control valve
By designing an adjusting valve with a hollow valve body, a rotatable sleeve, and a movable valve core, the problem of existing shock absorber adjusting valves being unable to adjust damping parameters over a wide range and quickly has been solved, realizing rapid and precise adjustment of shock absorber damping parameters and wide adaptability.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202280050382.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2021-07-30
- Filing Date
- 2022-07-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-11-06
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-07-21
AI Technical Summary
Existing shock absorber regulating valves cannot achieve wide-range and rapid adjustment of the damping parameters of the shock absorber, and traditional solutions have limited adjustment options and cannot accurately control the parameters of the shock absorber.
A regulating valve comprising a hollow valve body, a rotatable sleeve, and a movable valve core is designed. By rotating the sleeve to change the alignment of the valve orifice and the movement of the movable valve core, the damping parameters of the shock absorber can be precisely adjusted. Combined with the functions of the discharge valve and the slide valve, a wider range of damping parameter adjustment is provided.
It enables rapid and precise adjustment of the damping parameters of the shock absorber, adapting to the impacts and forces of different application scenarios, simplifying the maintenance process, and reducing adjustment pressure and load.
Smart Images

Figure CN117651812B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates primarily to an adjusting valve for a vehicle shock absorber. More specifically, the present invention relates to an adjusting valve for adjusting shock absorber parameters. Background Technology
[0002] Shock absorbers have been and will continue to be a focus of attention. In fact, shock absorbers are a critical component of most motor vehicles and non-motor vehicles. From motorcycles and cars of various designs and manufactures to mountain bikes, the function of shock absorbers is essential to the performance and lifespan of a vehicle. Furthermore, with the development of shock absorbers, they are also used in pneumatic and hydraulic applications to withstand different impacts or forces applied to the vehicle body.
[0003] More specifically, there is a growing interest in adjusting the parameters of shock absorbers to improve their performance and damping capacity for various applications. For example, known shock absorbers include shim stack valves, which are configured to generate adjustable resistance to the movement of the piston within the shock absorber cylinder, thereby adjusting the damping parameters of the shock absorber. Additionally, the use of valve cores or adjustable bleed valves are also known solutions for adjusting the damping parameters of shock absorbers.
[0004] However, the aforementioned solutions cannot allow for a wide range of adjustments to the shock absorber parameters. For example, shim stack valves or conventional slide valves lack the ability to modify the shock absorber damping parameters to achieve different configurations. Furthermore, the adjustable vent valves known in this technology require long settling times and also lack the ability to adjust the shock absorber parameters over a wide range. Moreover, the shim stack valves and slide valves known in this technology generally rely solely on the pressure threshold of the damping fluid to drive and adjust the shock absorber parameters, without providing the possibility of easily adjusting the drive threshold. Therefore, the possible types of adjustments are very limited, and the existing solutions cannot provide good control over the adjustment of the shock absorber parameters.
[0005] Therefore, one objective of this invention is to try to overcome at least some of the shortcomings of existing shock absorbers in terms of parameter adjustment. Summary of the Invention
[0006] The objective of this disclosure is to alleviate, mitigate, or eliminate at least some of the deficiencies and individual or combined disadvantages of the aforementioned technologies. These and other objectives can be achieved by providing an adjusting valve having the features described in the independent claim for adjusting parameters of a vehicle shock absorber. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.
[0007] Therefore, according to a first aspect of the invention, a regulating valve for a shock absorber is provided. The regulating valve includes a hollow valve body, wherein the hollow valve body includes a plurality of valve holes. The regulating valve according to the first aspect further includes a rotatable sleeve rotatably arranged around at least a portion of the hollow valve body, wherein the rotatable sleeve includes a plurality of sleeve holes. The regulating valve also includes a movable valve core slidably arranged within the hollow valve body and movable relative to the hollow valve body, wherein the movable valve core divides the hollow valve body into a first chamber and a second chamber. Furthermore, rotation of the rotatable sleeve relative to the hollow valve body is configured to change the alignment between at least one sleeve hole of the plurality of sleeve holes and at least one valve hole of the plurality of valve holes. Furthermore, according to the first aspect, movement of the movable valve core relative to the hollow valve body is configured to change the available opening area of at least one valve hole of the plurality of valve holes.
[0008] Therefore, the basis of this invention is to provide a valve that allows easy adjustment and control of the damping parameters of a shock absorber from a single adjustment point (i.e., a rotating sleeve). This invention further stems from providing a wider range of damping parameter adjustment, particularly achieving high-speed and low-speed damping of the shock absorber. Thus, this invention allows the shock absorber to adapt to shocks and forces applied to vehicles equipped with this adjusting valve in a broader range of applications. The overall objective of this invention also lies in combining and controlling the functions and effects of the discharge valve and the slide valve to precisely adjust the discharge rate, damping rate, and other damping parameters.
[0009] First, some terms are defined to provide clarification for the disclosures below.
[0010] The term "damping parameter" as used herein refers to any parameter or characteristic that affects the damping capacity and performance of a shock absorber, such as damping rate, damping ratio, and emission rate. As defined in this disclosure, damping parameter should be understood as a parameter that can be adjusted by a regulating valve.
[0011] The term "damping ratio" used here refers to the damping parameter of a shock absorber, representing the ratio of the force applied to the shock absorber to the displacement velocity of the shock absorber piston under force. In other words, the lower the damping ratio, the smaller the slope of the shock absorber's damping curve. On the other hand, a high damping ratio indicates a larger slope of the shock absorber's damping curve.
[0012] The term "high-speed damping" as used here refers to the adjustment of the damping of a shock absorber to absorb rapid and sudden impacts generated when the shock absorber piston rod moves quickly. Therefore, high-speed damping allows the shock absorber to adapt to high-intensity and rapid impacts. For example, high-speed damping occurs when a vehicle equipped with shock absorbers suddenly collides with an object in its path and rapidly compresses the shock absorber. High-speed damping applies to both the compression and rebound strokes of the shock absorber; that is, high-speed compression damping and high-speed rebound damping.
[0013] The term "low-speed damping" as used here refers to the adjustment of the damping of a shock absorber to absorb forces applied slowly and / or gradually to the shock absorber, resulting in moderate or slow movement of the shock absorber's piston rod. For example, low-speed damping is used to absorb the weight of a vehicle and control its movement under inertia, i.e., during acceleration and deceleration. Similar to high-speed damping, low-speed damping also applies to the compression and rebound strokes of the shock absorber, i.e., low-speed compression damping and low-speed rebound damping.
[0014] The term "hole" as used herein refers to a hole, slit, cut, gap, etc., in the valve body and / or sleeve that passes through the corresponding hollow body wall. Therefore, in the present invention, "hole" includes a region without material that can be fluidly connected through the corresponding hollow body wall of the valve body and / or sleeve.
