Variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid

Abstract: A variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid (2) which has a damping effect over a wide frequency band from a low frequency band to a high frequency band and which suppresses a resonance magnification at a resonance frequency of a supported body, wherein the wall thickness of a flexible portion (9) made of an elastic body such as rubber connecting a cylindrical portion (8) and a stirring portion (3) is varied, whereby the spring constant is allowed to depend upon the amplitude.

Description: This invention relates to a variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid which is vibration isolator for damping a vibration from the external in acoustic instruments and information instruments using an optical disk or the like. The viscous fluid sealed-type damper damps a vibration from an external to a supported body 10 through viscous flow resistance which an stirring portion 3 accepting a shaft 4 installed on the supported body 10 oscillates in a viscous fluid 2 filling in a cylindrical container 1 having a flexible portion 9 made of an elastic body like rubber as is illustrated in Fig .12, thereby to be occurred. For the vibration to the acoustic instruments and the information instruments using the optical disk or the like from the external, there are a frequency and a acceleration from small to large, and an impact action also may act thereon. A vibration effect is adjusted by changing the viscosity of the fluid of the viscous fluid sealed-type damper and the hardness of the elastic body like rubber of the supported body, for such various vibrations with consideration of a weight and a balance of the supported body. The apparent dynamic spring constant becomes high when sealing the high-viscosity fluid in the case of adjusting a vibration-isolating effect by the viscosity of the fluid, and its amplitude can be reduced by a high resonance frequency and a high damping force. However, the resonance frequency and the damping force are high for a high frequency of 100 Hz or more, whereby a reduction effect of a vibration transmissibility is low, that is to say, the vibration-isolating effect is reduced. In contrast with this, since a resonance magnification of the supported body becomes high at the vicinity of the resonance frequency (in particular, the vicinity of the low frequency of 10 to 20 Hz) of the supported body when sealing the low-viscosity fluid, the amplitude of the supported body becomes large, and a sound divergence of the disk and malfunctions tend to occur at the vicinity of this frequency because of an impact due to a collision of the supported body with a chassis for supporting a disk and an impact due to a collision of the stirring portion with the container or a cap, whereby it has been difficult to obtain the viscous fluid sealed-type damper having a great damping effect over a wide frequency band from a low frequency band to a high frequency band in adjustment of the viscosity of the fluid, and suppressing the resonance magnification at the resonance frequency of the supported body. Moreover, it have been the problems that a system adjusting the vibration-isolating effect by changing the hardness of the rubber of the flexible portion made of the elastic body like rubber is very difficult in the fine adjustment and molding failures such as a weld are caused since a flowability of the material is changed. This invention is devised in order to solve the problems described above, and provides a variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid constituted to allow the spring constant to depend upon the amplitude by giving changes to the wall thickness of the flexible portion of the damper. Since a thin-walled portion oscillates mainly when the amplitude is relatively small, only the spring constant of the thin-walled portion exerts an influence upon the spring constant of the entire damper. Since a thick-walled portion also oscillates when the amplitude is relatively large, the spring constant of the thick-walled portion exerts an influence upon the spring constant of the entire damper. Therefore, since the spring constant is small in a high-frequency band small in amplitude, the vibration transmissibility can be suppressed lower, and the spring constant is large in a low-frequency band large in amplitude, whereby a resonance magnification can be suppressed lower. Moreover, the variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid which the flexible portion can not be broken in practical use, and which is large in securing strength between the flexible portion and the cylindrical portion and has high reliability is provided. Namely, this invention provides a variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid in which the viscous fluid is sealed by the container constituted by the stirring portion, the cylindrical portion and the flexible portion made of the elastic body like rubber connecting the both portions and the cap_and the vibration damping is performed with the viscous resistance caused by the travelling of the stirring portion in the viscous fluid in response to the vibration from the external, in which the wall thickness of the flexible portion is varied. Furthermore, this invention provides a variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid in which the changes of the wall thickness of the flexible portion are formed so as to vary to be a thick wall thickness or thin wall thickness toward the cylindrical portion from the stirring portion successively or in stages. More, this invention provides a variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid in which the wall thickness of the flexible portion has a step toward the cylindrical portion