Shock absorber and vehicle comprising a shock absorber

Abstract

This invention relates to shock absorbers and vehicles including shock absorbers. The shock absorber includes: a cylinder comprising a base housing and a first tube and a second tube, the first and second tubes being spaced apart within the base housing, wherein the internal space of the first tube is divided into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber by a piston head, and the cylinder includes an intermediate chamber and a storage chamber, the intermediate chamber being the space between the first and second tubes, and the storage chamber being the space between the second tube and the base housing; a compression solenoid valve mounted on the cylinder; and a rebound solenoid valve mounted on the cylinder, wherein the compression solenoid valve and the rebound solenoid valve are arranged along the circumferential direction of the cylinder.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to shock absorbers and vehicles including shock absorbers, and more particularly to variable damping force shock absorbers capable of appropriately adjusting damping force characteristics. Background Technology

[0002] As vehicles become increasingly popular, consumers' knowledge and demands regarding them are gradually increasing. Beyond practicality, convenience, and affordability, features such as power output, quietness, ride comfort, and handling stability have become important selection criteria for car buyers.

[0003] While driving, a vehicle is constantly subjected to vibrations and impacts from the road surface through its wheels. If these vibrations or impacts are directly transmitted to the body and steering wheel, ride comfort and driving stability will be significantly degraded. Therefore, a suspension system is essential for a vehicle. Shock absorbers, springs, and suspension arms are the main components of a suspension system.

[0004] A shock absorber consists of a cylinder, a piston rod, and a piston valve. The piston valve is located inside the cylinder, connected to the piston rod, and generates damping force.

[0005] When the damping force is set to a low level, the shock absorber can improve ride comfort by absorbing vibrations caused by road irregularities; conversely, when the damping force is set to a high level, changes in vehicle body posture are suppressed, thereby improving handling stability. Therefore, it is common practice to select and apply shock absorbers with different damping characteristics according to the intended use of the vehicle.

[0006] Recently, a variable damping force shock absorber has been developed, which is equipped with a variable damping force valve that can appropriately adjust the damping characteristics according to road conditions and driving status.

[0007] For example, a variable damping force shock absorber with a dual solenoid valve structure is being developed, equipped with a rebound solenoid valve for adjusting the damping force during the rebound stroke and a compression solenoid valve for adjusting the damping force during the compression stroke. The inside of the shock absorber cylinder is divided into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber by a piston valve, and each chamber is filled with a fluid such as oil.

[0008] During the compression stroke, the piston valve pressurizes the fluid in the compression chamber, thus making the compression chamber a high-pressure region, and correspondingly, the springback chamber becomes a low-pressure region. During the springback stroke, the piston valve pressurizes the fluid in the springback chamber, thus making the springback chamber high-pressure, and the compression chamber relatively low-pressure.

[0009] Meanwhile, conventional variable damping shock absorbers with a dual solenoid valve structure essentially require separate pipes, solenoid valves, and flow channels connecting the outlet of the rebound flow path to the inlet of the compression flow path. However, since the compression and rebound separation pipes must be assembled along the axial direction of the shock absorber, a stepped height difference is unavoidable. Furthermore, in conventional technology, while maintaining the section with the height difference, the solenoid valve is positioned along the axial direction of the shock absorber, and the flow channel connecting the outlet of the rebound flow path to the inlet of the compression flow path is configured as a block. However, due to its high cost, dual solenoid valves are primarily considered for use in air suspensions, but when using air springs, the shock absorber has a much smaller axial enclosure space than when using coil springs, therefore, a dual solenoid valve manifold block cannot be encapsulated.

[0010] [Existing Technical Documents]

[0011] [Patent Literature]

[0012] (Patent Document 1) Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2023-0068294 (published on May 17, 2023) Summary of the Invention

[0013] Technical issues

[0014] The purpose of this invention is to provide a shock absorber that is easy to apply to air suspension.

[0015] Another objective of this invention is to improve ease of assembly by reducing the number of parts.

[0016] Furthermore, another objective of the present invention is to increase the damping force achievable compared to conventional shock absorbers by achieving smooth fluid flow.

[0017] However, the technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to those described above, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand from the following description other problems not explicitly mentioned.

[0018] Technical solution

[0019] A variable damping force shock absorber according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a cylinder comprising a base shell, wherein a first tube and a second tube are mounted inside the base shell and have a gap between the first tube and the second tube, wherein the internal space of the first tube is divided into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber by a piston head, and the cylinder further includes an intermediate chamber defining the space between the first tube and the second tube and a storage chamber defining the space between the second tube and the base shell; a compression solenoid valve mounted on the cylinder; and a rebound solenoid valve mounted on the cylinder, wherein the compression solenoid valve and the rebound solenoid valve are arranged circumferentially around the cylinder.