[0015] The term "available opening area" as used herein refers to the area of at least one hole on the hollow valve body that is covered or blocked by the movable valve core in a certain position, but is not covered or opened when the movable valve core moves.
[0016] The term "discharge" as used here refers to having at least one valve orifice for emptying or discharging damping fluid from the first chamber of the hollow valve body.
[0017] The term "emission rate" as used here refers to the flow rate of damping fluid exiting the hollow valve body through the discharge port.
[0018] The advantage of this invention is that the regulating valve can be used in the compression and / or rebound circuits of any shock absorber. Furthermore, the hollow valve body and multiple orifices on it enable damped fluid communication between the hollow valve body itself and the exterior of the regulating valve. This damped fluid communication can be further controlled by a rotatable sleeve arranged around at least a portion of the hollow valve body and multiple sleeve orifices on the rotatable sleeve. Therefore, the control and adjustment of the shock absorber's damping parameters are achieved by rotating the sleeve around the hollow valve body, thus changing the alignment between at least one valve orifice and at least one sleeve orifice. A further advantage of this invention is that the movable valve core is configured to divide the hollow valve body into a first chamber and a second chamber, such that each chamber can specifically adjust the damping parameters of the shock absorber. The first chamber and at least one valve orifice aligned with the first chamber have a discharge function. In other words, at least one valve orifice is located in the portion of the hollow valve body corresponding to the first chamber, providing constant damped fluid communication between the first chamber and the exterior of the hollow valve body. Understandably, this constant damping fluid communication between the first chamber and the outside of the hollow valve body is controlled by a rotatable sleeve and its sleeve orifice. The advantage of the first chamber's discharge function is that it allows the regulating valve to increase the slope of the damper's damping curve by increasing the damping ratio, thereby achieving low-speed damping of the damper. Furthermore, the second chamber and at least one valve orifice aligned with the second chamber allow the movable valve core to move along the hollow valve body when pressure is applied to it. The movement of the movable valve core, in turn, alters the available opening of the hollow valve body aligned with the first chamber, i.e., the portion of the hollow valve body corresponding to the first chamber. The advantage of the movable valve core's movement is that it allows the regulating valve to reduce the slope of the damper's damping curve by decreasing the damping ratio, thereby achieving high-speed damping of the damper. Moreover, the regulating valve also has the advantage that the rotatable sleeve provides an additional means of adjusting the damping parameters of the damper by changing the alignment of the sleeve orifice with the valve orifice. In other words, a change in the alignment between at least one sleeve orifice and valve orifice alters the area of fluid communication between the hollow valve body and the external fluid communication zone of the regulating valve. Therefore, the rotatable sleeve controls the discharge function of the first chamber of the hollow valve body and the movement of the movable valve core in the second chamber. Thus, the advantage of the regulating valve lies in the fact that the combination of the discharge function, the movable valve core, and the rotatable sleeve enhances the adjustability of the shock absorber's damping parameters. This combination further increases the types and range of damping parameter adjustments. Furthermore, the combination of the discharge function, the movable valve core, and the sleeve significantly reduces the time required to adjust the damping parameters, thereby reducing the pressure and load applied to the regulating valve components during adjustment. It is understood that the rotatable sleeve can be configured to rotate relative to the hollow valve body to a predetermined position, such as representing various predetermined modes of the shock absorber (e.g., comfort mode, off-road mode, track mode, etc.).It can be further understood that the rotation of the rotatable sleeve can be configured to rotate gradually relative to the hollow valve body throughout its entire rotation range, thereby enabling more specific and precise adjustment of the damping parameters of the shock absorber. Furthermore, the advantage of the regulating valve in this invention lies in its simple structure, consisting of very few components or parts, which, in addition to limiting the total weight of the shock absorber, also reduces the complexity of maintenance and repair.
[0019] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the movable valve core may include a hollow body comprising an open end and a closed end, wherein the volume of the hollow body of the movable valve core may form part of a second chamber of a hollow valve body. The advantage of the hollow body and its open end of the movable valve core is that they can accommodate a larger volume of damping fluid in the second chamber. Furthermore, the hollow body of the movable valve core reduces its weight, which facilitates its movement within the hollow valve body and makes the movable valve core more sensitive to pressure changes in the first chamber, thereby improving the speed at which high-speed damping can be achieved. Another advantage of the hollow valve body with the movable valve core is that it can reduce the overall weight of the regulating valve.
[0020] According to certain embodiments of the invention, the regulating valve may further include a spring disposed in a second chamber, wherein the spring may include a first end contacting the hollow body of the movable valve core and a second end contacting the hollow valve body. Furthermore, the spring may be configured to apply a force to the hollow valve body of the movable valve core along the central longitudinal axis of the hollow valve body. The term "central longitudinal axis" as used herein refers to the axis along which the hollow valve body extends. The hollow body of the movable valve core has the advantage that it can at least partially accommodate the spring therein, such that the first end of the spring contacts the inner surface of the closed end of the movable valve core. Since at least a portion of the spring is located within the hollow body of the movable valve core, this better accommodates the spring and prevents undesirable bending or torsion. Furthermore, the first and second ends of the spring abut against the movable valve core and the hollow valve body, respectively, preventing displacement of the spring along the central longitudinal axis. In other words, since the movable valve core moves along the same axis, the spring may be compressed along the central longitudinal axis, but the spring as a component may not translate along the central longitudinal axis. Furthermore, the first and second ends of the spring abut against each other, causing the spring to be continuously compressed at least partially within the second chamber, thereby continuously applying a force to the hollow body of the movable valve core in the direction of the first chamber. Therefore, the force applied by the spring to the movable valve core provides a certain elasticity for the movement of the movable valve core, and this elasticity must be overcome by the damping fluid pressure in the first chamber to produce the movement of the movable valve core.
[0021] According to some embodiments of the present invention, each of the plurality of sleeve holes can be configured to be at least partially aligned with at least one of the plurality of valve holes along the central longitudinal axis of the hollow valve body. This at least partial alignment of the sleeve holes and valve holes along the central longitudinal axis allows the circumferential alignment between at least one sleeve hole and at least one valve hole to change as the rotatable sleeve rotates relative to the hollow valve body. Therefore, the at least partial alignment of the sleeve holes and valve holes along the central longitudinal axis allows for control and regulation of the damped fluid connectivity between the first and second chambers of the hollow valve body and the outside of the regulating valve by rotation of the sleeve relative to the hollow valve body.
