Patent No.:CN211975745U Date:2020-03-20

Google Patent: https://patents.google.com/patent/CN211975745U/en?oq=CN211975745U

China Patent: http://epub.cnipa.gov.cn/

Abstract

A balancing gas spring equipped with an elastic stopping element comprises: a sealing component, a piston rod body, and an elastic stopping element. The elastic stopping element includes: a piston assembly, a piston cap, and an airflow control component. The piston assembly comprises: a piston body and a rubber O-ring seal. The piston body has a groove for placing the rubber O-ring seal, which is used to restrict the movement distance of the O-ring. The piston body also has a longitudinal through hole. One end of the hole leads to the side away from the piston cap, while the other end leads to the airflow control component. A transverse damping hole is also provided in the middle of the longitudinal through hole, leading to the groove for placing the rubber O-ring seal. This utility model’s elastic stopping element has a simple structure and components that are easy to process, making it applicable in various fields.

Description

Technical Field

This utility model relates to the field of balancing gas springs, specifically to a balancing gas spring equipped with an elastic stopping element.

Background Technology

A gas spring can perform functions such as support, buffering, braking, height adjustment, and angle adjustment. It consists of the following parts: pressure cylinder, piston rod, piston, sealing guide sleeve, filling material (inert gas or oil-gas mixture), internal and external control elements (refers to controllable gas springs), and joints. The principle is to fill the enclosed pressure cylinder with an inert gas or oil-gas mixture, making the pressure inside the chamber several or even dozens of times higher than atmospheric pressure. The movement of the piston rod is realized by the pressure difference caused by the difference in the cross-sectional area between the piston rod and the piston.

Due to the fundamental difference in principles, gas springs have significant advantages over ordinary springs: relatively slow speed, minimal dynamic force variation (usually within 1:1.2), and easy control.

As the application of gas springs expands, the use of balancing gas springs also demands multi-field applications, such as the high-pressure micro-adjustment valve based on an air spring disclosed in application number CN201711296002.X. The air spring’s chamber is connected to the welding base of the air spring chamber using argon arc welding. A locking cover is provided on the upper part of the air spring chamber. The bottom end of the air spring is connected to the air spring seat through a first inner hexagon bolt, placed in the air spring chamber. A return spring is placed between the air spring seat and the welded base of the air spring chamber. The upper end of the valve fixing seat is connected to the welding base of the air spring chamber through a second inner hexagon bolt. The adjustment valve is installed at the lower end of the valve fixing seat. The adjustment valve is connected to the air spring seat through a valve coupler and a limited connecting shaft.

Another example, as disclosed in application number CN201920474811.3, is a nitrogen gas spring structure comprising a cylinder, a piston rod, and an intermediate sleeve. The cylinder has a cylinder hole, and the intermediate sleeve is sealedly connected to the upper inner wall of the cylinder hole. The piston rod is slidingly and sealingly connected to the inner hole of the intermediate sleeve. The cylinder hole is filled with high-pressure nitrogen gas. The inner end of the piston rod has at least two stepped bosses, and the inner wall of the intermediate sleeve has inwardly extending stopping bosses and limiting bosses. A Y-shaped sealing ring is provided in the sealing ring groove, and the outer periphery of the intermediate sleeve has an annular pressure relief thin-walled boss.

The outer end of the piston rod has at least one inclined force surface. The bottom of the cylinder hole is provided with an installation hole, wherein a plug installation seat is fixed, and a plug blind hole is provided on the plug installation seat, extending towards the cylinder hole.

The above-mentioned gas spring structures are complex in piston assembly, with high component processing difficulty, making it hard to meet the application demands across various fields.

Summary of the Utility Model

This utility model aims to provide a balancing gas spring equipped with an elastic stopping element. The piston rod includes: a sealing component with a sealed chamber, a piston rod body with one end set inside the sealed chamber of the sealing component and the other end outside the sealing component, and an elastic stopping element fixedly connected to the piston rod body inside the sealing component. The elastic stopping element includes: a piston assembly fixedly set on the piston rod body, a piston cap fixedly connected to one end of the piston assembly and the piston rod body, and an airflow control component set between the piston assembly and the piston cap.