[0020] In one aspect of the invention, the compression solenoid valve and the rebound solenoid valve may be arranged in a horizontal direction.

[0021] For example, the compression solenoid valve and the rebound solenoid valve can be arranged on an imaginary plane perpendicular to the central axis of the cylinder.

[0022] In another aspect of the invention, the compression solenoid valve and the rebound solenoid valve are disposed on an imaginary plane forming a predetermined angle with the central axis of the cylinder, wherein the predetermined angle may be an acute angle or an obtuse angle.

[0023] In another aspect of the invention, the cylinder may also include a column member mounted on the outside of the cylinder and configured to permanently support the compression solenoid valve and the rebound solenoid valve, such that they are spaced apart.

[0024] Preferably, the column member may include: a hollow first fixing part, into which a compression solenoid valve is inserted and fixed; a hollow second fixing part spaced apart from the first fixing part, into which a rebound solenoid valve is inserted and fixed; and a connecting part connecting the first fixing part and the second fixing part.

[0025] At this time, a first receiving hole for inserting and fixing a compression solenoid valve therein can be formed in the first fixing part, and a second receiving hole for inserting and fixing a rebound solenoid valve therein can be formed in the second fixing part.

[0026] In one aspect of the invention, a connecting hole may be formed in the connecting portion so as to directly connect the compression solenoid valve and the rebound solenoid valve by interconnecting the internal spaces of the first fixed portion and the second fixed portion.

[0027] Preferably, the connecting hole can be provided with a storage channel that is directly connected to the storage chamber.

[0028] In another aspect of the invention, the column member may include a compression channel configured to communicate directly with the compression chamber from one end of the first fixed portion.

[0029] At this point, the compression channel can connect one end of the first receiving port to the compression chamber.

[0030] In another aspect of the invention, the column member may include a spring-loaded channel configured to communicate directly with the intermediate chamber from one end of the second fixed portion.

[0031] At this point, the rebound channel can connect one end of the second receiving port to the intermediate chamber.

[0032] In one aspect of the invention, the intermediate chamber may be configured to be in fluid communication with the rebound chamber.

[0033] In another aspect of the invention, at least one orifice is provided in the upper region of the insertion of the first tube between the intermediate chamber and the springback chamber, and allows oil to flow through the orifice between the intermediate chamber and the springback chamber.

[0034] In another aspect of the invention, the compression solenoid valve may include: a compression valve housing forming the exterior of the valve; and a first check valve configured to open only during the springback stroke and close during the compression stroke.

[0035] In another aspect of the invention, the springback solenoid valve may include: a springback valve housing forming the exterior of the valve; and a second check valve configured to open only during the compression stroke and close during the springback stroke.

[0036] In one aspect of the invention, during the rebound stroke, the oil contained in the rebound chamber can be configured to move from the rebound chamber to the intermediate chamber through an orifice provided in the upper region of the first tube between the intermediate chamber and the rebound chamber, then through the rebound channel and the rebound solenoid valve, and subsequently through a communication hole provided in the connecting portion and interconnecting the internal spaces of the first fixed portion and the second fixed portion, via a first check valve of the compression solenoid valve, or alternatively to the storage chamber.

[0037] In another aspect of the invention, during the compression stroke, the oil contained in the compression chamber can be configured to travel from the compression chamber through a compression passage to a compression solenoid valve, then through a connecting hole provided in the connecting portion and interconnecting the internal spaces of the first fixed portion and the second fixed portion to a springback solenoid valve, and subsequently through a second check valve configured to open only during the compression stroke and close during the springback stroke.

[0038] Furthermore, the present invention provides a vehicle including a shock absorber according to the above embodiments.

[0039] Beneficial effects

[0040] According to the present invention, a shock absorber that is easy to apply to air suspension can be provided.

[0041] Furthermore, according to the present invention, assemblability can be improved by reducing the number of parts.

[0042] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the damping force can be increased through smooth fluid flow compared to conventional shock absorbers.

[0043] However, the advantages of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and other technical effects not explicitly mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art based on the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0044] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the detailed description set forth below, serve to further elucidate the technical concept of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as limited to the contents shown in these drawings.