[0022] According to some embodiments of the invention, the plurality of valve orifices may include at least one main orifice, wherein the at least one main orifice may include a region aligned with a first chamber of the hollow valve body along a central longitudinal axis. Furthermore, when the sleeve rotates relative to the hollow valve body, the alignment change between at least one sleeve orifice and at least one main orifice can be configured to alter the common area between at least one sleeve orifice and at least one main orifice. The at least one main orifice and its aligned region with the first chamber of the hollow valve body enable the discharge function of the first chamber. In other words, at least one main orifice allows damped fluid communication between the first chamber of the hollow valve body and the exterior of the regulating valve. This damped fluid communication is further controlled by rotation of a rotatable sleeve, which allows adjustment of the common area between the at least one main orifice and at least one sleeve orifice through which damped fluid flows out of the first chamber, i.e., the common area for performing the discharge function. In other words, rotation of the sleeve alters the superposition of the at least one sleeve orifice and at least one main orifice, thereby changing the available area for damped fluid to discharge or flow out of the first chamber of the hollow valve body. When the sleeve rotates relative to the hollow valve body, the reduction in this common area leads to a decrease in the emission rate, which is beneficial for low-speed damping regulation. Conversely, when the sleeve rotates relative to the hollow valve body, the increase in the common area leads to an increase in the emission rate, which is beneficial for the movement of the movable valve core, thus benefiting high-speed damping regulation.
[0023] According to some embodiments of the invention, the plurality of valve orifices may further include at least one secondary orifice, wherein the at least one secondary orifice includes a region aligned with a second chamber of the hollow valve body along a central longitudinal axis. Furthermore, as the sleeve rotates relative to the hollow valve body, a change in the alignment between at least one sleeve orifice and at least one secondary orifice can be configured to alter the common area between the at least one sleeve orifice and at least one secondary orifice. The at least one secondary orifice and its aligned region with the second chamber of the hollow valve body allow damping fluid to flow out of the second chamber, thereby enabling movement of the movable valve core within the hollow valve body. In other words, at least one secondary orifice allows damping fluid communication between the second chamber of the hollow valve body and the exterior of the regulating valve. This damping fluid communication can be further controlled by rotation of the rotatable sleeve relative to the hollow valve body, thereby altering the superposition of the at least one sleeve orifice and at least one secondary orifice. The change in superposition / alignment results in a change in the available area for damping fluid to flow out of the second chamber of the hollow valve body. In addition to the resistance provided by the spring, the reduction of this common area also increases the resistance to movement of the movable valve core within the hollow valve body. Therefore, reducing the common area between at least one secondary orifice and at least one sleeve orifice increases the damping ratio of the shock absorber, thus benefiting low-speed damping adjustment. On the other hand, increasing the common area between at least one secondary orifice and at least one sleeve orifice makes it easier for the movable valve core to move, thereby reducing the damping ratio of the shock absorber and benefiting high-speed damping adjustment. Understandably, when the sleeve rotates relative to the hollow valve body, the common area between at least one sleeve orifice and at least one secondary orifice may decrease to the point of non-existence. In other words, when the sleeve rotates fully relative to the hollow valve body, at least one sleeve orifice and at least one secondary orifice will misalign, such that the common area between at least one sleeve orifice and at least one secondary orifice cannot be used for damping fluid communication between the second chamber of the hollow valve body and the outside of the regulating valve. Therefore, the movement of the movable valve core within the hollow valve body is impeded, leading to a significant increase in the damping ratio of the shock absorber.
[0024] According to some embodiments of the invention, the plurality of valve orifices may further include at least one auxiliary orifice, wherein the at least one auxiliary orifice may include a usable opening area aligned with a first chamber of the hollow valve body along a central longitudinal axis. The size of the at least one auxiliary orifice may be adjusted according to the desired application of the regulating valve and the shock absorber including the regulating valve. For example, for applications requiring high-speed damping at higher rates (such as high-performance motorcycles), the size of the at least one auxiliary orifice should be larger than for applications requiring lower-speed damping at lower rates (such as mountain bikes). The at least one auxiliary orifice may employ different structures. For example, the at least one auxiliary orifice may be formed by a single hole or a single cutout located on the hollow valve body and extending along a central longitudinal axis. In another example, the at least one auxiliary orifice may be a plurality of protrusions disposed around the valve body, such that the usable opening area aligned with the first chamber of the hollow valve body is formed by the area of each of the plurality of protrusions. It is further understood that the size of each of the plurality of protrusions may be different from each other (e.g., circular protrusions with different diameters), and the opening areas of each of the plurality of protrusions combined together form the usable opening area aligned with the first chamber of the hollow valve body along a central longitudinal axis. Understandably, different constructions of at least one auxiliary hole can simplify the manufacture of the rotatable sleeve.
[0025] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the movable valve core may further include at least one guide surface configured to engage with at least one auxiliary orifice. Furthermore, the at least one guide surface may be configured to guide the movable valve core along the central longitudinal axis of the hollow valve body, wherein the at least one guide surface may be configured to seal the first chamber and the second chamber. The at least one guide surface ensures that the movable valve core remains perfectly aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the hollow valve body during movement. Therefore, the at least one guide surface prevents wear that may result from misalignment of the movable valve core with the central longitudinal axis of the hollow valve body during movement. Furthermore, the sealing function of the at least one guide surface prevents damping fluid communication between the first and second chambers, thereby allowing for more precise adjustment of the damping parameters of the shock absorber by each chamber and its respective aligned orifice. Additionally, the sealing function of the at least one guide surface minimizes undesirable pressure drops between the first and second chambers of the hollow valve body, thereby enabling more precise adjustment of the damping parameters of the shock absorber.
[0026] According to some embodiments of the invention, a movable valve core can be configured to gradually switch between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the hollow body of the movable valve core blocks a usable opening area of at least one auxiliary orifice. In the open position, the hollow body of the movable valve core at least partially releases the blockage of the usable opening area of at least one auxiliary orifice. The change in the usable opening area relative to the movement of the movable valve core between the open and closed positions allows for a change in the damping rate of the shock absorber, enabling high-speed damping adjustment of the shock absorber. In other words, the movement of the movable valve core is proportional to the unblocked portion of the usable opening area, allowing damping fluid to flow out of the first chamber.
[0027] According to certain embodiments of the invention, when the sleeve rotates relative to the hollow valve body, the alignment change between at least one sleeve hole and at least one auxiliary hole among a plurality of sleeve holes can be configured to alter the common area between the available opening regions of at least one sleeve hole and at least one auxiliary hole. Therefore, the rotatable sleeve provides an additional degree of control for the adjustment of damping parameters, more specifically, high-speed damping adjustment. In other words, the change in the common area between the available opening regions of at least one sleeve hole and at least one auxiliary hole controls the damping fluid connectivity between the first chamber of the hollow valve body and the outside of the regulating valve through the available opening region, thereby affecting the high-speed damping adjustment of the shock absorber.
