Damping valve device for a vibration damper

Abstract

Damping valve device for a vibration damper, comprising a throttling point in conjunction with a valve element which, depending on the flow velocity of a damping medium within the throttling point, can be converted from a flow-through position to a throttled position, wherein the valve element is arranged as a ring element with a variable diameter within an annular groove of a valve carrier, wherein the damping valve device has an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the damping force characteristic, in which a component of the adjustment mechanism performs a rotary movement coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the vibration damper as the adjustment movement.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a damping valve device for a vibration damper according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] From DE 10 2016 210 790 A1, a generic damping valve device is known in which a radially expandable annular valve element with a flow guide surface forms a throttle point which generates a higher damping force with increasing flow velocity within the throttle point.

[0003] In order to maintain a specific damping force behavior of the damping valve system as precisely as possible, the components relevant to its function must be manufactured with great precision. Furthermore, a large number of variants are required to achieve the desired damping force behavior for different vehicle series.

[0004] In the older DE 10 2022 204 989 A1, the damping valve device comprises an actuator within a hollow piston rod. The axially adjustable actuator adjusts a cover of a valve carrier. A stop is provided on the cover to limit the expansion movement of the valve element. The stop point changes depending on the axial position of the cover relative to the valve element. The actuator can be used to adjust a key factor influencing the damping force behavior of the damping valve device.

[0005] In the older DE 10 2022 204 988 A1, a damping valve device with the same functional principle also uses an actuator that has a push rod within a hollow piston rod. An axial adjustment movement of the push rod is converted into a radial adjustment movement for adjusting a stop on a valve carrier or for determining the maximum flow position of the valve element.

[0006] The older DE 10 2022 204 992 A1 shows a damping valve device in which the maximum flow position of the valve element can be adjusted. The valve element has a radial slot in which an eccentric is located. The valve element is expanded to varying degrees by a twisting movement around the eccentric axis. The eccentric axis is located in the valve carrier, radially offset from the longitudinal axis of the piston rod and thus of the vibration damper. With this design of the adjustment mechanism, the valve element must, by design, have a radial slot to accommodate the eccentric.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to achieve adjustability of the damping valve device in conjunction with a very simple mechanical structure.

[0008] The object is achieved in that the damping valve device has an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the damping force characteristic, in which a component of the adjustment mechanism executes a rotational movement coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the vibration damper as an adjustment movement.

[0009] This basic functional principle of the adjustment mechanism enables a very simple construction of the damping valve device despite its adjustability.

[0010] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the valve carrier is arranged in axial overlap with a profile section on a piston rod of the vibration damper, wherein the profile section forms a component of the adjustment mechanism. Such a profile section can be designed to be stationary, thus eliminating the need for an actuator, as in the prior art described above. The profile section can be formed by a lateral surface of the piston rod or a separate sleeve.

[0011] The profile section is designed to be operatively connected to a circumferential surface of the valve element. By simply rotating the valve element around the longitudinal axis of the piston rod, the position of the adjusting element is adjusted at the maximum flow position of the throttle position.

[0012] Furthermore, it is possible for the valve carrier to have a radially divided cover with at least one radial dividing joint, with a through-opening of the cover being operatively connected to the profile section of the piston rod. The diameter of the cover is changed by a twisting movement of the cover relative to the piston rod. A radial stop for the valve element is preferably arranged on the cover, so that the maximum throttle position of the damping valve device can be adjusted via this setting.

[0013] If a particularly wide range of functions is desired, two profile sections are arranged in axial rows on the piston rod, with a first profile section for a radially adjustable cover of the valve carrier and a second profile section for adjusting the diameter of the valve element.

[0014] As an alternative to a profile section on the piston rod side, the valve carrier can also have a cover that can be rotated relative to the longitudinal axis of the vibration damper when assembled, which has a profile section that is operatively connected to the valve element. This allows the use of a standard piston rod while still providing an adjustment function on the damping valve device.

[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the valve carrier comprises two axially opposed covers, each of which has a profiled section and can be rotated independently of one another. When two profiled sections are engaged, the valve element to be adjusted cannot rotate circumferentially due to vibrations or other influences, thereby altering the damping force behavior of the entire damping valve device.

[0016] In principle, combinations of different designs of the adjustment mechanism are also possible, for example by designing one cover of the valve carrier with a profile section on the piston rod and a second cover with a profile section towards the valve element.

[0017] The profile section can be kept geometrically very simple by having at least a partial oval cross-section.

[0018] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following description of the figures.

[0019] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a damping valve device 1 for a vibration damper 3 of any design (shown only in part). In addition to the damping valve device 1, the vibration damper 3 comprises a first damping valve 5 with a damping valve body designed as a piston 7, which is attached to a piston rod 9.

[0020] The damping valve body 7 divides a cylinder 11 of the vibration damper into a working chamber 13; 15 on the piston rod side and a working chamber 13; 15 on the piston rod side, both filled with damping medium. The damping valve body 7 contains passages 17; 19, each for a flow direction, on different pitch circles. The design of the passages 17; 19 is only an example. One outlet side of the passages 17; 19 is at least partially covered by at least one valve disc 21; 23.

