer spring connecting section is moved from an internal arrangement within the receiving means to an external arrangement on the outside. This spatial reconfiguration allows the connecting section to extend outward, providing better gimbal behavior and reducing impact forces while still maintaining a compact overall structure through optimized positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Length of moving object

If the absorber mass is directly mounted on the holding device without a pin element, then the longitudinal length is reduced, but the deflection limiting function must be provided by the absorber mass itself

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelongitudinal lengthVSAvoiddeflection limiting design
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The absorber mass is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as the oscillating mass for vibration damping, serves as the connecting element between the holding device and elastomer springs, and provides deflection limiting functionality. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate pin elements and stop devices, reducing the longitudinal length while maintaining all necessary functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The absorber mass itself provides the deflection limiting function that would otherwise require separate components. By designing the absorber mass with appropriate geometry and mounting features, it automatically limits its own deflection relative to the holding device, eliminating the need for additional stop devices or pin elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 dampens vibrations, reduces manufacturing costs, and improves gimbal behavior while ensuring the durability of elastomer springs by limiting deflection and preventing overloading, thus enhancing driving comfort and reducing installation space requirements.

Implementation Method 1

at least two elastomer springs (8), the elastomer springs oscillatingly coupling the absorber mass (6) to the receiving means (5)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The respective connecting section (12) of the elastomer spring (8) is arranged on the outside with respect to the respective receiving means (5). This also improves the gimbal behavior.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP4108953A1Vibration damper
Publication Date: 2022.12.28 VIBRACOUSTIC SE
  • EP4108953A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4108953A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4108953A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vibration damper for damping vibrations of a motor vehicle part, which is penetrated by a transverse median plane (Q), is proposed, comprising a holding device (4) attachable to the motor vehicle part, which has at least two receiving means (5) which each have an inner side (40) facing the transverse median plane (Q) and an outer side (42) facing away from the transverse median plane (Q), a damper mass (6) which is centrally penetrated by a longitudinal axis (A), and at least two elastomer springs (8), wherein the elastomer springs (8) couple the damper mass (6) to the receiving means (5) in a way that allows vibration, wherein at least one of the elastomer springs (8) has a connecting section (12) between the damper mass (6) and the respective receiving means (5), which runs at least predominantly on the outside with respect to the respective receiving means (5).