[0028] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a movable valve core can be configured to move in response to a pressure difference between a first chamber and a second chamber, and when at least one sleeve hole in a plurality of sleeve holes is at least partially aligned with at least one secondary hole. This at least partial alignment between the at least one sleeve hole and the at least one secondary hole allows damping fluid communication between the second chamber of the hollow valve body and the outside of the regulating valve, thereby causing the movable valve core to move. Furthermore, the movable valve core moves when the pressure of the damping fluid in the first chamber is greater than the pressure of the damping fluid in the second chamber and the restoring force of the spring in the second chamber.
[0029] In certain embodiments of the invention, the rotatable sleeve can be configured to rotate via an electric actuator. The electric actuator can be connected to the rotatable sleeve via a shaft located at the closed end of the rotatable sleeve. It is understood that the electric actuator can be a stepper motor, a BLDC motor, a brushless motor, a servo motor, etc.
[0030] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a shock absorber for a vehicle suspension is provided, wherein the shock absorber may include at least one adjusting valve as described above. The adjusting valve is configured to adjust the damping of the shock absorber and may include a hollow valve body, wherein the hollow valve body includes a plurality of valve orifices. The adjusting valve of the shock absorber may further include a rotatable sleeve rotatably arranged around at least a portion of the hollow valve body, wherein the rotatable sleeve includes a plurality of sleeve orifices. Furthermore, the adjusting valve of the shock absorber may also include a movable valve core slidably arranged within the hollow valve body and movable relative to the hollow valve body. The movable valve core may be configured to divide the hollow valve body into a first chamber and a second chamber, and rotation of the rotatable sleeve relative to the hollow valve body may be configured to change the alignment between at least one sleeve orifice of the plurality of sleeve orifices and at least one valve orifice of the plurality of valve orifices. Furthermore, movement of the movable valve core relative to the hollow valve body may change the available opening area of at least one valve orifice of the plurality of valve orifices. Understandably, there is a check valve before at least one regulating valve, so that the damping fluid can only enter the first chamber of the hollow valve body through a single damping fluid inlet.
[0031] According to some embodiments of the present invention, at least one regulating valve is configured to adjust the damping of the shock absorber during the compression stroke, and at least one regulating valve is configured to adjust the damping of the shock absorber during the rebound stroke. Having at least one regulating valve for adjusting the damping parameter during the compression stroke enables both high-speed and low-speed compression damping adjustment. Similarly, at least one different regulating valve is used for adjusting the damping parameter during the rebound stroke, thereby achieving both high-speed and low-speed rebound damping adjustment.
[0032] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a shock absorber including at least one regulating valve can be a front shock absorber. Furthermore, a shock absorber including at least one regulating valve can be a rear shock absorber.
[0033] Further objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon studying the following detailed disclosure, drawings, and appended claims. Those skilled in the art will recognize that different features of the invention can be combined to form other embodiments besides those described below. Attached Figure Description
[0034] These aspects of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the inventive concept.
[0035] Figure 1 An exploded view of a control valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically;
[0036] Figure 2aA schematic cross-sectional view of a control valve is shown, wherein, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the movable valve core is in the closed position;
[0037] Figure 2b A schematic cross-sectional view of a control valve is shown, wherein, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the movable valve core is in the open position;
[0038] Figures 3a-3d Various configurations of the rotatable sleeve relative to the hollow valve body are schematically shown, corresponding to various adjustments of the damping parameters of a shock absorber including a regulating valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] Figures 4a-4b Another configuration of the control valve is schematically shown, wherein, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, at least one auxiliary orifice is formed by a plurality of protrusions disposed around the valve body;
[0040] Figures 4c-4d A schematic cross-sectional view of a control valve is shown, wherein, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, at least one auxiliary orifice is formed by a plurality of protrusions disposed around the valve body; and
[0041] Figure 5 An exemplary embodiment of the invention, showing a regulating valve driven by an electric actuator, is schematically illustrated. Detailed Implementation
[0042] Figure 1 An exploded view schematically shows a regulating valve 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The regulating valve 100 shown comprises a hollow valve body 110, which includes a plurality of valve holes, wherein a main valve hole 160, a secondary valve hole 170, and an auxiliary valve hole 180 are visible. It can be seen that the hollow valve body 110 includes symmetrically arranged valve holes, with its other side... Figure 1 Not visible in the center. The main valve orifice 160 and the auxiliary valve orifice 170 are shown as circular, with the area of the main valve orifice 160 being larger than that of the auxiliary valve orifice 170. Furthermore, Figure 1 The auxiliary orifice 180 is shown, corresponding to the available opening area that changes with the movement of the movable valve core 130 during the assembly of the regulating valve 100. It should be noted that the dimensions and shapes of the main valve orifice 160, the secondary valve orifice 170, and the auxiliary valve orifice 180 can be consistent with... Figure 1 The differences shown are preferably kept consistent with Figure 1Similar size proportions are shown. The regulating valve 100 is further shown to be composed of a rotatable sleeve 140, which includes a plurality of sleeve holes 165, 175 and 185, which, when the regulating valve 100 is assembled, are aligned along the central longitudinal axis A with the main hole 160, the secondary hole 170 and the auxiliary hole 180 of the hollow valve body 110, respectively. Figure 1 Further shown is the sleeve bore 165 (in Figure 1 (The two sides of the rotatable sleeve 140 are visible), its shape is roughly rectangular, and its area is slightly larger than the area of the main hole 160 of the hollow valve body 110. Figure 1 The sleeve hole 175 shown is basically rectangular, and its area varies along its elongation direction. Thus, at least a portion of the area of the sleeve hole 175 is slightly larger than the area of the secondary hole 170, and at least a portion of the area of the sleeve hole 175 is slightly smaller than the area of the secondary hole 170. The sleeve hole 185 is... Figure 1 The slit, represented as a parallel gap extending along the central longitudinal axis A, has a length similar to that of the auxiliary hole 180 of the hollow valve body 110, but its area is significantly smaller than the opening area of the auxiliary hole 180. It is understood that the rotatable sleeve 140 includes... Figure 1 The sleeve bores are not visible in the design, but they are located on the opposite side of the rotatable sleeve 140, symmetrical to sleeve bores 175 and 185. It should be further noted that the dimensions and shapes of the multiple sleeve bores 165, 175, and 185 may differ from those in the design. Figure 1 Although they are different as shown, they preferably maintain similar dimensional proportions relative to each other and relative to the main bore 160, secondary bore 170, and auxiliary bore 180, so that they will be aligned with the main bore 160, secondary bore 170, and auxiliary bore 180 once the valve 100 is assembled. Furthermore, Figure 1 A regulating valve 100 is shown, comprising a movable valve core 130 and a spring 120, wherein the movable valve core 130 includes guide surfaces 190 on both sides of its closed end 135. The regulating valve 100 is further shown to be formed by a housing 150, which includes a plurality of housing holes 155. Figure 1(Only one is shown in the image), the housing bore fluidly connects the regulating valve 100 to the rest of the shock absorber. The components constituting the regulating valve 100 are further shown arranged and elongated along a central longitudinal axis A. During assembly of the regulating valve 100, a spring 120 is inserted at least partially through its open end 136 into the hollow body of a movable valve core 130. Both the spring 120 and the movable valve core 130 are configured to insert into the hollow valve body 110 such that the guide surface 190 of the movable valve core 130 engages with the auxiliary hole 180, guiding and restricting movement of the movable valve core 130 within the hollow valve body 110. During assembly of the regulating valve 100, a rotatable sleeve 140 is further arranged at least partially around the hollow valve body 110, and then all the aforementioned assembly components are arranged within a housing 150 such that a shaft 195 extends from the end of the housing 150 for user-driven rotation of the sleeve 140.