[0045] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating a shock absorber according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating a shock absorber according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of a shock absorber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of the cylinder and rod guide of a shock absorber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating the fluid flow during the compression and rebound strokes in a shock absorber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] Figure 6 This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a shock absorber according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] Figure 7 This is a diagram illustrating the solenoid valve of a shock absorber according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 8 This is a diagram illustrating the compression solenoid valve of a shock absorber according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] Figure 9 This is a diagram illustrating fluid movement during the compression stroke in a shock absorber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] Figure 10 This is a diagram illustrating fluid movement during the rebound stroke in a shock absorber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] Figure 11 This is a diagram illustrating a car including a shock absorber according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] [Figure Labels]

[0057] 1: Shock absorber

[0058] 10: Cylinder

[0059] 11: Base Shell

[0060] 12: First tube

[0061] 13: Second pipe

[0062] 14: Compression Chamber

[0063] 15: Rebound Chamber

[0064] 16: Intermediate Room

[0065] 17: Storage Room

[0066] 20: Piston head

[0067] 30: Piston rod

[0068] 40: Rod guide

[0069] 50: Top Cover

[0070] 60: Bottom cover

[0071] 70: Compression solenoid valve

[0072] 71: Compression valve housing

[0073] 72: First check valve

[0074] 80: Rebound Solenoid Valve

[0075] 81: Rebound valve housing

[0076] 82: Second check valve

[0077] 90: Column components

[0078] 91: First fixed part

[0079] 92: Second fixed part

[0080] 93: Connection part

[0081] 94: Compression Channel

[0082] 95: Springback Channel

[0083] 96: Storage Channel

[0084] 91a: First receiving port

[0085] 92a: Second receiving port

[0086] 93a: Connecting hole Detailed Implementation

[0087] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below, enabling those skilled in the art to readily practice the invention. The present invention can be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0088] It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are schematic and not necessarily drawn to scale. For clarity and convenience, the relative dimensions and scales of the parts in the drawings may be enlarged or reduced, and any dimensions shown are merely exemplary and not limiting. Furthermore, when the same structure, element, or part appears in more than one drawing, the same reference numerals are used to indicate similar features.

[0089] The embodiments of the present invention specifically illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention. Therefore, various modifications to the illustrations are contemplated. Thus, the embodiments are not limited to a specific shape of the illustrated region, but also include, for example, shape variations caused by manufacturing processes.

[0090] Furthermore, unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this specification should be understood in the manner commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. All terms used in this specification have been chosen for the purpose of clearly describing the invention, and not for limiting the scope of the invention.

[0091] In addition, expressions such as “comprising,” “including,” and “having” used in this specification should be understood as open-ended terms that imply the possibility of including other embodiments, unless otherwise stated in the phrase or sentence that includes such expression.

[0092] Additionally, unless otherwise stated, the singular expressions used herein may include the plural meaning, and this also applies to the singular expressions used in the claims.

[0093] Furthermore, expressions such as "first" and "second" used in this specification are used to distinguish multiple components from each other and do not limit the order or importance of the components.

[0094] In the following, a shock absorber 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0095] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating a shock absorber 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating a shock absorber 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of a shock absorber 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of the cylinder 10 and rod guide 40 of a shock absorber 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0096] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 3According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shock absorber 1 includes a cylinder 10, a piston head 20, a piston rod 30, a rod guide 40, an upper cover 50, a lower cover 60, a compression solenoid valve 70, a rebound solenoid valve 80, and a column member 90.

[0097] In one aspect of the invention, the cylinder 10 includes a base shell 11, and a first tube 12 and a second tube 13 are mounted inside the base shell 11 and spaced apart from each other. The base shell 11 corresponds to the outermost shell of the cylinder 10. Specifically, the internal space of the first tube 12 can be divided by the piston head 20 into a compression chamber 14 and a rebound chamber 15. In addition, the cylinder 10 may include an intermediate chamber 16 serving as the space between the first tube 12 and the second tube 13, and a storage chamber 17 serving as the space between the second tube 13 and the base shell 11.

[0098] Specifically, cylinder 10 has a triple structure, wherein a first tube 12 and a second tube 13 are installed inside a base shell 11 with a gap between them, and fluid fills the interior. Here, the fluid can be, for example, oil. Piston head 20 slides within the first tube 12, and the internal space of the first tube 12 is divided by piston head 20 into a compression chamber 14 and a rebound chamber 15.

[0099] Specifically, the second tube 13 is inserted between the base shell 11 and the first tube 12. The space between the first tube 12 and the second tube 13 is referred to as the intermediate chamber 16. The intermediate chamber 16 can be configured to be in fluid communication with the spring chamber 15. For example, at least one orifice can be provided in the upper region of the first tube 12 inserted between the intermediate chamber 16 and the spring chamber 15. Thus, oil can flow between the intermediate chamber 16 and the spring chamber 15 through the orifice. Alternatively, as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, a gap can be provided between the end of the first tube 12 and the rod guide 40, so that the rebound chamber 15 and the intermediate chamber 16 can be configured to be in fluid communication with each other through the gap.