Specifically, the piston assembly includes: a piston body that is spaced from the inner wall of the sealing component, and a rubber O-ring seal set on the piston body to block the gas flow. The piston body features a groove for placing the rubber O-ring seal, which restricts the movement distance of the O-ring, forming sealing surfaces on both sides of the groove. The piston body also has a longitudinal through hole, with one end leading to the side away from the piston cap and the other end leading to the airflow control component. A transverse damping hole is also provided in the middle of the longitudinal through hole, leading to the groove for placing the rubber O-ring seal and connecting with the longitudinal through hole.

In one embodiment, an installation recessed step groove is provided at the connection between the piston cap and the piston assembly. This installation recessed step groove is used to assemble the airflow control component. One side of the installation recessed step groove has an opening that forms a gap between the sealed chamber and the piston body.
In another embodiment, at least two longitudinal through holes are arranged annularly and equidistantly on the piston body.
In another embodiment, the airflow control component includes a sealing diaphragm placed on the longitudinal through hole to seal it, and an elastic pressure ring set on the side of the sealing diaphragm away from the longitudinal through hole to provide closing resistance to the sealing diaphragm.
In another embodiment, both the elastic pressure ring and the rubber O-ring seal are made of elastic deformation material.
In another embodiment, the elastic pressure ring is set as a constant circular ring, and its cross-section can be round or square.
In another embodiment, both the piston cap and the piston body are provided with installation holes at the corresponding positions. These installation holes are used to fixedly assemble the elastic stopping element with the piston rod body.
In another embodiment, a step thread or spin riveting structure is provided at the connection between the piston rod body and the piston cap. This step structure limits the displacement of the piston cap.
In another embodiment, the sealing component includes a sleeve, a guiding sealing system set at one end of the sleeve, and a rear block set at the other end of the sleeve. The elastic stopping element is set inside the sleeve. One end of the piston rod body is connected to the elastic stopping element, and the other end passes through the guiding sealing system to the outside.
In another embodiment, the guiding sealing system includes a limiting element and an O-ring seal set on the limiting element. The limiting element prevents the piston rod body from wobbling during displacement, and the O-ring seal ensures airtightness inside the sleeve when the piston rod body moves.
The balancing gas spring with an elastic stopping element has a simple structure and low component processing difficulty, making it applicable in various fields.

Description of Drawings
To better illustrate the embodiments of this utility model or the technical solutions in the prior art, the figures used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. It is obvious that the figures described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, without creative work, other figures can also be obtained based on the structures shown in these figures.

Figure Descriptions

Figure 1: Schematic diagram of the overall structure of the utility model.

Figure 2: Overall schematic diagram of the elastic stopping element in this utility model.

Figure 3: Schematic diagram of the piston assembly of the elastic stopping element.

Figure 4: Schematic diagram of the gas flow direction in the extended state of the elastic stopping element.

Figure 5: Schematic diagram of the gas flow direction in the compressed state of the elastic stopping element.

Figure 6: Schematic diagram of the piston body with a longitudinal through hole in the elastic stopping element.

Figure 7: Schematic diagram of the airflow control component structure in the elastic stopping element.

Specific Embodiments

It should be noted that all direction indications in this utility model (such as up, down, left, right, front, rear, inside, outside, center…) are only used to explain the relative positional relationships, movement conditions, etc., between parts under a specific posture (as shown in the attached figures). If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also correspondingly change.

In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and defined, the terms “connected” and “fixed” should be broadly interpreted. For example, “fixed” can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediary; it can be the internal communication between two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise explicitly defined. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this utility model based on specific situations.

Furthermore, the technical solutions in various embodiments of this utility model can be combined with each other, but the combination must be based on the capability of those skilled in the art. When the combination of technical solutions results in contradictions or cannot be realized, it should be considered that such a combination does not exist and is not within the scope of protection of this utility model.