and its change is formed such that the thickness can be switched. Furthermore, this invention provides a Variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid wherein the ratio of the thin wall thickness versus the thick wall thickness of the flexible portion is 1.0 :1.1 to 1.0: 5.0. Moreover, the wall thickness of the flexible portion is formed so as to become thin toward the central portion from the periphery of the connection of the stirring portion and the cylindrical portion successively or in stages. Furthermore, the flexible portion is formed such that the periphery of the connection of the stirring portion and the cylindrical portion has the same wall thickness as that. Moreover, the wall thickness of the flexible portion is formed so as to form the thin-walled portion and the thick-walled portion in the circumferential direction toward the cylindrical portion from the stirring portion radially alternately. Furthermore, in one which the thin-walled portion and the thick-walled portion are formed radially, the ratio of the thin wall thickness versus the thick wall thickness of the flexible portion is set at 1.0 :1.1 to 1.0 : 5.0. Although the ratio of the thin wall thickness versus the thick wall thickness of the flexible portion according to the invention depends upon the size of the damper and the strength of the elastic body like rubber or the like, it is preferably within the range of 1.0 : 1 1.1∼1.0 : 5.0. The change in the thickness does not appear on the change in the spring constant as the damper, when the wall thickness of the thick walled portion with respective to the wall thickness of 1.0 of the thin-walled portion is smaller than 1.1, on the one hand, the difference in tensile stress strength of the thin-walled portion and the thick-walled portion appears remarkably, when being larger than 5.0, and only the thin-walled portion can oscillate even though the amplitude becomes large, whereby it does not appear on the change in the spring constant. The ratio of the wall thickness is preferably within the range of 1.0:1.5 ∼ 1.0: 3.0. In the flexible portion according to the invention, the wall thickness on a circumference of a concentric circle is formed equally outwardly from the flexible portion, and since the wall thickness in the thin-walled portion is thin, the spring constant is small, moreover, since the wall thickness in the thick-walled portion is thick, the spring constant is large. For the constitution of the wall thickness according to the invention, in the arrangement of the thin-walled portion and the thick-walled portion, any one thereof may be arranged on the inner periphery side, moreover, for a manner of the change in the thickness, either of the change which varies successively or in stages or the change which has the boundary and the thickness is switched may be permitted. Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid according to the invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid according to the invention. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid according to the invention. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid according to the invention. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid according to the invention. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid according to the invention. Fig. 8 is a sectional view along line AA in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid according to the invention. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid according to the invention. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid according to the invention. Fig.12 is a sectional view of a variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid according to the prior art. Fig.13 is a schematic view showing a vibration transmission testing equipment. Hereinafter, the constitution of a variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The constitution of the variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid according to the invention a container 1 is constituted by a stirring portion 3, a cylindrical portion 8 and a flexible portion 9 made of the elastic body like rubber connecting the both portions, furthermore, the flexible portion 9 is constituted by a thin-walled portion 6 and a thick-walled portion 7. A viscous fluid 2 is filled in the container and is sealed with a cap 5, thereby to obtain the variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid. A shaft 4 protruded from a supported body 10 is inserted into the stirring portion 3 of the container 1. When an external vibration is generated, the flexible portion 9 is deformed and the stirring portion 3 stirs the viscous fluid 2, thereby undergoing a viscous resistance to give a vibration-isolating effect to the supported body 10. A structure of the cap 5 is formed as a unitized structure in the drawing, but it may be a complex structure. In an embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a portion approached toward the stirring portion 3 of the flexible portion 9 is formed with the thin-walled portion 6, on the one hand, a portion of a cylindrical portion 8 side is formed with the thick-walled portion 7. In contrast with the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1, in an embodiment shown in Fig. 2, a portion approached toward the stirring portion 3 is formed with the thick-walled portion 7, on the one hand, a portion approached toward the cylindrical portion 8 side is formed with the thin-walled portion 6. In an embodiment shown in Fig. 3, a portion approached toward the stirring portion 3 of the flexible portion 9 is formed with the thin-walled portion 6 of a wall thickness "a", and, is formed in such a manner that a wall thickness "b", "c" and "d" are varied in stages toward