[0043] Figure 2a A schematic cross-sectional view of the control valve 200 is shown, with the movable valve core 130 in the closed position, and the cross-sectional view is taken along the central longitudinal axis A. Figure 2a The control valve 200 is shown schematically, representing... Figure 1 An assembled version of the regulating valve 100 is shown, in which a hollow valve body 110 is inserted into a housing 150 and screwed onto the housing 150 at one end by threads on the hollow valve body 110 and the housing 150. Figure 2a A rotatable sleeve 140 arranged around at least a portion of the hollow valve body 110 and a movable valve core 130 arranged within the hollow valve body 110 are further illustrated. It is understood that the inner wall of the rotatable sleeve 140 contacts the outer surface of the hollow valve body 110, thus preventing damping fluid from stagnating or accumulating between the hollow valve body 110 and the rotatable sleeve 140. It is further understood that this contact does not impede rotation of the rotatable sleeve 140 relative to the hollow valve body 110. Furthermore, the movable valve core 130 also has a hollow body into which a spring 120 is inserted at least partially through an open end 136. The diagram shows that the first end of the spring 120 is connected to the hollow body of the movable valve core 130 at the closed end 135, and the second end is connected to the hollow valve body 110 at the closed end 115. Thus, the spring 120 applies a force to the hollow body of the movable valve core 130 along the central longitudinal axis A. Furthermore, Figure 2a The guide surface 190 of the movable valve core 130, which engages with the auxiliary hole 180, is shown. Figure 2a Further illustration shows that the movable valve core 130 divides the hollow valve body 110 into a first chamber 210 and a second chamber 215, wherein the volume of the hollow body of the movable valve core 130 forms part of the second chamber 215, and the guide surface 190 seals the first chamber 210 and the second chamber 215. Furthermore, Figure 2aThe main bore 160, aligned with the first chamber 210 along the central longitudinal axis A, and the secondary bore 170, aligned with the second chamber 215, are shown. Figure 2a Further shown is a rotatable sleeve 140 positioned relative to the hollow valve body 110, such that the main bore 160 (i.e., the discharge port) is misaligned with any sleeve bore, and there is no common area between the main bore 160 and any sleeve bore available for discharging damping fluid from the first chamber 210. Furthermore, Figure 2a A sleeve bore 175 aligned with one of the secondary bores 170 is shown, allowing them to share a common area, thus enabling damping fluid to flow out of the second chamber 215 as the movable valve core 130 moves. Figure 2a The movable valve core 130 is further described in the closed position, in which the hollow body of the movable valve core 130 completely blocks the auxiliary hole 180 and its available opening area. Figure 2a The regulating valve 200 shown is constructed such that when the damping fluid pressure in the first chamber 210 is greater than the damping fluid pressure in the second chamber 215 and the restoring force of the spring 120 in the second chamber 215, the movable valve core 130 will move along the central longitudinal axis A, thereby making the volume of the first chamber 210 larger than the volume of the second chamber 215, as shown. Figure 2b As shown.
[0044] Figure 2b A schematic cross-sectional view of the control valve 200 is shown, with the movable valve core 130 in the open position, and the cross-sectional view is taken along the central longitudinal axis A. Figure 2b This shows that the movable valve core 130 completely releases the obstruction of the auxiliary port 180, leaving the usable opening area of the auxiliary port 180 completely uncovered. It can be seen that... Figure 2a and Figure 2b In this configuration, the rotatable sleeve 140 rotates relative to the hollow valve body 110, such that at least one sleeve hole is aligned with the auxiliary hole 180 along the central longitudinal axis A, and shares a common area with the auxiliary hole 180. It should be noted that... Figure 2a and Figure 2b In the figure, due to the cross-sectional view, the common area between at least one sleeve hole and auxiliary hole 180 is not clearly visible. Furthermore, the figure also shows that in the open position, the movable valve core 130 compresses the spring 120, causing the volume of the first chamber 210 of the hollow valve body 110 to be larger than the volume of the second chamber 215 of the hollow valve body 110. Figure 2b Directional arrow B further illustrates the damping fluid communication between the first chamber 210 of the hollow valve body 110 and the outside of the regulating valve 200. Directional arrow B indicates that the damping fluid enters the hollow valve body 110 at the open end of the regulating valve 200, i.e., during the compression and / or rebound strokes of the shock absorber, and generates sufficient pressure in the first chamber 210 to cause the movable valve core 130 to move from the closed position (e.g., ...). Figure 2a(As shown) transition to the open position (e.g.) Figure 2b (As shown). Directional arrow B further illustrates the damped fluid connectivity between the first chamber 210 and the exterior of the regulating valve 200, which is achieved through the available opening of the auxiliary port 180 and the housing port 155. Furthermore, the damped fluid connectivity between the second chamber 215 of the hollow valve body 110 and the exterior of the regulating valve 200 is indicated by directional arrow C. The fluid connectivity indicated by directional arrow C is achieved through the common area between the sleeve port 175 and the secondary port 170, as well as the housing port 155. Figure 2b In the exemplary embodiment shown, the discharge function of the main bore 160 is disabled due to the misalignment between the main bore 160 and any of the sleeve bores, and the open position of the movable valve core 130 depicts the high-speed damping adjustment of the damper damping parameters.
