Damper having multi-part container tube

Abstract

The invention relates to a shock absorber having a multi-part, outer container tube, which comprises a valve block, to which tube sections of the container tube are connected at the end side, the valve block comprising at least one adjustable damping valve device, which is connected to a working chamber of a working cylinder via a fluid channel, the valve block has an inflow opening connected to the fluid channel and an outflow opening leading to another working chamber in the flow direction, the inflow opening being arranged in a frame of a pipe connection of the valve block, and an annular contour of the valve block forming a radial guide of a valve housing independent of the valve block, the annular profile and the conduit fitting define an annular cavity to which the outflow opening is connected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vibration damper for a multi-piece container tube as described in the preamble of claim 1. Background Technology

[0002] An adjustable damper with a multi-piece container tube is known from document DE 195 42 293 A1. The container tube includes an annular valve block with two manually adjustable damping valve devices. The two ends of the valve block are connected to sections of the container tube, which are connected at opposite ends to piston rod guides and the bottom of end sides.

[0003] The valve block is constructed as a milled part and includes at least one valve seat surface for the valve body and a cylindrical section of the valve housing. The cylindrical section carries a cover that seals the valve housing.

[0004] In addition, a separator plate is provided on the inside of the valve body, which separates the fluid passage on the piston rod side from the fluid passage away from the piston rod.

[0005] This vibration damper is constructed as a single-tube type, meaning the working chamber on the piston rod side is separated from the end-side compensation chamber by an axially movable separator piston. In summary, this vibration damper is designed for a specific application, therefore its complex structural design is justified. Summary of the Invention

[0006] For applications with significantly larger production volumes, this solution should be optimized in terms of manufacturing costs.

[0007] The means to achieve this objective is that the inflow opening is arranged within the frame of the pipe joint, and the annular profile of the valve block forms a radial guide portion of the valve housing independent of the valve block, wherein the annular profile and the pipe joint define an annular cavity, and the outflow opening is connected to the annular cavity.

[0008] The valve block essentially forms the bottom of the valve housing for the damping valve assembly. This space constraint simplifies the structural design of the damping valve assembly and the manufacture of the valve block. Therefore, the valve technology is independent of the valve block design.

[0009] In another advantageous design, the valve block has a flow transition to an external reservoir. This external reservoir simplifies the flow path within the damper. Furthermore, regardless of the damper's operating direction, the damping valve assembly is hydraulically connected upstream of the external reservoir, so that the pressure in the compensation chamber does not affect the damping force achievable by the damping valve assembly as in the aforementioned prior art.

[0010] Another measure to achieve convenient and low-cost manufacturing is that the reservoir is secured to the container tube by at least one retaining piece. No welds are needed in the direct transition area from the external reservoir to the valve block, which could potentially compromise the seal between the two components.

[0011] Preferably, the valve block has at least one pipe connection for an external pump. For this purpose, the valve block has a flat surface. Preferably, the pipe connection is arranged directly opposite the reservoir to allow the hydraulic line to extend unrestricted, performing compensating movement during the damper's operating motion.

[0012] Optionally, the valve block has at least one connecting groove located between a fluid passage and a pipe connection. This allows the position of the pipe connection on the shock absorber to better accommodate the installation space conditions of the shock absorber in the vehicle.

[0013] In another advantageous design, the valve block has at least one blind hole opening for fasteners used for pipe connections. This blind hole opening eliminates the need for sealing the fasteners on the valve block.

[0014] According to another advantageous design, a separate separator sleeve, independent of the valve block, abuts against the valve block on its inner side. This separator sleeve hydraulically separates the flow connection between the fluid channels of the inflow opening and the fluid channels of the outflow opening. By using a separate separator sleeve, the internal geometry of the valve block is simplified.

[0015] In another advantageous design, the separator sleeve has a sleeve as the base and two axially spaced annular tabs, wherein the annular tabs have different outer diameters. Due to the different outer diameters, the seals arranged in the annular tabs and facing the valve block do not need to overlap with any openings during assembly. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following description of the accompanying drawings.

[0017] The attached diagram shows:

[0018] Figure 1 This is a hydraulic circuit diagram of the shock absorber according to the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 This is an external view of the vibration damper according to the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A longitudinal sectional view;

[0021] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Detailed diagram;

[0022] Figure 5yes Figure 2 A longitudinal sectional view of the area of ​​the external storage unit;

[0023] Figure 6 yes Figure 2 Longitudinal sectional view of the area where the pipe connection is located;

[0024] Figure 7 and Figure 8 yes Figure 2 Different views of the valve block are shown. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Figure 1 A hydraulic circuit diagram of a shock absorber 1 with a working cylinder 3 is shown, in which a piston rod 5 with a piston 7 separates two working chambers 9 and 11. In the simplest case, the piston 7 is an extruder without a valve. The working chamber 9 on the piston rod side is connected to a first damping valve device 15 via a first fluid passage 13. This first damping valve device includes at least one adjustable damping valve 17 and a check valve 19. The check valve 19 closes when fluid flows from the working chamber 9 on the piston rod side.