the cylindrical portion 8. The wall thickness is in the relation of "a"<"b"<"c"<"d". In an embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the flexible portion 9 has a boundary A and the thin-walled portion 6 approached toward the stirring portion 3 to be switched to the thick-walled portion 7, the change in the wall thickness is varied in a manner to become thick toward the cylindrical portion continuously. In an embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the thin-walled portion 6 is formed on a portion approached toward the stirring portion 3 of the flexible portion 9 and the thick-walled portion 7 is formed in such a manner that, having the boundary A, the thickness is switched. The thickness of the thin-walled portion 6 and that of the thick-walled portion 7 do not vary, and are retained in a constant thickness. In an embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the thick-walled portion 7 is formed on the flexible portion 9, and the periphery of the connection of the stirring portion 3 and the cylindrical portion 8 and the thin-walled portion 6 is formed on an intermediate portion thereof. According to the constitution shown in Fig. 6, vibration durability is improved while suppressing reduction of the vibration-isolating effect by thickening the wall thickness in the periphery of the connection between the stirring portion 3 and that most exerting an influence upon vibration durability. In an embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the thick-walled portion 7 and the thin-walled portion 6 in the flexible portion 9 are formed in the circumferential direction radially alternately. This cross-section shape along line A-A in Fig. 7 which the thick-walled portion 7 and the thin-walled portion 6 in the flexible portion 9 are formed in the circumferential direction radially alternately is shown in Fig. 8 (a) to (c). The cross-section shape can not be limited to the shape shown in Fig. 8, moreover, the wall thickness and the distance and the number of repetition which the wall thickness is varied also can not be limited. In an embodiment shown in Fig. 9, at only the periphery of the connection between the stirring portion 3 and that, the thick-walled portion 7 and the thin-walled portion 6 in the flexible portion 9 are alternately formed in the circumferential direction radially. In an embodiment shown in Fig. 10, the periphery of the connection between the stirring portion 3 in the flexible portion 9 and that is formed with the thin-walled portion 6, and the thick-walled portion 7 and the thin-walled portion 6 are formed in the circumferential direction radially alternately toward the cylindrical portion 8. In an embodiment shown in Fig. 11, the periphery of the connection between the stirring portion 3 and the cylindrical portion 8 in the flexible portion 9 is formed with the thick-walled portion 7 and the thin-walled portion 6 and the thick-walled portion 7, are formed in the circumferential direction radially alternately at the intermediate portion thereof. In the constitution shown in Fig. 7 to Fig. 11, the flexible portion 9 having the desired spring constant can be obtained more readily than adjusting the consistent wall thickness by an extremely minuscule amount by correcting the ratio of the thickness of the radial thick-walled portion 7, and the thin-walled portion 6. Materials used in each member of the invention will be described. For the cylindrical portion 8 of the invention, materials with rigidity are preferable and rigid resins, metal or the like are given. For the flexible portion 9 of the invention, the elastic body like rubber is preferable and is selected from the well-known synthetic rubbers, and thermoplastic elastomer. For example, in the synthetic rubbers, styrene-butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile-butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, urethane rubber, silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, acrylic rubber or the like are given, and in the thermoplastic elastomer, a styrene system, a olefin system, an urethane system, an ester system, a vinyl chloride system or the like are given. When the thermoplastic rigid resin is used in the cylindrical portion and the thermoplastic elastomer is used in the flexible portion, dichroic molding by heat-fusion welding becomes possible. The cap 5 according to the invention may be either of a unitary material of the materials with rigidity or the elastic body like rubber, or the complex material by the combination of the both. EMBODIMENT 1 The viscous fluid 2 was filled in the container 1 constituted by the flexible portion 9 and the stirring portion 3 made of the elastic body like rubber of the thermoplastic styrene system elastomer of Hardness 30° (JIS K6253 Type A) and the cylindrical portion 8 made of thermoplastic rigid resin, and was sealed with the cap 5 made by thermoplastic rigid resin, thereby to obtain the variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid. For the viscous fluid 2, silicone grease of the viscosity of 1.2 m 2 /s, measured by a rotational viscometer, was used. Here, the wall thickness of the thin-walled portion 6 constituting the flexible portion 9 was 0.25 mm, the wall thickness of the thick-walled portion 7 was 0.5 mm, and the thin-walled portion 6 was provided on the periphery of the stirring portion 3, furthermore, the thick-walled portion 8 was provided on the outer periphery of the thin-walled portion 6. EMBODIMENT 2 The wall thickness of the thin-walled portion 6 constituting the flexible portion 9 was 0.25 mm, the wall thickness of the thick-walled portion 7 was 0.38 mm, and the thin-walled portion 6 was provided on the periphery of the stirring portion 3, furthermore, the thick-walled portion 7 was