Vibration Isolation Device With Segmented Stopper Elastic Body

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vibration isolation devices experience sudden increases in spring constant when the stopper surface comes into contact with the opposing surface, leading to restricted relative movement and potential durability issues.

Innovation Solution

The vibration isolation device incorporates a stopper elastic body with a hollow portion, where the counter-stopper surface is initially non-contact and deforms to expand and contact the elastic body, distributing load and preventing sudden spring constant increases by using multiple stopper elastic bodies to manage varying loads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the stopper surface comes into contact with the opposing surface to restrict relative movement, then the reliability is improved, but the spring constant suddenly increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidspring constant
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper elastic body is divided into multiple stopper surfaces (first stopper surface, second stopper surface, third stopper surface) that contact the opposing surface at different positions and timings. This segmentation allows the load to be distributed across multiple contact points, preventing sudden spring constant increases while maintaining reliable vibration isolation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper elastic body extends in the left-right direction (width direction) in addition to the front-rear direction, creating multiple stopper surfaces that contact the opposing surface at different locations. This dimensional extension transforms a single-point contact into a distributed multi-point contact system, suppressing sudden spring constant changes.

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

2Strength

If the stopper elastic body is made larger to distribute load, then the spring constant increase is suppressed, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespring constantVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper elastic body performs multiple functions: it acts as both a stopper to restrict relative movement and as a load-distributing element through its counter-stopper surface that contacts the elastic body. This multi-functionality allows load distribution without adding separate components, maintaining simplicity while suppressing spring constant increases.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The counter-stopper surface of the stopper elastic body is integrated with the hollow portion structure, combining the stopper function and the load-distribution function into a single component. This merging avoids increasing device complexity while achieving the dual benefits of vibration isolation and spring constant suppression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If the counter-stopper surface is positioned to contact the elastic body, then the load distribution is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload distributionVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The counter-stopper surface is positioned to contact the elastic body before the stopper surface contacts the opposing surface during normal operation. This prior cushioning ensures that the stopper elastic body gradually deforms and distributes the load, reducing the need for high manufacturing precision while maintaining effective load distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The design allows for parameter variations in the positioning of the counter-stopper surface relative to the stopper surface. By changing the spatial parameters and allowing overlap or proximity without precise alignment, the manufacturing precision requirements are reduced while still achieving effective load distribution through the elastic body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively suppresses sudden increases in spring constant, improving durability by allowing the device to handle larger loads without excessive burden on the stopper elastic bodies and ensuring reliable vibration isolation.

Implementation Method 1

When a compressive load is applied to the stopper elastic body in a front-rear direction, the stopper elastic body can be deformed such that the counter-stopper surface expands in the front-rear direction and come into contact with the elastic body.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3203108B1Vibration isolation device
Publication Date: 2019.07.24 BRIDGESTONE CORP
  • EP3203108B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3203108B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3203108B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The vibration isolation device (10) includes a first mounting member (11) connected to one of a vibration generating portion and a vibration receiving portion, and a second mounting member (12) connected to the other thereof; and an elastic body (13) disposed between the mounting members. On either one of opposing surfaces (24, 25) that oppose each other, respectively on the first mounting member (11) and the second mounting member (12), a stopper elastic body (27) having a stopper surface (26) which faces the other of the opposing surfaces (24, 25) such as to be capable of coming into contact therewith, and a hollow portion (30) in which the stopper elastic body (27) is disposed, are provided. The stopper elastic body (27) is fitted into the hollow portion (30) such that, among the surfaces of the stopper elastic body (27), a counter-stopper surface (34) which faces the direction opposed to the stopper surface (26), is in a state of non-contact.