[0045] Figures 3a to 3d Various configurations of the rotatable sleeve relative to the hollow valve body are schematically shown, corresponding to various adjustments of the damping parameters of the shock absorber, including the regulating valve 300. Figure 3a A rotatable sleeve 140, which rotates relative to the hollow valve body 110, is shown to form a possible configuration in which the sleeve bore 165 and the main bore 160 are aligned to form a common area 161. The common area 161 enables the first chamber of the hollow valve body to have a discharge function. Figure 3a The arrangement of the sleeve bore 175 and the secondary bore 170 forming a common region 171 is further illustrated. The common region 171 allows fluid communication between the second chamber of the hollow valve body and the outside of the regulating valve 300. Furthermore, Figure 3a The structure shown describes the complete alignment of the auxiliary hole 180 of the hollow valve body 110 with the sleeve hole 185 of the rotatable sleeve 140, thereby forming a common area 181. Figure 3a The movable valve core 130 is further shown in the closed position, thus completely blocking the available opening area of the auxiliary port 180. Furthermore, in Figure 3a In the configuration shown, there is only a small common area 161 between the main bore 160 and the sleeve bore 165. This means that the first chamber of the hollow valve body 110 has a very small discharge rate, resulting in a high damping rate. Therefore, Figure 3a The structure allows for adjustment of the damping parameters of the shock absorber to meet the requirements of low-speed piston movement and provides low-speed damping adjustment.
[0046] Figure 3b The control valve 300 shown is aligned with the valve orifices 160, 170, 180 and the sleeve orifices 165, 175, 185 in terms of alignment and common area. Figure 3a The structures shown are the same. However, Figure 3b The image shows the movable valve core 130 moving along the hollow valve body 110 to a position between its closed and open positions. Figure 3bThe position of the movable valve core 130 shown partially removes the obstruction to the usable opening area of the auxiliary hole 180, thereby enabling fluid communication between the first chamber of the hollow valve body 110 and the outside of the regulating valve 300, as well as the common area / discharge 161. Figure 3b The movement of the movable valve core 130 shown is observed when the flow rate of damping fluid entering the regulating valve 300 is large. For example, due to the high compression speed of the shock absorber, high-speed damping adjustment of the shock absorber can be achieved. Furthermore, the perfect alignment between the secondary orifice 170 and the sleeve orifice 175 maximizes the common area of fluid communication between the second chamber of the hollow valve body and the outside of the regulating valve 300, thereby minimizing the movement damping of the movable valve core 130, i.e., minimizing the movement resistance of the movable valve core 130.
[0047] Figure 3c This diagram illustrates one structure of the regulating valve 300, which consists of... Figures 3a-3b The structure shown is derived from this and is obtained by rotating the rotatable sleeve 140 clockwise relative to the hollow valve body 110 about the central longitudinal axis A. Therefore, with Figures 3a-3b Compared to its structure, Figure 3c The design shows a larger common area 161 between the main bore 160 and the sleeve bore 165, which allows a larger flow rate of damping fluid (or a larger discharge rate) to flow from the first chamber of the hollow valve body 110. The larger discharge rate reduces the damping ratio of the shock absorber. Figures 3a-3b Compared to the structure, Figure 3c The structure shown also reduces the common area 171 between the secondary hole 170 and the sleeve hole 175, thereby increasing the damping of the movement of the movable valve core 130. Therefore, Figure 3c The structure reduces the damping slope of the high-speed damping curve.
[0048] Figure 3d This illustrates one structure of the regulating valve 300, which is from... Figure 3c The structure shown is obtained by rotating the rotatable sleeve 140 clockwise relative to the hollow valve body 110 about the central longitudinal axis A. Figure 3c Compared to the structure, Figure 3d The structure shows that the common area 161 between the main bore 160 and the sleeve bore 165 is reduced, which lowers the emission rate and thus increases the damping rate of the shock absorber. Furthermore, Figure 3d The structure shows that only one sleeve hole 185 is aligned with the auxiliary hole 180, thus reducing the usable opening area of the auxiliary hole 180 that is not blocked by the movable valve core 130. Figure 3c Compared to the previous structure, the common area 171 between the secondary hole 170 and the sleeve hole 175 is further reduced, which increases the damping of the movement of the movable valve core 130. Therefore, compared with Figure 3c Compared to the structure shown, Figure 3dThe structure shown provides a high-speed damping adjustment for the shock absorber with a high slope of the damping curve. Furthermore, it can be understood that... Figures 3a-3d Each of these figures shows a thread 310 of a hollow valve body, allowing the hollow valve body to be detachably connected to the housing of a regulating valve. Furthermore, Figures 3a-3d Each of these further illustrates the shaft 195 of the rotatable sleeve 140, allowing the user to rotate the rotatable sleeve 140 and operate the regulating valve 300.
[0049] Figure 4a and Figure 4b Another configuration of the control valve is schematically shown, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, wherein at least one auxiliary hole is formed by a plurality of protrusions 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498 disposed around the valve body 410, and wherein sleeve holes 485, 486 are located on opposite sides of the rotatable sleeve 440. Figure 4a A rotatable sleeve 440, which rotates relative to the hollow valve body 410, is shown to form a possible configuration in which the sleeve bore 465 and the main bore 460 are aligned to form a common area 461. The common area 461 enables the first chamber of the hollow valve body to have a discharge function. Figure 4a The arrangement of the sleeve bore 475 and the secondary bore 470 forming a common region 471 is further illustrated. The common region 471 allows fluid communication between the second chamber of the hollow valve body 410 and the exterior of the regulating valve 400. It can be seen that the dimensions of the sleeve bores 465, 475, and 485 are... Figures 3a-3d The sleeve holes shown are different. Figure 4a This further illustrates that the protrusions 491, 492, and 493 of the valve body 410 are fully aligned with the sleeve bore 485 of the rotatable sleeve 440, thus forming a common area 481. That is, the movable valve core 430 moves along the hollow valve body 410 as shown in the figure to a position between its closed and open positions. It is understood that... Figures 4a-4d The movable valve core 430 may further include at least one guide surface configured to guide the movable valve core 430 to move along the central longitudinal axis A of the hollow valve body 410. Therefore, the position of the movable valve core 430 may partially not obstruct the usable opening area of the protrusion 491, completely not obstruct the usable opening area of the protrusion 492, and completely obstruct the usable opening area of the orifice 493, thereby allowing fluid communication between the first chamber of the hollow valve body 410 and the outside of the regulating valve 400 through the orifice 492 and partially through the orifice 491. Figure 4a The movement of the movable valve core 430 shown enables high-speed damping adjustment of the shock absorber.
[0050] Figure 4bAn embodiment of the control valve 400 is shown, which is obtained by rotating the valve 400 by 180° about an axis perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis A. Figure 4b Therefore, it is shown Figure 4a On the other side of the valve 400 shown, the position of the rotatable sleeve 440 around the valve body 410 is... Figure 4a The positions are the same. Figure 4b The protrusions 494, 495, 496, 497, and 498 of the display valve body 410 are perfectly aligned with the sleeve bore 486 of the rotatable sleeve 440, thus forming a common area 481. Figure 4b Similarly, the movable valve core 430 is displayed between the closed and open positions, thus partially not obstructing protrusion 495, not obstructing protrusions 494 and 497 at all, and completely obstructing protrusions 496 and 498.