[0100] Meanwhile, in the past, it was common to use a single tube instead of a second tube 13, and therefore there was the problem that the number of parts was large and additional parts such as ports and O-rings were inevitably required, which reduced the ease of assembly.

[0101] However, according to the present invention, by applying the second pipe 13 in the form of a common pipe instead of a separate pipe, the solenoid valves 70, 80 can be directly assembled to the column member 90, thereby providing the advantage of simplifying the number of parts. Furthermore, according to the above structure, the ease of assembly can be greatly improved by omitting or reducing components such as ports and O-rings.

[0102] In another aspect of the invention, the space between the second tube 13 and the base shell 11 is referred to as the storage chamber 17. The storage chamber 17 can be configured to compensate for changes in the internal volume of the compression chamber 14 and the springback chamber 15 during the reciprocating motion of the piston head 20.

[0103] Compression chamber 14 is formed on the lower side of cylinder 10, and springback chamber 15 is formed on the upper side of cylinder 10. That is, in the internal space of the first tube 12, the area below the piston head 20 constitutes compression chamber 14, and in the internal space of the first tube 12, the area above the piston head 20 constitutes springback chamber 15.

[0104] The piston head 20 reciprocates within the internal space of the first tube 12 to pressurize the fluid filling the compression chamber 14 and the springback chamber 15. In one aspect of the invention, the piston head 20 is not provided with a bypass passage configured to allow fluid flow between the compression chamber 14 and the springback chamber 15 during the compression and springback strokes. Therefore, during the compression stroke, all the fluid contained in the compression chamber 14 moves to the compression solenoid valve 70. Therefore, according to the invention, the amount of working fluid can be maximized during the compression stroke. Therefore, according to the invention, the damping force can be increased during the compression stroke.

[0105] For example, a separate valve may not be required at the end of the piston head 20. That is, the end of the piston head 20 can be configured as a closed structure to prevent fluid communication. In this case, fluid bypass is not allowed during the compression and rebound strokes, so all fluid moves through the solenoid valves 70 and 80. Therefore, the damping force of the shock absorber 1 can be effectively enhanced.

[0106] Alternatively, as another embodiment of the invention, a structure can be applied in which fluid movement through the piston head 20 is impossible when the piston is compressed, but is possible when the piston is pulled back. For example, during the springback stroke, oil can move through the piston head 20 into the compression chamber of the tube, or through the orifice into the intermediate chamber 16 outside the first tube 12, then through the springback solenoid valve 80, and subsequently through the first check valve 72 of the compression solenoid valve into the compression chamber of the tube, or it can move into the storage chamber 17.

[0107] According to this embodiment, since the pressure in the compression chamber is relatively lower than the pressure in the storage chamber 17, the compression chamber of the tube can be filled normally, and the area of ​​the piston rod 30 can be filled into the compression chamber 14 through the check valve of the compression solenoid valve connected to the storage chamber 17.

[0108] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4The piston rod 30 can be configured to slidably penetrate the rod guide 40 at the top of the closed cylinder 10. The piston head 20 is mounted at the lower end of the piston rod 30, and the upper end of the piston rod 30 is fixed to the vehicle body.

[0109] Reference Figure 4 The piston rod guide 40 covers the upper part of the cylinder 10 and forms a hollow guide hole in its center to guide the up and down movement of the piston rod 30.

[0110] Meanwhile, the upper cover 50 and the lower cover 60 are respectively installed at the upper and lower ends of the cylinder 10 to seal the upper and lower ends of the cylinder 10. The upper cover 50 can be installed on the outer side of the upper end of the base shell 11 in a manner surrounding the upper end of the base shell 11. The lower cover 60 can be installed on the inner side of the lower end of the base shell 11 in a manner surrounding the lower end of the base shell 11. At this time, as described above, the upper cover 50 can be positioned to be axially spaced from the first tube 12 by a predetermined distance.

[0111] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3 Solenoid valves 70 and 80 are mounted to cylinder 10 via column member 90. Solenoid valves 70 and 80 include a compression solenoid valve 70 configured to variably control the damping force during the compression stroke and a rebound solenoid valve 80 configured to variably control the damping force during the rebound stroke. In this case, the compression solenoid valve 70 is mounted on cylinder 10. The rebound solenoid valve 80 is also mounted on cylinder 10.