Refer to Figures 1 to 3 for a balancing gas spring with an elastic stopping element. The piston rod includes: a sealing component 2 with a sealed chamber 10, a piston rod body 3 with one end set inside the sealing component 2 and the other end outside the sealing component 2, and an elastic stopping element 1 connected with the piston rod body 3 inside the sealing component 2. The elastic stopping element 1 is set inside the sealed chamber 10 and includes: a piston assembly 11 fixed on the piston rod body 3, a piston cap 12 at one end of the piston assembly 11, and an airflow control component 13 set between the piston assembly 11 and the piston cap 12;

The piston assembly 11 includes: a piston body 111 that is spaced from the inner wall of the sealed chamber 10, and a rubber O-ring seal 112 set on the piston body 111 to block the gas flow. The piston body 111 features a groove 113 for placing the rubber O-ring seal 112. The groove 113 restricts the movement distance of the O-ring 112, forming sealing surfaces on both sides of the groove 113. The sealing surfaces include the O-ring 112 engaging with the inner wall of the sealed chamber 10, the groove 113 bottom, and the side end face of the groove 113 on the piston body 111, creating a three-point seal.

The piston body 111 is also provided with a longitudinal through hole 114. One end of the longitudinal through hole 114 leads to the side away from the piston cap 12, while the other end leads to the airflow control component 13. A transverse damping hole 115 is also provided in the middle of the longitudinal through hole 114, which leads to the rubber O-ring groove 113. When the rubber O-ring 112 is at either end of the groove 113, it needs to expose the transverse damping hole 115 to facilitate ventilation.

The elastic stopping element 1 separates the sealed chamber 10 into a first chamber 6 and a second chamber 5, which can only allow gas flow through the longitudinal through hole 114. Without external forces applied, the gas pressure per unit area inside the first chamber 6 and the second chamber 5 is the same. Because the area of the piston cap 12 exposed to the first chamber 6 is smaller than the area of the piston body 111 exposed to the second chamber 5, there is always a thrust exerted by the elastic stopping element 1 that extends the piston rod body 3 and the elastic stopping element 1 outward. Referring to Figure 4, when the elastic stopping element 1 undergoes extension displacement from the piston body 111 towards the piston cap 12, the gas in the second chamber 5 flows to the position of the rubber O-ring 112 through the gap formed between the piston body 111 and the sealed chamber 10. The rubber O-ring 112 moves in the direction away from the piston cap 12, exposing the transverse damping hole 115, which connects the gap between the piston body 111 and the sealed chamber 10 with the longitudinal through hole 114. Based on the displacement distance of the elastic stopping element 1, a portion of the gas in the second chamber 5 transfers to the first chamber 6, maintaining the gas pressure balance between the two chambers through this gas transfer.

Referring to Figure 5, due to the initial thrust, the elastic stopping element 1 only undergoes compression displacement under external forces from the piston cap 12 towards the piston body 111. Gas flows from the longitudinal through hole 114 and the gap between the piston body 111 and the sealed chamber 10 to the airflow control component 13, which deforms under gas pressure to connect the first chamber 6 and the second chamber 5, maintaining the gas pressure balance between the two chambers.

The elastic stopping element 1 achieves the function of a balancing gas spring through a simple structure, with low component processing difficulty, meeting the application demands in different fields.

Preferably, the piston cap 12 and the piston assembly 11 are separately arranged. An installation recessed step groove 121 is provided at the connection between the piston cap 12 and the piston assembly 11, used to assemble the airflow control component 13. One side of the installation recessed step groove 121 has an opening 122 that communicates with the second chamber 5. Gas from the longitudinal through hole 114 flows through the opening 122 from the airflow control component 13 to connect with the second chamber 5.

Referring to Figure 6, at least two longitudinal through holes 114 are arranged annularly and equidistantly on the piston body 111. The equidistant arrangement of multiple longitudinal through holes 114 benefits the stable operation of the elastic stopping element 1, ensuring that it does not get stuck in the sealed chamber due to uneven gas pressure during displacement.

Referring to Figure 7, the airflow control component 13 includes a sealing diaphragm 131 placed on the longitudinal through hole 114 to seal it, and an elastic pressure ring 132 set on the side of the sealing diaphragm 131 away from the longitudinal through hole 114 to provide closing resistance to the sealing diaphragm 131.

By setting the sealing diaphragm 131 and the elastic pressure ring 132 to seal one side of the longitudinal through hole 114, during the extension displacement, the rubber O-ring 112 moves, connecting the second chamber 5 with the transverse damping hole 115. Gas from the second chamber 5 can only flow through the gap between the piston body 111 and the sealed chamber 10 to the transverse damping hole 115 at the position of the rubber O-ring 112, connecting the gap between the piston body 111 and the sealed chamber 10 with the longitudinal through hole 114, completing the gas flow from the second chamber 5 to the first chamber 6.