[0051] Figures 4c-4d schematically shown Figure 4a Cross-sectional view of the regulating valve 400. Figure 4c The cross-sectional view shows the positioning of the valve body 410 such that protrusions 491, 497, and 498 are perpendicular to the cross-section of the valve 400. Protrusion 491 is further shown aligned with a portion 411 of the valve body 410 that separates protrusions 497 and 498 located on the other side of the valve body 410 from protrusion 491. That is, protrusion 491 is offset from protrusions 497 and 498 such that the available opening area of protrusions 497, 491, and 498 is substantially equivalent to a single cutout located on one side of the valve body 410.
[0052] Figure 4d The positioning of valve body 410 is shown, such that protrusions 492, 493, 494, 495, and 496 are perpendicular to the cross-section of valve 400. Figure 4c similar, Figure 4d The protrusions 494, 495, and 496 are aligned with a portion 412 of the valve body 410, which separates the protrusions 492 and 493 located on the other side of the valve body 410 from the protrusions 494, 495, and 496. In other words, the protrusions 494, 495, and 496 are offset from the protrusions 492 and 493, such that the available opening area of the protrusions 492, 493, 494, 495, and 496 is essentially equivalent to a single cutout located on one side of the valve body 410.
[0053] Therefore, it is understandable that the effects of protrusions 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, and 498 on the adjustment of the damping parameters of valve 400 are related to... Figures 3a-3d The effect of the auxiliary hole 180 shown in the embodiments is basically the same. That is to say, Figures 4a-4dThe available opening areas of protrusions 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, and 498 of the valve 400 shown are... Figures 3a-3d The available opening area of the auxiliary hole 180 of the valve 300 shown is basically similar.
[0054] Figure 5 The diagram schematically illustrates a regulating valve 500 driven by an electric actuator 501. Figure 5 The diagram shows a control valve 500 without a housing, in which the shaft 195 of the rotatable sleeve 140 is rotated relative to the hollow valve body 110 by an electric actuator 501 (in this example, a stepper motor 501).
[0055] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is by no means limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the shape, size, and orientation of any valve orifice and / or sleeve orifice may differ from the embodiments described above.
[0056] Item list of the embodiments
[0057] 1. Adjusting valves for shock absorbers (100, 200, 300, 400, 500), the adjusting valves include:
[0058] Hollow valve body (110, 410), wherein the hollow valve body includes multiple valve holes (160, 170, 180, 460, 470, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498);
[0059] A rotatable sleeve (140, 440) is rotatably arranged around at least a portion of a hollow valve body, wherein the rotatable sleeve includes a plurality of sleeve bores (165, 175, 185, 465, 475, 485).
[0060] The movable valve core (130, 430) is slidably arranged in the hollow valve body and can move relative to the hollow valve body;
[0061] The movable valve core is configured to divide the hollow valve body into a first chamber (210) and a second chamber (215);
[0062] The rotation of the rotatable sleeve relative to the hollow valve body is configured to change the alignment between at least one sleeve bore among a plurality of sleeve bores and at least one valve bore among a plurality of valve bores; and
[0063] The movement of the movable valve core relative to the hollow valve body is configured to change the available opening area of at least one of the multiple valve holes.
[0064] 2. The regulating valve according to Embodiment 1, wherein the movable valve core further includes a hollow body, the hollow body including an open end (136) and a closed end (135), wherein the volume of the hollow body of the movable valve core constitutes part of the second chamber of the hollow valve body.
[0065] 3. The regulating valve according to embodiment 2 further includes a spring (120) arranged in the second chamber, wherein the spring includes a first end connected to the hollow body of the movable valve core and a second end connected to the hollow valve body, and the spring is configured to apply a force to the hollow body of the movable valve core along the central longitudinal axis A of the hollow valve body.
[0066] 4. The regulating valve according to embodiment 3, wherein each of the plurality of sleeve holes is configured to be at least partially aligned with at least one of the plurality of valve holes along the central longitudinal axis of the hollow valve body.
[0067] 5. The regulating valve according to any one of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the plurality of valve holes includes at least one main hole (160, 460), wherein the at least one main hole includes a region aligned with a first chamber of the hollow valve body along the central longitudinal axis.
[0068] 6. The regulating valve according to embodiment 5, wherein when the sleeve rotates relative to the hollow valve body, the alignment change between at least one sleeve hole (165, 465) of the plurality of sleeve holes and at least one main hole is configured to change the common area (161, 461) between at least one sleeve hole of the plurality of sleeve holes and at least one main hole.
[0069] 7. The regulating valve according to any one of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the plurality of valve orifices further includes at least one secondary orifice (170, 470), wherein the at least one secondary orifice includes a region aligned with a second chamber of the hollow valve body along the central longitudinal axis.
[0070] 8. The regulating valve according to embodiment 7, wherein when the sleeve rotates relative to the hollow valve body, the alignment change between at least one sleeve hole (175, 475) and at least one secondary hole among the plurality of sleeve holes is configured to change the common area (171, 471) between at least one sleeve hole and at least one secondary hole among the plurality of sleeve holes.
[0071] 9. The regulating valve according to any one of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the plurality of valve holes further includes at least one auxiliary hole (180, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498), wherein the at least one auxiliary hole includes a usable opening area aligned along the central longitudinal axis with the first cavity of the hollow valve body.
[0072] 10. The regulating valve according to embodiment 9, wherein the movable valve core further includes at least one guide surface (190) configured to engage with at least one auxiliary orifice.
[0073] 11. The regulating valve according to embodiment 10, wherein at least one guide surface is configured to guide the movable valve core to move along the central longitudinal axis of the hollow valve body, and wherein at least one guide surface is configured to seal the first chamber to the second chamber.
[0074] 12. The regulating valve according to any one of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the movable valve core is configured to gradually switch between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the hollow body of the movable valve core blocks the available opening area of at least one auxiliary hole, and in the open position, the hollow body of the movable valve core at least partially releases the blocking of the available opening area of at least one auxiliary hole.
[0075] 13. The regulating valve according to embodiment 12, wherein when the sleeve rotates relative to the hollow valve body, the alignment change between at least one sleeve hole (185, 485) of the plurality of sleeve holes and at least one auxiliary hole is configured to change the common area (181, 481) between the available opening areas of at least one sleeve hole of the plurality of sleeve holes and at least one auxiliary hole.
[0076] 14. The regulating valve according to embodiment 1, wherein the movable valve core is configured to respond to a pressure difference between a first chamber and a second chamber and to move when at least one of the plurality of sleeve holes is at least partially aligned with at least one secondary hole.
[0077] 15. The regulating valve according to any one of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the rotatable sleeve is configured to be rotatable by an electric actuator (501).