[0112] A column member 90 is mounted on the outside of the cylinder 10 and configured to support and secure the compression solenoid valve 70 and the rebound solenoid valve 80 at a distance. Specifically, the column member 90 may include a flange portion configured to surround the cylinder 10 on its exterior. This flange portion may be formed to extend along the axial direction of the cylinder 10. This increases the contact area between the column member 90 and the cylinder 10 and enhances the sealing performance of the cylinder 10.

[0113] In one aspect of the invention, the compression solenoid valve 70 and the rebound solenoid valve 80 can be arranged along the circumferential direction of the cylinder 10. Typically, since the shock absorber 1 is mounted in a direction perpendicular to the ground, the compression solenoid valve 70 and the rebound solenoid valve 80 can be arranged in a horizontal direction. For example, the compression solenoid valve 70 and the rebound solenoid valve 80 can be placed on an imaginary plane perpendicular to the central axis of the cylinder 10, such as... Figure 1 As shown.

[0114] Alternatively, as another embodiment of the invention, the compression solenoid valve 70 and the rebound solenoid valve 80 can be disposed on an imaginary plane forming a predetermined angle with the central axis of the cylinder 10, such as... Figure 2 As shown. For example, the angle formed by the virtual plane and the central axis of cylinder 10 can be an acute or obtuse angle. This configuration can improve the space utilization of the vehicle 5.

[0115] Alternatively, as another embodiment of the invention, the compression solenoid valve 70 and the rebound solenoid valve 80 can be positioned spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the cylinder 10, and also spaced apart in the axial direction. According to this configuration, the design freedom in considering the relationship with other components can be increased in the design of the vehicle body 5.

[0116] Furthermore, as described above, based on the structure in which the compression solenoid valve 70 and the rebound solenoid valve 80 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the cylinder 10, the assembly achieves the same height as a single valve, thereby facilitating the application of air suspension.

[0117] Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating the fluid flow during the compression and rebound strokes in a shock absorber 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 6 This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a shock absorber 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 This is a diagram illustrating the solenoid valves 70 and 80 of a shock absorber 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 8 This is a diagram illustrating the compression solenoid valve 70 of a shock absorber 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0118] Here, column member 90 will be described first, followed by compression solenoid valve 70 and spring-loaded solenoid valve 80, and first check valve 72 and second check valve 82, which will be described later.

[0119] refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 The column component 90 includes a first fixing part 91, a second fixing part 92, a connecting part 93, a compression channel 94, a springback channel 95, and a storage channel 96.

[0120] Specifically, the column member 90 includes a hollow first fixing portion 91 into which a compression solenoid valve 70 is inserted and fixed, a hollow second fixing portion 92 spaced apart from the first fixing portion 91 into which a rebound solenoid valve 80 is inserted and fixed, and a connecting portion 93 interconnecting the first fixing portion 91 and the second fixing portion 92.

[0121] A first receiving hole 91a is formed in a first fixing portion 91, and a compression solenoid valve 70 is inserted into and fixed in the first receiving hole 91a. A second receiving hole 92a is formed in a second fixing portion 92, and a spring-loaded solenoid valve 80 is inserted into and fixed in the second receiving hole 92a.

[0122] A connecting hole 93a is formed in the connecting portion 93 to allow direct communication between the compression solenoid valve 70 and the rebound solenoid valve 80 by interconnecting the internal spaces of the first fixing portion 91 and the second fixing portion 92. The connecting hole 93a may be provided with a storage channel 96 that can directly communicate with the storage chamber 17. The connecting hole 93a is formed parallel to the central axis of the base shell 11.

[0123] Meanwhile, the column member 90 includes a compression channel 94 configured to communicate directly with the compression chamber 14 from one end of the first fixing portion 91. Specifically, the compression channel 94 connects one end of the first fixing portion 91 and the compression chamber 14. More specifically, the compression channel 94 connects one end of the first receiving hole 91a to the compression chamber 14, thereby allowing fluid communication between them.

[0124] Therefore, fluid can flow between the compression chamber 14 and the compression solenoid valve 70 through the compression channel 94. That is, fluid is introduced and discharged through the compression channel 94.

[0125] The column member 90 includes a spring-loaded channel 95 configured to communicate directly with the intermediate chamber 16 from one end of the second fixed portion 92. Specifically, the spring-loaded channel 95 connects the lower end of the second fixed portion 92 and the intermediate chamber 16. Therefore, fluid can flow between the intermediate chamber 16 and the spring-loaded solenoid valve 80 through the spring-loaded channel 95. Thus, fluid can flow between the spring-loaded chamber 15, configured to communicate with the intermediate chamber 16, and the spring-loaded solenoid valve 80. In other words, fluid inflow and outflow occur through the spring-loaded channel 95.