During compression displacement, the rubber O-ring 112 moves, closing the gap between the piston body 111 and the sealed chamber 10 that connects the transverse damping hole 115 with the second chamber 5. Gas flows from the longitudinal through hole 114 to the sealing diaphragm 131. Due to the interference fit between the sealing diaphragm 131 and the elastic pressure ring 132, the exit side of the longitudinal through hole 114 is also sealed, providing the required support balance force. Only by applying an external force to push the gas and open the sealing diaphragm 131 can gas from the first chamber 6 flow to the second chamber 5.

Further Details
By setting the contact area between the sealing diaphragm 131 and the elastic pressure ring 132 under pressure, the purpose of achieving a constant external force can be realized.

The elastic pressure ring 132 and the rubber O-ring 112 are both made of elastic deformation materials. They are annularly arranged, and their cross-sections can be circular or square.

Preferably, the corresponding positions of the piston cap 12 and the piston body 111 are provided with installation holes 14, which are used to assemble the elastic stopping element 1 with other devices.

The connection between the piston rod body 3 and the piston cap 12 is provided with a stepped structure 31, which limits the displacement of the piston cap 12.

Preferably, the piston rod body 3 is assembled with the elastic stopping element 1 through installation holes 14 provided on the piston body 111 and the piston cap 12.

Refer to Figure 1, the sealing component 2 includes: a sleeve 21, a guiding sealing system 22 at one end of the sleeve 21, and a rear block 23 at the other end of the sleeve 21. The elastic stopping element 1 is set inside the sleeve 21. One end of the piston rod body 3 is connected to the elastic stopping element 1, and the other end passes through the guiding sealing system 22 to the outside.

Further, the sleeve 21 is set as a hollow column, which can be cylindrical, square, or any other columnar shape. The elastic stopping element 1 is correspondingly set according to the hollow shape of the sleeve 21, ensuring that it always fits snugly with the inner wall of the sleeve 21.

Preferably, the guiding sealing system 22 includes a limiting element 221 and an O-ring 222 set on the limiting element 221. The limiting element 221 prevents the piston rod body 3 from wobbling during displacement, and the O-ring 222 ensures airtightness inside the sleeve 21 when the piston rod body 3 moves.

Preferably, the end of the piston rod body 3 away from the elastic stopping element 1 is provided with a connecting structure 4, which is used to connect the piston rod body 3 with other structures. Similarly, the end of the rear block 23 away from the elastic stopping element 1 is also provided with a connecting structure 4. Through this connecting structure 4, the piston rod can be mounted on other structures. For example, the connecting structure 4 at one end of the rear block 23 can be connected to a windowsill, while the connecting structure 4 at the other end of the piston rod body 3 can be connected to a window, achieving the function of a windowsill support rod. Additionally, the piston rod can be applied to other different fields through this connecting structure 4.

In one embodiment, a weight is set on the piston rod body 3 through the connecting structure 4. The gravity of the weight is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the initial thrust of the elastic stopping element 1, resulting in a balanced state of force for the elastic stopping element 1 when there are no additional forces applied.

In this balanced state of force, the elastic stopping element 1 remains stationary. Only when additional force is applied can the elastic stopping element 1 undergo displacement to perform extension or compression movements.

During the displacement process, the longitudinal through hole 114 of the elastic stopping element 1 connects the first chamber 6 and the second chamber 5, maintaining the gas pressure per unit area in both chambers at the same level. When the external force is removed, the displacement of the elastic stopping element 1 stops, and it remains in a balanced state of force.

The working principle of this utility model is to set the gas pressure in the first chamber 6 and the second chamber 5 of the piston rod to make the supporting force provided by the gas pressure in the first chamber 6 equal to or slightly less than the minimum weight of the support object. When the elastic stopping element 1 is compressed inward, the rubber O-ring 112 in the groove 113 moves to closely fit the side of the groove 113 near the piston rod body 3 and the inner wall of the sleeve 21, forming a seal for the first chamber 6. This seal holds the pressurized air in place, creating the required support balance force. Only by applying external pressure can the pressurized gas force the sealing diaphragm 6 to open, allowing the pressurized gas on both sides of the elastic stopping element 1 to flow into the first chamber 6, enabling the piston rod to perform the compression movement.