[0078] 16. A shock absorber for a vehicle suspension, wherein the shock absorber includes at least one adjusting valve configured to adjust the damping of the shock absorber, the adjusting valve comprising:
[0079] A hollow valve body, wherein the hollow valve body includes multiple valve holes;
[0080] A rotatable sleeve is rotatably arranged around at least a portion of a hollow valve body, wherein the rotatable sleeve includes a plurality of sleeve holes;
[0081] A movable valve core is slidably arranged in the hollow valve body and configured to move relative to the hollow valve body;
[0082] The movable valve core is configured to divide the hollow valve body into a first chamber and a second chamber.
[0083] The rotation of the rotatable sleeve relative to the hollow valve body is configured to change the alignment between at least one sleeve hole among a plurality of sleeve holes and at least one valve hole among a plurality of valve holes.
[0084] The movement of the movable valve core relative to the hollow valve body is configured to change the available opening area of at least one of the multiple valve holes.
[0085] 17. The shock absorber according to embodiment 16, wherein at least one regulating valve is configured to regulate the damping of the shock absorber during the compression stroke.
[0086] 18. The shock absorber according to embodiment 16, wherein at least one regulating valve is configured to regulate the damping of the shock absorber during the rebound stroke.
[0087] 19. The shock absorber according to Embodiment 16, wherein the shock absorber is a front shock absorber.
[0088] 20. The shock absorber according to Embodiment 16, wherein the shock absorber is a rear shock absorber.
Claims
1. A regulating valve (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) for shock absorbers, the regulating valve comprising: Hollow valve body (110, 410), wherein the hollow valve body includes a plurality of valve holes (160, 170, 180, 460, 470, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498). A rotatable sleeve (140, 440) is rotatably arranged around at least a portion of the hollow valve body, wherein the rotatable sleeve includes a plurality of sleeve holes (165, 175, 185, 465, 475, 485). A movable valve core (130, 430) is slidably arranged in the hollow valve body and configured to be movable relative to the hollow valve body; The movable valve core is configured to divide the hollow valve body into a first chamber (210) and a second chamber (215); Wherein, the rotatable sleeve is rotated relative to the hollow valve body to change the alignment between at least one of the plurality of sleeve holes and at least one of the plurality of valve holes; and The movable valve core is configured to move relative to the hollow valve body to change the available opening area of at least one of the plurality of valve holes.
2. The regulating valve according to claim 1, wherein the movable valve core further comprises a hollow body, the hollow body comprising an open end (136) and a closed end (135), wherein the volume of the hollow body of the movable valve core constitutes part of the second chamber of the hollow valve body.
3. The regulating valve according to claim 2, further comprising a spring (120) disposed in the second chamber, wherein the spring comprises a first end connected to the hollow body of the movable valve core and a second end connected to the hollow valve body, and wherein the spring is configured to apply a force to the hollow body of the movable valve core along the central longitudinal axis of the hollow valve body.
4. The regulating valve according to claim 3, wherein, Each of the plurality of sleeve holes is configured to be at least partially aligned with at least one of the plurality of valve holes along the central longitudinal axis of the hollow valve body.
5. The regulating valve according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of valve holes includes at least one main hole (160, 460), wherein the at least one main hole includes a region aligned with the first chamber of the hollow valve body along the central longitudinal axis.
6. The regulating valve according to claim 5, wherein, When the rotatable sleeve rotates relative to the hollow valve body, the alignment change between at least one of the plurality of sleeve holes and the at least one main hole is configured to change the common area (161, 461) between at least one of the plurality of sleeve holes and the at least one main hole.
7. The regulating valve according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of valve orifices further includes at least one secondary orifice (170, 470), wherein the at least one secondary orifice includes a region aligned with the second chamber of the hollow valve body along the central longitudinal axis.
8. The regulating valve according to claim 7, wherein, When the rotatable sleeve rotates relative to the hollow valve body, the alignment change between at least one of the plurality of sleeve holes and the at least one secondary hole is configured to change the common area (171, 471) between at least one of the plurality of sleeve holes and the at least one secondary hole.
9. The regulating valve according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of valve orifices further comprises at least one auxiliary orifice (180, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498), wherein the at least one auxiliary orifice comprises a usable opening region aligned along the central longitudinal axis with the first chamber of the hollow valve body.
10. The regulating valve of claim 9, wherein the movable valve core further comprises at least one guide surface (190) configured to engage with the at least one auxiliary orifice.
11. The regulating valve of claim 10, wherein the at least one guide surface is configured to guide the movement of the movable valve core along the central longitudinal axis of the hollow valve body, and wherein the at least one guide surface is configured to seal the first chamber and the second chamber.
12. The regulating valve of claim 9, wherein the movable valve core is configured to gradually switch between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the hollow body of the movable valve core blocks the available opening area of the at least one auxiliary orifice, and in the open position, the hollow body of the movable valve core at least partially releases the blocking of the available opening area of the at least one auxiliary orifice.
13. The regulating valve of claim 10, wherein the movable valve core is configured to gradually switch between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the hollow body of the movable valve core blocks the available opening area of the at least one auxiliary orifice, and in the open position, the hollow body of the movable valve core at least partially releases the blocking of the available opening area of the at least one auxiliary orifice.
14. The regulating valve of claim 11, wherein the movable valve core is configured to gradually switch between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the hollow body of the movable valve core blocks the available opening area of the at least one auxiliary orifice, and in the open position, the hollow body of the movable valve core at least partially releases the blocking of the available opening area of the at least one auxiliary orifice.
15. The regulating valve according to claim 12, wherein, When the rotatable sleeve rotates relative to the hollow valve body, the alignment change between at least one of the plurality of sleeve holes and the at least one auxiliary hole is configured to change the common area (181, 481) between the available opening areas of at least one of the plurality of sleeve holes and the at least one auxiliary hole.
16. The regulating valve according to claim 13, wherein, When the rotatable sleeve rotates relative to the hollow valve body, the alignment change between at least one of the plurality of sleeve holes and the at least one auxiliary hole is configured to change the common area (181, 481) between the available opening areas of at least one of the plurality of sleeve holes and the at least one auxiliary hole.
17. The regulating valve according to claim 14, wherein, When the rotatable sleeve rotates relative to the hollow valve body, the alignment change between at least one of the plurality of sleeve holes and the at least one auxiliary hole is configured to change the common area (181, 481) between the available opening areas of at least one of the plurality of sleeve holes and the at least one auxiliary hole.
18. The regulating valve of claim 7, wherein the movable valve core is configured to move in response to a pressure difference between the first chamber and the second chamber and upon at least partial alignment of at least one sleeve hole in the plurality of sleeve holes with the at least one secondary hole.
19. The regulating valve according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the rotatable sleeve is configured to be rotatable by an electric actuator (501).
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Electronically controlled valve and systems containing same
CN101743423A
Hydraulic damper spool valve
CN102630285A