[0126] refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8 The compression solenoid valve 70 includes a compression valve housing 71 and a first check valve 72. The compression valve housing 71 forms the exterior of the valve. The compression valve housing 71 is inserted into and fixed within a first fixed portion 91 of a column member 90. When fluid passes through the compression valve housing 71, the damping force is variably controlled by adjusting the current applied to the valve. The aforementioned compression passage 94 is provided on the inlet side of the compression valve housing 71 to allow fluid to flow in and out. The first check valve 72 is installed between the compression valve housing 71 and the compression passage 94.

[0127] During the compression stroke, a portion of the fluid in the compression chamber 14 is directed toward the compression valve housing 71 through the compression passage, circulates through the compression solenoid valve 70, and is subsequently discharged to the outside of the compression valve housing 71 through the first compression port 71a.

[0128] Specifically, a first compression hole 71a is formed on the side of the compression valve housing 71 to discharge fluid circulating through the compression solenoid valve 70 toward the communication hole 93a. The fluid discharged through the first compression hole is transmitted to the communication hole 93a of the connection portion 93 through the space between the inner surface of the first fixed portion 91 constituting the column member 90 and the compression valve housing 71.

[0129] During the compression stroke, fluid introduced from the compression chamber 14 through the compression passage 94 passes between multiple resilient support members, then flows through the connecting hole 93a and moves to the springback chamber 15 via the second check valve 82 of the springback solenoid valve 80, or alternatively to the storage chamber 17. During this process, the first check valve 72 does not open but remains closed. In this case, because the pressure in the springback chamber 15 is relatively lower than the pressure in the storage chamber 17, the springback chamber 15 of the tube is normally filled with fluid, while the volume corresponding to the area of ​​the piston rod 30 shifts toward the storage chamber 17. That is, the first check valve 72 opens only during the springback stroke and closes during the compression stroke.

[0130] The first check valve 72 includes an opening / closing member configured to open and close a flow passage, and an elastic member for elastically supporting the opening / closing member. The elastic member is disposed in an internal space between the opening / closing member and the compression valve housing 71 to elastically support the opening / closing member relative to the compression valve housing 71.

[0131] During the springback stroke, oil can flow through the piston into the compression chamber 14, or oil contained in the springback chamber 15 can move from the springback chamber 15 to the intermediate chamber 16 through the orifice, then through the springback passage 95 and the springback solenoid valve 80, and subsequently through the communication hole 93a to the compression chamber 14 or the storage chamber 17 via the first check valve 72 of the compression solenoid valve 70. In this case, since the pressure in the compression chamber 14 is relatively lower than the pressure in the storage chamber 17, the compression chamber 14 of the tube can be normally filled with fluid, and the volume corresponding to the area of ​​the piston rod 30 can be supplied to the compression chamber 14 through the first check valve 72 of the compression solenoid valve 70, which communicates with the storage chamber 17.

[0132] refer to Figure 7 The rebound solenoid valve 80 includes a rebound valve housing 81 and a second check valve 82. The rebound valve housing 81 forms the exterior of the valve. The rebound valve housing 81 is inserted into and fixed to the second fixed portion 92 of the column member 90. The damping force is variably controlled by adjusting the current applied to the valve as fluid flows through the rebound valve housing 81. The aforementioned rebound channel 95 is provided on the inlet side of the rebound valve housing 81 to allow fluid to flow in and out. The second check valve 82 is installed between the rebound valve housing 81 and the rebound channel 95.

[0133] During the rebound stroke, a portion of the fluid in the rebound chamber 15 flows through the intermediate chamber 16 and the rebound channel 95 into the interior space of the second fixed portion 92, and is then guided toward the rebound valve housing 81, circulates through the rebound solenoid valve 80, and is subsequently discharged.

[0134] Multiple first rebound holes 81a are formed on the side of the rebound valve housing 81 to discharge fluid passing through the rebound solenoid valve 80. The fluid discharged through the first rebound holes 81a is transmitted to the communication hole 93a of the connection portion 93 through the space between the inner surface of the second fixed portion 92 constituting the column member 90 and the rebound valve housing 81.

[0135] During the springback stroke, fluid introduced from the springback chamber 15 through the springback channel 95 passes between multiple elastic support members, then flows through the connecting hole 93a and moves to the compression chamber 14 via the first check valve 72 of the compression solenoid valve 70, or alternatively to the storage chamber 17. During this process, the second check valve 82 does not open but remains closed. In this case, since the pressure in the compression chamber 14 is relatively lower than the pressure in the storage chamber 17, the compression chamber 14 of the tube can be normally filled with fluid, and the volume corresponding to the area of ​​the piston rod 30 shifts toward the storage chamber 17. That is, the second check valve 82 opens only during the compression stroke and closes during the springback stroke.