[0026] The check valve 19 and the adjustable damping valve 17 are connected to a second fluid channel 21, which leads to a reservoir 23 outside the damper 1 on one side and to a second damping valve device 25 on the other. The structure of the second damping valve device 25 can be the same as that of the first damping valve device 15. When the damping medium is discharged from the working chamber 11 away from the piston rod through the third fluid channel 29 into the second damping valve device 25, the check valve 27 in the second damping valve device 25 is in the closed position. In order to replenish the damping medium to the working chambers 9 and 11, which expand during the working movement of the damper 1, through the reservoir 23, the corresponding check valves 19 and 27 are opened, so the adjustable damping valves 17 and 31 in the corresponding damping valve devices 15 and 25 have only one flow direction.

[0027] Optionally, the shock absorber 1 is equipped with a motor-driven pump 33, which preferably has two delivery directions and is hydraulically connected in parallel with respect to the two damping valve devices 15, 25 via a fourth fluid channel 35, and thus also connects to the two working chambers 9, 11. The pump 33 can be used to actively pump the damping medium between the two working chambers 9, 11.

[0028] Figure 2 It shows according to Figure 1 The vibration damper 1 has a multi-piece external container tube 37, which includes a valve block 39. The valve block is connected to sections 37A and 37B of the container tube at its end. The wall thickness of the valve block 39 is significantly greater than the wall thickness of sections 37A and 37B.

[0029] The valve block 39 carries two adjustable damping valve devices 15 and 25, which in this example are approximately opposite each other in the radial direction. Furthermore, an external reservoir 23 is secured to the valve block 39 by at least one retaining piece 41.

[0030] The valve block 39 has at least one pipe connection 43 for an external pump 33 opposite to the reservoir 23. The pipe connection 43 is fastened to the container pipe 37 or the valve block 39 by means of screws 45.

[0031] Figure 3 The longitudinal sectional view shows the results according to Figure 2 The shock absorber 1. In the working cylinder 3, the working chamber 9 on the piston rod side has at least one connection opening 47 leading to the first fluid passage 13, which is formed by the annular cavity between the working cylinder 3, the container tube 37, more specifically the inner side of the tube section 37A, and the piston rod guide 49. The fluid passage 13 leads to the pipe joint 51 of the valve block 39. Figure 4 ).

[0032] The working chamber 11, located away from the piston rod, is connected to the third fluid passage 29, for example, through at least one connection opening 53 located in the bottom block 55 of the working cylinder 3. The third fluid passage 29 is also formed by an annular cavity between the container tube 37, or more precisely, the tube section 37B, and the working cylinder 3. The third fluid passage 29 is axially closed by the bottom 57 of the container tube.

[0033] Figure 4 It shows Figure 3 As shown in the diagram of the cut section, the first fluid channel 13 and the third fluid channel 29 are separated by a separate sleeve 59 independent of the valve block 39. The separate sleeve 59 abuts against the valve block 39 on its inner side, hydraulically separating the flow connection between the fluid channel 13 leading to the inflow opening 61 and the fluid outlet of the first damping valve device 15. The second damping valve device has an inflow opening 65 and an outflow opening 67 with identical structures. The separate sleeve 59 has a sleeve as its base and two axially spaced annular tabs 69 and 71. Seals 73 and 75 are arranged in the annular tabs 69 and 71, sealing in the direction toward the valve block 39. The separate sleeve 59 is hydraulically sealed to the outside of the working cylinder 3. The annular tabs have at least slightly different outer diameters, allowing the seals 73 and 75 to be pushed non-contactly through the outflow openings 63 and 67 during assembly of the separate sleeve 59.

[0034] Two annular tabs 69 and 71 form an annular groove 77, which functionally serves as part of the reservoir 23 through which the second fluid channel 21 leads to the outside. Furthermore, the annular tabs form the end faces of the first fluid channel 13 and the third fluid channel 29, respectively, thus the separator sleeve also separates the two fluid channels 13 and 29 from each other.

[0035] The damping valve assembly includes an actuator for a pilot valve, which in turn controls adjustable damping valves 17 and 31. For feasible design options of the damping valve assembly, see, for example, document DE 10 2021 202 304 A1, the contents of which form part of this specification. Figure 4 As can be seen, the inflow opening in the damping valve device 15 is arranged within the pipe joint 51, and the annular profile 79 of the valve block 39 forms a radial guide portion of the valve housing 81, which is independent of the valve block. The annular profile 79 and the pipe joint 51 define an annular cavity 83, to which the outflow opening 63 is connected. Check valves 19 and 27 are also arranged accordingly in the annular cavity 83.

