Fluid-filled vibration-damping device and method of controlling the same

• US 6,708,963 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company), Tokai Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries Limited
• Inventors: Kato, Kazuhiko, Matsuoka, Hideki, Nishi, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): SICONOLFI, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US10/194,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20030011117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 267/140.14, 267/140.15, 267/140.13
• US Class Current: 267/140.14
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 13/268 comprising means for acting dynamically on the walls bounding an equilibration chamber F16F13/264 take precedence

Abstract

A vibration-damping device including: an elastic body connecting a first and a second mounting member: a pressure receiving and equilibrium chambers partially defined by the elastic body and a flexible diaphragm, filled with a non-compressible fluid and held in fluid communication through a first orifice passage and a second orifice passage that is tuned higher than the first orifice passage. A shut-off valve mechanism operable to selectively allow and inhibit fluid flows through the second orifice passage, an elastic oscillation plate partially defining the pressure-receiving chamber so that a fluid pressure in the pressure-receiving chamber acts on one surface of the elastic oscillation plate, and a working air chamber partially defined by the other surface of the elastic oscillation plate and oscillated by a periodic air pressure change in the working air chamber, are also incorporated. A method of controlling the same is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A fluid-filled vibration-damping device for connecting two members in a vibration damping fashion, comprising:

a first mounting member and a second mounting member disposed in a mutually spaced-apart relationship with each other and adapted to be attached to the two members, respectively;

an elastic body elastically connecting said first and second mounting members, and partially defining a pressure-receiving chamber filled with a non-compressible fluid whose pressure varies upon application of a vibrational load to said pressure-receiving chamber;

a flexible diaphragm partially defining an equilibrium chamber filled with said non-compressible fluid and whose volume is variable;

a first orifice passage for fluid communication between said pressure-receiving chamber and said equilibrium chamber;

a second orifice passage for fluid communication between said pressure-receiving chamber and said equilibrium chamber, said second orifice passage being tuned to a frequency range that is higher than a frequency range to which said first orifice passage is tuned;

a shut-off valve mechanism operable to selectively bring said second orifice passage to an operable state and an inoperable state, while permitting said first orifice passage to be held in an operable state;

an elastic oscillation plate partially defining said pressure-receiving chamber so that a fluid pressure in said pressure-receiving chamber acts on one of opposite surfaces of said elastic oscillation plate; and

a working air chamber partially defined by an other one of opposite surfaces of said elastic oscillation plate, which is remote from said pressure-receiving chamber, said elastic oscillation plate being oscillated by a periodic change of an air pressure in said working air chamber.

2. A fluid-filled vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein one of opposite openings of said second orifice passage for fluid communication with said equilibrium chamber is located in a position that is different from a position where one of opposite openings of said first orifice passage for fluid communication with said equilibrium chamber is located, said vibration-damping device further comprising a pneumatically operated actuator disposed to be opposed to said one of opposite openings of said second orifice passage with said flexible diaphragm interposed therebetween, said pneumatically operated actuator being operable to displace said flexible diaphragm to selectively be pressed onto and retracted from said one of opposite openings of said second orifice passage, in order to selectively bring said second orifice passage to said operable state and said inoperable state.

3. A fluid-filled vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein said pressure-receiving chamber is divided into a primary fluid chamber partially defined by said elastic body and an auxiliary fluid chamber partially defined by said elastic oscillation plate, said vibration-damping device further comprising a third orifice passage for fluid communication between said primary fluid chamber and said auxiliary fluid chamber, which is tuned to a frequency range higher than said frequency range to which said second orifice passage is tuned.

4. A fluid-filled vibration-damping device according to claim 3, wherein said vibration-damping device is applied to an engine mount for use in an automotive vehicle, and said first, second and third orifice passages are respectively tuned to a low frequency range corresponding to engine shakes, an intermediate frequency range corresponding to engine idling vibrations, and a high frequency vibrations corresponding to booming noises.

5. A fluid-filled vibration-damping device according to claim 3, wherein said vibration-damping device is applied to an engine mount for use in an automotive vehicle, said first orifice passage is adapted to release an abrupt pressure raise and/or a static load, and said second and third orifice passages are respectively tuned to a low frequency range corresponding to engine shakes and an intermediate frequency range corresponding to engine idling vibrations.

6. A fluid-filled vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein said second mounting member includes a cylindrical portion and one of axially opposite opening of said cylindrical portion is opposed to said first mounting member with a spacing therebetween, and said elastic body elastically connecting said first and second mounting members fluid-tightly closes said one of axially opposite opening of said cylindrical portion of said second mounting member, while said flexible diaphragm fluid-tightly closes an other one of axially opposite opening of said cylindrical portion of said second mounting member,

wherein said vibration-damping device further comprises a partition member supported by said cylindrical portion of said second mounting member and being disposed between said elastic body and said flexible diaphragm so that said pressure-receiving chamber and said equilibrium chamber is disposed on opposite sides of said partition member, and

wherein said first orifice passage is formed in an outer circumferential portion of said partition member so as to extend circumferentially, and said second orifice passage is formed in a central portion of said partition member, while said elastic oscillation plate is disposed in and supported by a portion of said partition member where said first and second orifice passages are not disposed, such that said portion of said partition member cooperate with said other one of opposite surfaces of said elastic oscillating plate to form said working air chamber.