[0136] The second check valve 82 includes an opening / closing member configured to open and close a flow passage, and an elastic member configured to elastically support the opening / closing member. The elastic member is disposed in an internal space between the opening / closing member and the spring valve housing 81 to elastically support the opening / closing member relative to the spring valve housing 81.

[0137] During the compression stroke, the oil contained in the compression chamber 14 flows from the compression chamber 14 through the compression passage 94, through the compression solenoid valve 70, and then moves to the springback chamber 15 via the second check valve 82 of the springback solenoid valve 80, or alternatively flows to the storage chamber 17.

[0138] Figure 9 This is a diagram illustrating fluid movement during the compression stroke in a shock absorber 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0139] refer to Figure 9 As shown in the figure, the fluid in the compression chamber 14 is compressed during the downward stroke (i.e., the compression stroke) of the piston head 20. Therefore, the interior of the compression chamber 14 enters a high-pressure state, while the interior of the springback chamber 15 enters a low-pressure state.

[0140] As the piston head 20 descends, all the fluid in the compression chamber 14 is guided through the compression path to the compression solenoid valve 70 and circulates within it. During the circulation of the fluid within the compression solenoid valve 70, the damping force is variably controlled by changing the current applied to the compression solenoid valve 70.

[0141] Fluid that has passed through the compression solenoid valve 70 flows through the first compression port 71a of the compression valve housing 71 and moves to the communication port 93a of the connecting portion 93. Fluid in the communication port 93a can move to the storage chamber 17 via the storage channel 96 connected to the communication port 93a. Alternatively, fluid in the communication port 93a can be guided to the second receiving port 92a, which is the internal space of the second fixed portion 92 connected to the communication port 93a. Fluid that has moved to the second receiving port 92a can flow into the intermediate chamber 16 via the spring channel 95 connected to the second receiving port 92a. Fluid that has moved to the intermediate chamber 16 moves to the spring chamber 15 connected to the intermediate chamber 16 through an orifice.

[0142] Figure 10 This is a diagram illustrating fluid movement during the rebound stroke in a shock absorber 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0143] refer to Figure 10 As shown in the figure, the fluid in the springback chamber 15 is compressed during the upward stroke of the piston head 20 (i.e., the springback stroke). Therefore, the interior of the springback chamber 15 enters a high-pressure state, while the interior of the compression chamber 14 enters a low-pressure state.

[0144] As the piston head 20 moves upward, a portion of the fluid in the springback chamber 15 is transferred to the intermediate chamber 16 through an orifice or gap formed on the upper side of the first tube 12, and then guided to the springback solenoid valve 80 through the springback channel 95, where it circulates through the springback solenoid valve 80. The damping force can be variably controlled by changing the current applied to the springback solenoid valve 80 during the process of fluid circulation within the springback solenoid valve 80.

[0145] Fluid that has passed through the spring-loaded solenoid valve 80 flows through the first spring-loaded orifice 81a of the spring-loaded valve housing 81 and moves to the connecting orifice 93a of the connecting portion 93. Fluid in the connecting orifice 93a can move to the storage chamber 17 via the storage channel 96 connected to the connecting orifice 93a. Alternatively, fluid in the connecting orifice 93a can be guided to the first receiving orifice 91a, which is the internal space of the first fixed portion 91 connected to the connecting orifice 93a. Fluid that has moved to the first receiving orifice 91a moves to the compression chamber 14 via the compression channel 94 connected to the first receiving orifice 91a.

[0146] As described above, by employing a structure that incorporates a check valve into both the compression solenoid valve 70 and the rebound solenoid valve 80, smooth fluid flow within the damper can be achieved. Furthermore, according to the aforementioned structure, the damping force on the compression side can be effectively enhanced compared to conventional dual-type or single-type damping forces.

[0147] Figure 11 This is a diagram illustrating a car including a shock absorber 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0148] Meanwhile, the automobile 5 according to the present invention may include the shock absorber 1 according to the present invention. At this time, the shock absorber 1 can connect each wheel of the automobile 5 and the body.

[0149] In other words, the shock absorber 1 according to the present invention can be applied to a vehicle 5, such as an internal combustion engine vehicle 5, an electric vehicle 5, or a hybrid vehicle 5. In addition to the shock absorber 1, the vehicle 5 according to the present invention may also include various other components included in the vehicle 5.

[0150] As described above, the shock absorber 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments and various modifications and implementations can be made within the scope of the claims.