provided on the outer periphery of the thin-walled portion 6, thereby to obtain the variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid of the embodiment 2 which has the same constitution as the embodiment 1 as a matter of the fact. EMBODIMENT 3 The wall thickness of the thin-walled portion 6 constituting the flexible portion 9 was 0.25 mm, the wall thickness of the thick-walled portion 7 was 0.75 mm, and the thin-walled portion 6 was provided on the periphery of the stirring portion 3, furthermore, the thick-walled portion 7 was provided on the outer periphery of the thin-walled portion 6, thereby to obtain the variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid of the embodiment 3 which has the same constitution as the embodiment 1 as a matter of the fact. EMBODIMENT 4 The wall thickness of the thin-walled portion 6 constituting the flexible portion 9 was 0.25 mm, the wall thickness of the thick-walled portion 7 was 0.5 mm, and the thick-walled portion 7 was provided on the periphery of the stirring portion 3, furthermore, the thin-walled portion 6 was provided on the outer periphery of the thick-walled portion 7, thereby to obtain the variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid of the embodiment 4 which has the same constitution as the embodiment 1 as a matter of the fact. EMBODIMENT 5 The wall thickness of the thin-walled portion 6 constituting the flexible portion 9 was 0.25 mm, the wall thickness of the thick-walled portion 7 was 0.38 mm, and the thick-walled portion 7 was provided on the periphery of the stirring portion 3, furthermore, the thin-walled portion 6 was provided on the outer periphery of the thick-walled portion 7, thereby to obtain the variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid of the embodiment 5 which has the same constitution as the embodiment 1 as a matter of the fact. EMBODIMENT 6 The wall thickness of the thin-walled portion 6 constituting the flexible portion 9 was 0.25 mm, the wall thickness of the thick-walled portion 7 was 0.75 mm, and the thick-walled portion 7 was provided on the periphery of the stirring portion 3, furthermore, the thin-walled portion 6 was provided on the outer periphery of the thick-walled portion 7, thereby to obtain the variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid of the embodiment 6 which has the same constitution as the embodiment 1 as a matter of the fact. EMBODIMENT 7 The wall thickness of the thin-walled portion 6 constituting the flexible portion 9 was 0.2 mm, the wall thickness of the thick-walled portion 7 was 0.4 mm, and the thick-walled portion 7 was provided on the periphery of the connection between the stirring portion 3 and the cylindrical portion 8, and the thin-walled portion 6 was formed on the intermediate portion thereof. EMBODIMENT 8 The wall thickness of the thick-walled portion 7 was 0.6 mm, and the others were constituted in the same manner as the embodiment 7. EMBODIMENT 9 The wall thickness of the thick-walled portion 7 was 0.8 mm, and the others were constituted in the same manner as the embodiment 7. Next, the embodiment 10 to 12 will be described with reference to the longitudinal sectional views shown in Fig. 9. EMBODIMENT 10 For the viscous fluid 2, silicone grease of the viscosity of 1.2 m 2 /s, measured by the rotational viscometer, was used. Here, the wall thickness of the thin-walled portion 6 constituting the flexible portion 9 was 0.2 mm, the wall thickness of the thick-walled portion 7 was 0.4 mm, and the periphery of the connection between the stirring portion 3 and that was provided with the thin-walled portion 6 and the thick-walled portion 7 in the circumferential direction radially alternately, furthermore, the thick-walled portion 7 was provided up to the cylindrical portion 8 therefrom, and the others were constituted in the same manner as the embodiment 1. EMBODIMENT 11 The wall thickness of the thick-walled portion 7 was 0.6 mm, and the others were constituted in the same manner as the embodiment 10. EMBODIMENT 12 The wall thickness of the thick-walled portion 7 was 0.8 mm, and the others were constituted in the same manner as the embodiment 10. COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1 The thickness of the flexible portion 9 was retained in the constant thickness of 0.3 mm. The others were constituted in the same manner as the embodiment 1, thereby to obtain the viscous fluid sealed-type damper of the comparative example 1. COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2 The thickness of the flexible portion 9 was retained in the constant thickness of 0.3 mm. The others were constituted in the same manner as the embodiment 1, thereby to obtain the viscous fluid sealed-type damper of the comparative example 2. The vibration-isolating effect of the variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluids of the embodiments 1 to 12 and the comparative example 1 and 2 described above will be evaluated by the following examination method and the results will be listed in Table 1. The supported body 10 is supported by protruding the four pieces of shaft 4 of a rigid body from the supported body 10 and to insert these shafts 4 into the four pieces of viscous fluid sealed-type damper 11, moreover to suspend from a frame 13 with the four pieces of helical extension spring, as shown in Fig. 13. This viscous fluid sealed-type damper 11 and the frame 13 are fixed on an excitation table 14. The vibration-isolating effect was evaluated by vibrating the excitation table 14 upwardly and downwardly at a constant acceleration within the range of 8 to 200 Hz and to measure the vibration transmissibility to the supported body 10. For a resonance magnification, a vibratile acceleration output a 2 from the supported body 10 was