[0036] As a supplement Figure 5 As shown, valve block 39 has a flow transition section 85, which serves as part of a second fluid passage 21 leading to the external reservoir 23. This flow transition section 85 is formed by a simple stepped opening on valve block 39 into which a connecting sleeve 87 of reservoir 23 is inserted. The connecting sleeve 87 is fixed only to the outer housing 89 of reservoir 23, secured by, for example, a weld. This weld can be formed during the production of reservoir 23, thus preventing heat transfer to the container tube 37. Support is provided by at least one retaining piece 41, which is arranged at a significant distance from the seal within the flow transition section 85. It can also be seen in the figure that valve block 39 has at least one blind hole opening 91 for use as a screw 45 as a fastener for the pipe connection 43. The flow transition section 85 connects an annular groove 77 within the separating sleeve 59 to a damping medium volume 93 in reservoir 23. The compressed gas filling section 95 in the reservoir 23 is preloaded with the damping medium volume 93 in the reservoir 23 by an axially movable partition piston 97. A mechanical spring may also be used as an alternative to or in combination with the compressed gas filling section 95.

[0037] Figure 6 The structural design of a fourth fluid passage 35 for connecting pump 33 to the two working chambers 9, 11 is shown. The fourth fluid passage 35 is connected, on one hand, to the first fluid passage 13 and the third fluid passage 29. These fluid passages 13, 29 provide connections to the working chamber 9 on the piston rod side and the working chamber 11 away from the piston rod.

[0038] Overview Figure 7 and Figure 8As can be seen, the valve block 39 has a plane 97 for the pipe connection portion 43. In the plane 97, the valve block 39 has at least one connecting groove 99, 101 located between the connecting openings 103, 105 and the pipe connection portion 43. The connecting grooves 99, 101 bridging the axial mounting space for the separating sleeve 59 and forming two fluid channels 13, 29 to the hydraulic extensions of the respective pipe connection portions 43. List of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1. Vibration damper 3 working cylinders 5 Piston rod 7 Pistons 9. Working chamber on the piston rod side 11. Working chamber away from the piston rod 13 First Fluid Channel 15 First damping valve device 17 Adjustable damping valve 19 Check valve 21 Second Fluid Channel 23 Storage 25 Second damping valve device 27 Check valve 29 Third Fluid Channel 31 Adjustable damping valve 33 pumps 35 Fourth fluid channel 37 Container tube 37A Container pipe section 37B Pipe section of container 39 Valve Block 41. Hold tablets 43 Pipe connection parts 45 screws 47 Connection opening 49 Piston rod guide section 51 Pipe joint 53 Connection opening 55 Bottom Block 57 Bottom of container tube 59. Divider Sleeve 61 Inflow Opening 63 Outflow opening 65 Inflow Opening 67. Outflow opening 69 Annular splice 71 Annular splice 73 Seals 75 Seals 77 Annular groove 79. Circular contour section 81 valve housing 83 Annular cavity 85 Flow transition section 87 Connecting sleeve 89. Shell 91 Blind hole opening 93 Damping medium volume 95 Compressed gas filling section 97 Plane 99 Connecting groove 101 Connecting trench 103 Connection opening 105 Connection opening.

Claims

1. A vibration damper (1), the vibration damper having a multi-piece, external container tube (37, 37A, 37B, 39), the container tube including a valve block (39), and tube sections (37A, 37B) of the container tube (37) being connected at their ends to the valve block, wherein, The valve block (39) includes at least one adjustable damping valve device (15, 25), which is connected to the working chamber (9, 11) of the working cylinder (3) via a fluid passage (13, 29). The valve block (39) has an inflow opening (61, 65) connected to the fluid passage (13, 29) and an outflow opening (63, 67) leading to another working chamber (9, 11, 23) in the flow direction. The inflow opening (61, 65) is arranged within the frame of the pipe joint (51) of the valve block (39), and the annular profile (79) of the valve block (39) forms a radial guide portion of a valve housing (81) independent of the valve block (39). The annular profile (79) and the pipe joint (51) define an annular cavity (83), and the outflow opening (63, 67) is connected to the annular cavity.

2. The vibration damper (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve block (39) has a flow transition section (85) leading to an external reservoir (23).

3. The vibration damper (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The storage container (23) is fixed to the container tube (37, 37A, 37B, 39) by at least one retaining piece (41).

4. The vibration damper (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The valve block (39) has at least one pipe connection (43) for an external pump (33).

5. The vibration damper (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The valve block (39) has a plane (97) for the pipeline connection (43).

6. The vibration damper (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The valve block (39) has at least one connecting groove (99, 101) located between one of the fluid channels (13, 29) and the pipeline connection (43).

7. The vibration damper (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that, The valve block (39) has at least one blind hole opening (91) for the fastener (45) of the pipeline connection (43).

8. The damper (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, A separate separator sleeve (59) is attached to the valve block (39) on the inside of the valve block (39), and the separator sleeve hydraulically separates the flow connection between the fluid passage (13, 29) of the inflow opening (61, 65) and the fluid passage (21) of the outflow opening (63, 67).

9. The vibration damper (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The separating sleeve (59) has a sleeve as a base and two axially spaced annular tabs (69, 71), wherein the annular tabs (69, 71) have different outer diameters.

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