[0021] For example, a valve carrier 25 of the damping valve device 1 is fixed directly to the piston rod 9. The valve carrier 25 has a circumferential annular groove 27 in which a valve element 29 with variable diameter is guided ( Fig. 2). This valve element 29 is radially movable and forms a valve body for a throttle point 31 as part of the damping valve device 1. The valve element 29 forms the throttle point 31 with an inner wall of the cylinder 11, the inner wall representing a flow guide surface 33.

[0022] The valve element 29 is equipped with a return spring 35, as shown in the Fig. 2 is shown enlarged. Between the flow guide surface 33 and an outer surface 37 of the valve element 29 there is a variable throttle cross-section 39, which generates an additional damping force for the damping valve 5.

[0023] At a piston rod speed in a first operating range, e.g., less than 1 m / s, the throttle point 31 is fully open. The damping force is then generated only by the passages 17; 19 in conjunction with the valve discs 21; 23. When flow occurs against the valve discs 21; 23, the valve discs 21; 23 lift off their valve seat surface 41; 43. The lifting movement is limited by a support disc 45; 47.

[0024] In a second operating range with a piston rod speed that is greater than the limiting speed of the first operating range, i.e., greater than the exemplary 1 m / s, the valve element 29 moves into a maximum expansion position and thus into a throttle position with the minimum throttle cross-section 39, and in doing so executes a closing movement in the direction of the flow guide surface 33. Due to the high flow velocity of the damping medium in the throttle point 31, which is shaped as an annular gap, a negative pressure is formed, which leads to the radial expansion of the valve element 29. To ensure that the throttle point 31 cannot become blocked under any circumstances, the valve carrier 25 has a stop 49 on a cover plate 51 or 53 of the valve carrier 25. ( Fig. 2)

[0025] To adjust the damping valve device 1, the damping valve device 1 has an adjustment mechanism 55 for adjusting the damping force characteristics. One component of the adjustment mechanism 55 performs a rotational movement coaxial with a longitudinal axis 57 of the vibration damper 3 as an adjustment movement. The valve carrier 25 is arranged in axial overlap with a profile section 59 on the piston rod 9 of the vibration damper 3, wherein the profile section 59 forms a component of the adjustment mechanism 55. In this exemplary embodiment, the profile section 59 is formed by a piston rod pin 61.

[0026] In the design of the damping valve device 1 according to the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the profile section 59 is in operative connection with an inner surface 63 of the valve element 29. The operative connection or the mechanical contact is supported by the return spring 35. The profile section 59 has, as the Fig. 3 shows by way of example, at least partially an oval cross-section. When setting the correct outer diameter of the valve element 29, this is secured against twisting using a commercially available tool. The piston rod 9 is then simply twisted so that the profile section 59 executes a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis 57 of the piston rod 9 or of the vibration damper 3. In the process, the valve element 29 is expanded via the contact on the outer surface 63, as a butt joint 65 in the valve element 29, which is shown not to scale, is intended to illustrate. In the initial position, the profile section 59 assumes a horizontal position in plan view, as shown by the dashed contour. In the extreme position of the profile section 59, the longer main axis of the oval in the profile section 59 runs vertically. The terms horizontal and vertical are for descriptive purposes only.Of course, the extreme position can also be achieved with a different angular orientation of the profile section 59, for example if the valve element 29 was mounted in a different angular position in the valve carrier 25.

[0027] In the design of the damping valve device 1 according to the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the valve carrier 25 has a radially divided cover 51 with at least one radial parting line 67. A through opening 69 of the cover 51 is operatively connected with its inner circumferential surface to the profile section 59 of the piston rod 9. Here, too, the profile section 59 on the piston rod side has an oval cross-section, so that a twisting movement of the cover 51 relative to the piston rod 9 and thus to the profile section 59 leads to a change in an effective diameter for the stop 49 for limiting the maximum throttle position of the throttle 31. Once the desired setting is achieved, the cover 51 of the valve carrier 25 is clamped to the other cover 53 of the valve carrier 25 via a piston rod nut 71. Depending on the design of the valve carrier 25, a clamping sleeve can be inserted between the two covers 51; 53.

[0028] In the design of the damping valve device 1 according to the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, two profile sections 59A; 59B are arranged axially in series on the piston rod 9, with a first profile section 59A for the radially adjustable cover 51 of the valve carrier 25 and a second profile section 59B for adjusting the diameter of the valve element 29. This design combines the functionality of the design according to the Fig. 2 to 5, wherein there is a dependency regarding the adjustments of the cover diameter equal to the stop position and the minimum diameter of the valve element 29. If an element of the damping valve device 1 is adjusted, e.g., the diameter of the cover 51, then the annular valve element 29 is also adjusted due to the mechanically rigid connection of both profile sections 59A; 59B, wherein it is certainly possible to ensure constructively that both valve components are expanded or reduced in diameter synchronously, or that an opposing operating behavior is present, for example, by designing the two profile sections 59A; 59B offset from one another by a certain angular amount.