measured to an incoming vibratile acceleration a 1 from the excitation table at the resonance frequency and to convert by a relational expression of 20 Log (a 2 /a 1 ), moreover, the vibration transmissibility at 100Hz was measured in the same manner. The wall thickness of the flexible portion 9 in the comparative examples 1 and 2 was constant, whereas, in the embodiments 1 to 12, the reduction of a resonance magnification had been verified under the influence of the increase of the spring constant caused by that the thick-walled portion 7 also was oscillated at the vicinity of the resonance frequency. Moreover, the thin-walled portion 6 was oscillated mainly at the high-frequency band (the vicinity of 100Hz) of the vibration-isolating region, whereby the vibration transmissibility equivalent to the comparative examples 1 and 2 was retained, therefore, an excellent vibration damping effect had been recognized in the embodiments 1 to 12 as described above. According to the variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid of the invention, the changes are given to the wall thickness in the flexible portion, thereby to be able to obtain a great damping effect over a wide frequency band from a low frequency band to a high frequency band and to suppress the resonance magnification at the resonance frequency of the supported body. Moreover, the modulus of elasticity can be adjusted while correcting the ratio of the thickness of the thick-walled portion and the thin-walled portion formed on the flexible portion 9 radially, whereby the fine adjustment of the modulus of elasticity has been made possible as compared with the case of adjusting the consistent wall thickness of the flexible portion by an extremely minuscule amount. Furthermore, vibration durability can be improved while suppressing reduction of the vibration-isolating effect by thickening the wall thickness in the periphery of the stirring portion most largely exerting an influence upon vibration durability, and also in the case of the damper according to the constitution of the type which the flexible portion and the cylindrical portion are secured, and the high-reliability constitution which is large in securing strength between the flexible portion and the cylindrical portion can be obtained, whereby the variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid high in vibration durability can be realized. Furthermore, the effect preventing from causing the sound divergence and the malfunctions at the vicinity of the resonance frequency in the case of use in the practical instruments can be expected, moreover, the great damping effect can be shown by the internal flow resistance of the viscous fluid in a high frequency small in amplitude. resonance frequency (Hz) resonance magnification (dB) vibration transmissibility at 100 Hz (dB) Example 1 15.5 2.63 -17.78 Example 2 14.5 2.98 -18.45 Example 3 15.5 2.13 -17.66 Example 4 15.0 2.71 -17.51 Example 5 14.0 2.82 -18.27 Example 6 15.5 2.36 -17.14 Example 7 15.5 3.03 -19.36 Example 8 16.0 2.73 -18.72 Example 9 17.0 2.49 -18.29 Example 10 16.0 2.91 -18.71 Example 11 17.0 2.65 - 18.34 Example 12 17.5 2.36 -17.68 Comparative 1 15.0 3.24 -17.01 Comparative 2 16.0 3.24 -17.01

Claims: A variable spring constant type damper filled with viscous fluid in which a viscous fluid (2) is sealed by a container (1) constituted by an stirring portion (3), a cylindrical portion (8), a flexible portion (9) made of an elastic body connecting the stirring portion and the cylindrical portion, and a cap (5), wherein vibration damping is performed with a viscous resistance which is caused by the stirring portion (3) travelling in the viscous fluid (2) in response to external vibration, characterized in that the wall thickness of the flexible portion (9) is varied. A variable spring constant type damper as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the change of the wall thickness of the flexible portion (9) is formed so as to vary toward the cylindrical portion (8) from the stirring portion (3) successively or in stages. A variable spring constant type damper as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the wall thickness of the flexible portion (9) is formed to have the boundary toward the cylindrical portion (8) from the stirring portion (3) and to change the thickness thereof. A variable spring constant type damper as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the change of the wall thickness of the flexible portion (9) is formed so as to become thin toward a central portion therebetween from the periphery of the connection of the stirring portion (3) and the cylindrical portion (8) successively or in stages. A variable spring constant type damper as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the wall thickness of the flexible portion (9) is formed with the same wall thickness of the periphery of the connection of the stirring portion (3) and the cylindrical portion (8). A variable spring constant type damper as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the wall thickness of the flexible portion (9) is formed in such a manner that the thin-walled portion (6) and the thick-walled portion (7) are formed repeatedly in the circumferential direction toward the cylindrical portion (8) from the stirring portion (3) radially alternately. A variable spring constant type damper as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a ratio of the thin wall thickness to the thick wall thickness of the flexible portion (9) is 1.0:1.1 to 1.0:5.0.

Inventors: KATO MASATSUGU, KATO, MASATSUGU, Kato, Masatsugu, R&amp;D Center of Polymatech Co., Ltd
Applicants: POLYMATECH CO LTD, POLYMATECH CO., LTD.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: F16F9
IPC codes: F16F9, F16F13