7. A fluid-filled vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein said shut-off valve mechanism comprises a pneumatically operated shut-off valve that is operable to bring said second orifice passage to said inoperable state by an atmospheric pressure applied thereto and to said operable state by a negative pressure applied thereto, said vibration-damping device further comprising:

a first pressure control valve having an active-side port for communication with said working air chamber, an atmosphere-side port for communication with the atmosphere and a vacuum-side port for communication with a vacuum source, and being operable to alternately connect said active-side port to said atmosphere-side port and said vacuum-side port for alternately applying said atmospheric pressure and said negative pressure to said working air chamber, in order to control oscillation of said elastic oscillation plate based on a periodic air pressure change induced in said working air chamber; and

a second pressure control valve having an active-side port for communication with said pneumatically operated shut-off valve, an atmosphere-side port for communication with the atmosphere and a vacuum-side port for communication with a vacuum source, and being operable to alternately connect said active-side port to said atmosphere-side port and said vacuum-side port for alternately applying said atmospheric pressure and said negative pressure to said pneumatically operated shut-off valve, in order to selectively bring said second orifice passage to said operable state and said inoperable state,

wherein said atmosphere-side port of said first pressure control valve is connected to said active-side port of said second pressure control valve so that said atmospheric pressure is applied to said atmosphere-side port of said first pressure control valve through said second pressure control valve.

8. A method of controlling a fluid-filled vibration-damping device for connecting two members in a vibration-damping fashion, including:

(a) a first mounting member and a second mounting member disposed in a mutually spaced-apart relationship with each other and adapted to be attached to the two members, respectively;

(b) an elastic body elastically connecting said first and second mounting members, and partially defining a pressure-receiving chamber filled with a non-compressible fluid whose pressure varies upon application of a vibrational load to said pressure-receiving chamber;

(c) a flexible diaphragm partially defining an equilibrium chamber filled with said non-compressible fluid and whose volume is variable;

(d) a first orifice passage for fluid communication between said pressure-receiving chamber and said equilibrium chamber;

(e) a second orifice passage for fluid communication between said pressure-receiving chamber and said equilibrium chamber, said second orifice passage being tuned to a frequency range that is higher than a frequency range to which said first orifice passage is tuned;

(f) a shut-off valve mechanism operable to selectively bring said second orifice passage to an operable state and an inoperable state, while permitting said first orifice passage to be held in an operable state;

(g) an elastic oscillation plate partially defining said pressure-receiving chamber so that a fluid pressure in said pressure-receiving chamber acts on one of opposite surfaces of said elastic oscillation plate; and

(h) a working air chamber partially defined by an other one of opposite surfaces of said elastic oscillation plate, which is remote from said pressure-receiving chamber, said elastic oscillation plate being oscillated by a periodic change of an air pressure in said working air chamber, wherein said pressure-receiving chamber is divided into a primary fluid chamber partially defined by said elastic body and an auxiliary fluid chamber partially defined by said elastic oscillation plate, said vibration-damping device further comprising a third orifice passage for fluid communication between said primary fluid chamber and said auxiliary fluid chamber, which is tuned to a frequency range higher than said frequency range to which said second orifice passage is tuned, and wherein said vibration-damping device is applied to an engine mount for use in an automotive vehicle, and said first, second and third orifice passages are respectively tuned to a low frequency range corresponding to engine shakes, an intermediate frequency range corresponding to engine idling vibrations, and a high frequency vibrations corresponding to booming noises, said method comprising the steps of;

when said vehicle is idling, bringing said second orifice passage to said operable state;

when said vehicle is running, bringing said second orifice passage to said inoperable state by means of said shut-off valve mechanism; and

at least when said vehicle is running, applying to said working air chamber a periodic air pressure change at a frequency corresponding to that of vibrations to be damped in order to oscillate said elastic oscillation plate.

9. A method of controlling a fluid-filled vibration-damping device according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

when said vehicle is idling, bringing said second orifice passage to said operable state while applying to said working air chamber a periodic air pressure change at a frequency corresponding to that of said engine idling vibrations in order to oscillate said elastic oscillation plate; and

when said vehicle is running, bringing said second orifice passage to said inoperable state by means of said shut-off valve mechanism, while applying to said working air chamber a periodic air pressure change at a frequency corresponding to that of said booming noises higher than a frequency of said engine idling vibrations in order to oscillate said elastic oscillation plate in order to oscillate said elastic oscillation plate.

10. A method of controlling a fluid-filled vibration-damping device according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

when said vehicle is idling, bringing said second orifice passage to said operable state and applying a negative pressure to said working air chamber; and

when said vehicle is running, bringing said second orifice passage to said inoperable state by means of said shut-off valve mechanism, while applying to said working air chamber a periodic air pressure change at a frequency corresponding to that of vibrations to be damped in order to oscillate said elastic oscillation plate.