[0151] The above description is merely an illustration of the technical concept of the present invention, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, alterations, and substitutions can be made without departing from the basic spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to limit the technical spirit of the invention, and the scope of the technical spirit of the invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted based on the appended claims, and all technical concepts falling within the equivalent scope should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A shock absorber, the shock absorber comprising: A cylinder includes a base shell and a first tube and a second tube, the first tube and the second tube being mounted and spaced apart inside the base shell, wherein the internal space of the first tube is divided into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber by a piston head, and the cylinder includes an intermediate chamber and a storage chamber, the intermediate chamber being the space between the first tube and the second tube, and the storage chamber being the space between the second tube and the base shell; A compression solenoid valve, the compression solenoid valve being mounted on the cylinder; and A spring-loaded solenoid valve is mounted on the cylinder, wherein... The compression solenoid valve and the rebound solenoid valve are arranged along the circumferential direction of the cylinder.

2. The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein, The compression solenoid valve and the rebound solenoid valve are arranged in the horizontal direction.

3. The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein, The compression solenoid valve and the rebound solenoid valve are arranged on an imaginary plane perpendicular to the central axis of the cylinder.

4. The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein, The compression solenoid valve and the rebound solenoid valve are arranged on an imaginary plane that forms a predetermined angle with the central axis of the cylinder, and the predetermined angle is configured as an acute angle or an obtuse angle.

5. The shock absorber according to claim 1, further comprising: A column member is mounted on the outside of the cylinder and configured to fixably support the compression solenoid valve and the rebound solenoid valve, such that the compression solenoid valve and the rebound solenoid valve are spaced apart.

6. The shock absorber according to claim 5, wherein, The column component includes: The first fixed part is hollow, and the compression solenoid valve is inserted into and fixed to the first fixed part; A hollow second fixing portion, spaced apart from the first fixing portion, and the spring-loaded solenoid valve inserted into and fixed to the second fixing portion; and The connecting portion connects the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion.

7. The shock absorber according to claim 6, wherein, A first receiving hole is formed in the first fixed portion, and the compression solenoid valve is inserted into and fixed to the first receiving hole. A second receiving hole is formed in the second fixed part, and the spring-loaded solenoid valve is inserted into and fixed to the second receiving hole.

8. The shock absorber according to claim 6, wherein, A connecting hole is formed in the connecting portion to allow direct communication between the compression solenoid valve and the rebound solenoid valve by interconnecting the internal spaces of the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion.

9. The shock absorber according to claim 8, wherein, The connecting hole is provided with a storage channel that is directly connected to the storage chamber.

10. The shock absorber according to claim 7, wherein, The column component includes: A compression channel configured to communicate directly with the compression chamber from one end of the first fixed portion.

11. The shock absorber according to claim 10, wherein, The compression channel connects one end of the first receiving hole to the compression chamber.

12. The shock absorber according to claim 10, wherein, The column component includes: A springback channel, configured to communicate directly with the intermediate chamber from one end of the second fixed portion.

13. The shock absorber according to claim 12, wherein, The rebound channel connects one end of the second receiving hole and the intermediate chamber.

14. The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein, The intermediate chamber is configured to communicate with the rebound chamber.

15. The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein, At least one orifice is provided in the upper region between the intermediate chamber and the spring chamber where the first tube is inserted, and oil is configured to flow through the orifice between the intermediate chamber and the spring chamber.

16. The shock absorber according to claim 12, wherein, The compression solenoid valve includes: A compression valve housing, the compression valve housing forming the exterior of the valve; and A first check valve is configured to open only during the springback stroke and close during the compression stroke.

17. The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein, The spring-load solenoid valve includes: A spring-loaded valve housing, the spring-loaded valve housing forming the exterior of the valve; and A second check valve is configured to open only during the compression stroke and close during the rebound stroke.

18. The shock absorber according to claim 16, wherein, During the rebound stroke, The oil contained in the rebound chamber is configured to move from the rebound chamber to the intermediate chamber through an orifice located in the upper region between the intermediate chamber and the rebound chamber of the first tube, then through the rebound channel and the rebound solenoid valve, and then through the first check valve of the compression solenoid valve via a communication hole located in the connecting portion and communicating the internal spaces of the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion, or... Move to the storage room.

19. The shock absorber according to claim 16, wherein, During the compression stroke, The oil contained in the compression chamber is configured to pass from the compression chamber through the compression passage and the compression solenoid valve, and then move to the springback chamber via a communication hole disposed in the connecting portion and communicating the internal spaces of the first fixed portion and the second fixed portion through a second check valve. The second check valve is disposed in the springback solenoid valve and configured to open only during the compression stroke and close during the springback stroke. Move to the storage room.

20. A vehicle comprising a shock absorber according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

Images