[0029] The Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 show a damping valve device 1 in which the valve carrier 25, in the assembled state, also has a cover 51 that can be rotated relative to the longitudinal axis 57 of the vibration damper 3, but which has the profile section 59 that is operatively connected to the valve element 29. By simply rotating the valve element 29 relative to the cover 51, the valve element 29 narrows or widens. The profile section 59 consists of two preferably opposite oval sections 73; 75 that bear against the inner surface 63 of the valve element 29. The oval sections 73; 75 simplify the use of a pressure chamber 77 known from the prior art within the annular groove 27 to support the operating movement of the valve element 29.Furthermore, the oval sections 73; 75 are preferably formed on both covers 51; 53 of the valve carrier 29, so that axial clamping of the valve carrier 25 via the piston rod nut 71 is simplified without clamping the valve element 29. The two axially opposite covers 51; 53 of the valve carrier 25 can each have a profile section 59 and be independently rotatable. This ensures that the angular alignment of the valve element 29 to the valve carrier 25, once set, is maintained even more reliably and permanently.

[0030] The variant of the damping valve device 1 according to Fig. 10 comprises the cover 51 of the valve carrier 25, which cooperates with a profile section 59A on the piston rod 9 and the second cover 53 with a profile section 59B to the valve element 29 and thus shows a combination of the variants according to the Fig. 4; Fig. 5 and Fig. 8; Fig.9. The additional advantage is that with this design, the maximum throttle setting is possible by rotating the upper cover 51, independently of the setting of the maximum passage position by rotating the valve element 29 relative to the lower cover 53 of the valve carrier 25.

[0031] Furthermore, this damping valve device 1 comprises a cover plate 79 in order to seal a pressure chamber 77 that may be used when the upper cover 51 is expanded in the area of ​​the radial joint 67. Reference symbol 1 damping valve device 3 vibration dampers 5 first damping valve 7 Damping valve body 9 Piston rod 11 cylinders 13 piston rod side working space 15 working area remote from the piston rod 17 passage channels 19 passage channels 21 Valve disc 23 Valve disc 25 valve carriers 27 Ring groove 29 Valve element 29A Leg of the valve element 29B Leg of the valve element 31 throttle point 33 Flow guide surface 35 Return spring 37 outer surface of the valve element 39 Throttle cross-section of the throttle point 41 Valve seat surface 43 Valve seat surface 45 support disc 47 Support disc 49 stop 51 lids 53 lids 55 adjustment mechanism 57 Longitudinal axis 59 Profile section 59A profile section 59B profile section 61 piston rod journal 63 lateral surface 65 butt joint 67 Radial joint 69 Passage opening 71 Piston rod nut 73 Oval section 75 oval section 77 Printing room 79 Cover plate QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2016 210 790 A1

[0002] DE 10 2022 204 989 A1

[0004] DE 10 2022 204 988 A1

[0005] DE 10 2022 204 992 A1

[0006]

Claims

[1] Damping valve device (1) for a vibration damper (3), comprising a throttle point (31) in connection with a valve element (29) which can be transferred from a passage position into a throttle position depending on the flow velocity of a damping medium within the throttle point (31), wherein the valve element (29) is arranged as a ring element whose diameter can be changed within an annular groove (27) of a valve carrier (25), characterized by that the damping valve device (1) has an adjusting mechanism (55) for adjusting the damping force characteristic, in which a component (25; 51; 53; 29) of the adjusting mechanism (55) carries out a rotary movement coaxial to the longitudinal axis (57) of the vibration damper (3) as an adjusting movement. [2] Damping valve device according to claim 1, characterized bythat the valve carrier (25) is arranged in axial overlap with a profile section (59) on a piston rod (9) of the vibration damper (3), wherein the profile section (59) forms a component of the adjustment mechanism (55). [3] Damping valve device according to claim 2, characterized by that the profile section (59) is in operative connection with a lateral surface (63) of the valve element (29). [4] Damping valve device according to claim 2, characterized by that the valve carrier (25) has a radially divided cover (51) which has at least one radial dividing joint (67), wherein a through opening (69) of the cover (51) is in operative connection with the profile section (59) of the piston rod (9). [5] Damping valve device according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized bythat two profile sections (59A; 59B) are arranged in axial rows on the piston rod (9), a first profile section (59A) being provided for the radially adjustable cover (51) of the valve support (25) and a second profile section (59B) being provided for adjusting the diameter of the valve element (29). [6] Damping valve device according to claim 1 to 5, characterized by that the valve carrier (25) in the assembled state has the cover (51) which can be rotated relative to the longitudinal axis (57) of the vibration damper (3) and which has the profile section (59) which is in operative connection with the valve element (29). [7] Damping valve device according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the valve carrier (25) has two axially opposite covers (51; 53), each having a profile section (59) and being rotatable independently of one another. [8] Damping valve device according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the cover (51) of the valve carrier (25) is designed with a profile section (59A) on the piston rod (9) and the second cover (53) is designed with a profile section (59B) to the valve element (29). [9] Damping valve device according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the profile section (59; 59A; 59B) has at least partially an oval cross-section.

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