11. A method of controlling a fluid-filled vibration-damping device according to claim 8, wherein said shut-off valve mechanism includes a pneumatically operated shut-off valve that is operable to bring said second orifice passage to said inoperable state by an atmospheric pressure applied thereto and to said operable state by a negative pressure applied thereto, and said vibration-damping device further includes:

(i) a first pressure control valve having an active-side port for communication with said working air chamber, an atmosphere-side port for communication with the atmosphere and a vacuum-side port for communication with a vacuum source, and being operable to alternately connect said active-side port to said atmosphere-side port and said vacuum-side port for alternately applying said atmospheric pressure and said negative pressure to said working air chamber, in order to control oscillation of said elastic oscillation plate based on a periodic air pressure change induced in said working air chamber; and

(j) a second pressure control valve having an active-side port for communication with said pneumatically operated shut-off valve, an atmosphere-side port for communication with the atmosphere and a vacuum-side port for communication with a vacuum source, and being operable to alternately connect said active-side port to said atmosphere-side port and said vacuum-side port for alternately applying said atmospheric pressure and said negative pressure to said pneumatically operated shut-off valve, in order to selectively bring said second orifice passage to said operable state and said inoperable state, wherein said atmosphere-side port of said first pressure control valve is connected to said active-side port of said second pressure control valve so that said atmospheric pressure is applied to said atmosphere-side port of said first pressure control valve through said second pressure control valve.

12. A method of controlling a fluid-filled vibration-damping device according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

when said vehicle is idling, bringing said second orifice passage to said operable state while applying to said working air chamber a periodic air pressure change at a frequency corresponding to that of said engine idling vibrations in order to oscillate said elastic oscillation plate; and

when said vehicle is running, bringing said second orifice passage to said inoperable state by means of said shut-off valve mechanism, while applying to said working air chamber a periodic air pressure change at a frequency corresponding to that of said booming noises higher than said frequency of said engine idling vibrations in order to oscillate said elastic oscillation plate.

13. A method of controlling a fluid-filled vibration-damping device according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

when said vehicle is idling, bringing said second orifice passage to said operable state and applying said negative pressure to said working air chamber; and

when said vehicle is running, bringing said second orifice passage to said inoperable state by means of said shut-off valve mechanism, while applying to said working air chamber a periodic air pressure change at a frequency corresponding to that of vibrations to be damped in order to oscillate said elastic oscillation plate.

14. A method of controlling a fluid-filled vibration-damping device for connecting two members in a vibration-damping fashion, including:

(a) a first mounting member and a second mounting member disposed in a mutually spaced-apart relationship with each other and adapted to be attached to the two members, respectively;

(b) an elastic body elastically connecting said first and second mounting members, and partially defining a pressure-receiving chamber filled with a non-compressible fluid whose pressure varies upon application of a vibrational load to said pressure-receiving chamber;

(c) a flexible diaphragm partially defining an equilibrium chamber filled with said non-compressible fluid and whose volume is variable;

(d) a first orifice passage for fluid communication between said pressure-receiving chamber and said equilibrium chamber;

(e) a second orifice passage for fluid communication between said pressure-receiving chamber and said equilibrium chamber, said second orifice passage being tuned to a frequency range that is higher than a frequency range to which said first orifice passage is tuned;

(f) a shut-off valve mechanism operable to selectively bring said second orifice passage to an operable state and an inoperable state, while permitting said first orifice passage to be held in an operable state;

(g) an elastic oscillation plate partially defining said pressure-receiving chamber so that a fluid pressure in said pressure-receiving chamber acts on one of opposite surfaces of said elastic oscillation plate; and

(h) a working air chamber partially defined by an other one of opposite surfaces of said elastic oscillation plate, which is remote from said pressure-receiving chamber, said elastic oscillation plate being oscillated by a periodic change of an air pressure in said working air chamber, wherein said pressure-receiving chamber is divided into a primary fluid chamber partially defined by said elastic body and an auxiliary fluid chamber partially defined by said elastic oscillation plate, said vibration-damping device further comprising a third orifice passage for fluid communication between said primary fluid chamber and said auxiliary fluid chamber, which is tuned to a frequency range higher than said frequency range to which said second orifice passage is tuned, and wherein said vibration-damping device is applied to an engine mount for use in an automotive vehicle, said first orifice passage is adapted to release an abrupt pressure raise and/or a static load, and said second and third orifice passages are respectively tuned to a low frequency range corresponding to engine shakes and an intermediate frequency range corresponding to engine idling vibrations, said method comprising the steps of;

when said vehicle is idling, bringing said second orifice passage to said inoperable state by means of said shut-off valve mechanism, while applying to said working air chamber a periodic air pressure change at a frequency corresponding to that of said engine idling vibrations in order to oscillate said elastic oscillation plate; and

when said vehicle is running, bringing said second orifice passage to said operable state and applying said working air chamber a periodic air pressure change at a frequency corresponding to that of booming noises in order to oscillate said elastic oscillation plate.