When the piston rod extends outward, the rubber O-ring 112 in the groove 113 moves to closely fit the side of the groove 113 near the first chamber 6 and the inner wall of the sleeve 21, forming a seal for the second chamber 5. The pressurized gas flows through the gap between the outer diameter of the elastic stopping element 1 and the inner diameter of the sleeve 21, then through the transverse damping hole 115 to the first chamber 6.

The above shows and describes the basic principles, main features, and advantages of this utility model. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiment. The embodiments and descriptions in the above are intended to explain the principles of this utility model. Various changes and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this utility model, all of which fall within the scope of protection of this utility model as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (10) – a balancing gas spring equipped with an elastic stopping element, invented by LeiYan Gas Spring, a pioneer Chinese Gas Spring Manufacture

1. A balancing gas spring equipped with an elastic stopping element, comprising: a sealing component with a sealed chamber, a piston rod body with one end set inside the sealed chamber of the sealing component and the other end outside the sealing component, and an elastic stopping element fixedly connected to the piston rod body inside the sealing component. The elastic stopping element includes: a piston assembly fixed on the piston rod body, a piston cap fixedly connected to one end of the piston assembly and the piston rod body, and an airflow control component set between the piston assembly and the piston cap.

The piston assembly includes: a piston body that is spaced from the inner wall of the sealing component and a rubber O-ring seal set on the piston body to block the gas flow. The piston body has a groove for placing the rubber O-ring seal, which restricts the movement distance of the O-ring and forms sealing surfaces on both sides of the groove. The piston body also has a longitudinal through hole, with one end leading to the side away from the piston cap and the other end leading to the airflow control component. A transverse damping hole is also provided in the middle of the longitudinal through hole, leading to the groove for placing the rubber O-ring seal and connecting with the longitudinal through hole.

2. The balancing gas spring equipped with an elastic stopping element as described in claim 1, wherein the connection between the piston cap and the piston assembly is provided with an installation recessed step groove, used to assemble the airflow control component. One side of the installation recessed step groove has an opening, forming a gap between the sealed chamber and the piston body.
3. The balancing gas spring equipped with an elastic stopping element as described in claim 1, wherein at least two longitudinal through holes are arranged annularly and equidistantly on the piston body.
4. The balancing gas spring equipped with an elastic stopping element as described in claim 1, wherein the airflow control component includes a sealing diaphragm placed on the longitudinal through hole to seal it, and an elastic pressure ring set on the side of the sealing diaphragm away from the longitudinal through hole to provide closing resistance.
5. The balancing gas spring equipped with an elastic stopping element as described in claim 4, wherein both the elastic pressure ring and the rubber O-ring seal are made of elastic deformation materials.
6. The balancing gas spring equipped with an elastic stopping element as described in claim 4, wherein the elastic pressure ring is set as a constant circular ring, and its cross-section can be round or square.
7. The balancing gas spring equipped with an elastic stopping element as described in claim 1, wherein the corresponding positions of the piston cap and the piston body are provided with installation holes, used to fixedly assemble the elastic stopping element with the piston rod body.
8. The balancing gas spring equipped with an elastic stopping element as described in claim 7, wherein the connection between the piston rod body and the piston cap is provided with a stepped thread or spin riveting structure, which limits the displacement of the piston cap.
9. The balancing gas spring equipped with an elastic stopping element as described in claim 1, wherein the sealing component includes: a sleeve, a guiding sealing system set at one end of the sleeve, and a rear block set at the other end of the sleeve. The elastic stopping element is set inside the sleeve. One end of the piston rod body is connected to the elastic stopping element, and the other end passes through the guiding sealing system to the outside.
10. The balancing gas spring equipped with an elastic stopping element as described in claim 9, wherein the guiding sealing system includes a limiting element and an O-ring seal set on the limiting element. The limiting element prevents the piston rod body from wobbling during displacement, and the O-ring seal ensures airtightness inside the sleeve when the piston rod body moves.