Vibration damper with at least one external damping valve device

Abstract

Vibration damper with at least one external damping valve assembly, wherein the damping valve assembly is connected to at least one working chamber of the vibration damper via an inlet and an outlet opening, wherein a valve block is fixed to an outer cylinder of the vibration damper in a material-bonded manner, wherein at least one fluid channel runs within a wall of the valve block, which opens with a connection opening in a contact surface of the valve block with the outer cylinder, wherein a material-bonded connection area on the contact surface frames the connection opening.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vibration damper with at least one external damping valve device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In the case of a vibration damper with an external damping valve device, the problem tends to arise of fluid channel routing in order to hydraulically connect at least one working chamber of the vibration damper with the external damping valve device.

[0003] In DE 11 2020 003 425 T5, a cover is welded to the outside of a working cylinder, which has receptacles for two adjustable damping valve devices. The cover is formed by a simple sheet metal shell into which the valve housings of the damping valve devices engage.

[0004] Inlet openings from working chambers into the damping valve devices consist of direct contact between the valve elements and the outer tube. The type of seal at this transition is not disclosed. Outlet openings of the damping valve devices open into a collector chamber formed by the sheet metal shell. This collector chamber is connected to a reservoir within the outer tube and to a fluid transport chamber. Consequently, the cover element forming the collector chamber does not need to have fluid-carrying channels.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to realize a mechanical and hydraulic connection between at least one damping valve device and an outer tube of a vibration damper that is easy to manufacture and assemble.

[0006] The problem is solved by having at least one fluid channel running within a wall of the valve block, which opens into a connection opening in a contact surface of the valve block with the outer cylinder, wherein a material bonding area on the contact surface frames the connection opening.

[0007] The major advantage of the invention is that, in space-constrained areas, the arrangement and thus the installation of seals can be dispensed with. Furthermore, this construction and connection principle allows for the sealing of non-circular openings that cannot be reliably sealed with standard seals. Consequently, there is also greater design freedom regarding the routing of channels within the valve block.

[0008] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the entire contact surface between the outer tube and the valve block forms the material bonding area. The entire contact surface is easier to treat for material bonding than a limited area.

[0009] Another measure to simplify the components is that the valve block forms a base for a valve housing of the damping valve assembly.

[0010] To ensure a safe transfer of the damping medium from the working chamber to the damping valve assembly, the base has a pipe connection for the hydraulic connection of the damping valve assembly.

[0011] According to an advantageous dependent claim, the pipe stub defines an annular space which has an outlet opening of an adjustable damping valve of the damping valve assembly. The annular space simplifies the hydraulic connection of the flow paths to the damping valve assembly.

[0012] Optionally, the pipe fitting can be a component bonded to the valve block, which can be manufactured independently of the valve block and then joined to it in a separate step. This simplifies the manufacturing of the valve block and the geometry of the pipe fitting.

[0013] The valve block can, for example, have a blind hole for axial support of the pipe fitting. The bottom of the blind hole provides a sufficiently large surface for gluing or soldering to ensure a reliable mechanical connection between the pipe fitting and the valve block.

[0014] A further measure to simplify the flow paths is that the valve block carries two damping valve assemblies, which are connected to each other via a connecting channel within the contact surface of the valve block. Therefore, the damping valve assemblies do not require any special connection to the working cylinder or the valve block.

[0015] Another measure to simplify the components and the flow paths within the vibration damper is to attach an external storage unit of the vibration damper to the valve block.

[0016] Optionally, the outer storage tank can also be materially bonded to the valve block.

[0017] With a view to short and as low-throttling connection channels as possible, a hydraulic storage connection of the storage tank is hydraulically connected to the connecting channel.

[0018] The following description of the figures will be used to explain the invention in more detail.

[0019] It shows: Fig. 1 Hydraulic circuit diagram for the invention Fig. 2 and 3 External views of the vibration damper according to Fig. 1 Fig. 4 Longitudinal section through the vibration damper according to Fig. 2 and 3 Fig. 5. Detailed view of Fig. 4 Fig. 6 - 8 Valve block to Fig. 1 to 5 as individual items Fig. 9 Longitudinal section through vibration damper in the area of ​​the storage unit Fig. 10-11 Exterior view Fig. 2 and 3 showing the channels in the valve block Fig. 12 and 13 Alternative design of the valve block

[0020] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a hydraulic circuit diagram with a vibration damper 1, which has a working cylinder 3 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 designed as a displacer without any valves. A working chamber 9 on the piston rod side is connected via a first fluid channel 13 to a first damping valve assembly 15, which includes at least one adjustable damping valve 17 and a check valve 19. The check valve 19 is closed when fluid flows in from the working chamber 9 on the piston rod side.

[0021] The check valve 19 and the adjustable damping valve 17 are connected to a second fluid channel 21, which leads on one side to a reservoir 23 external to the vibration damper 1 and on the other side to a second damping valve assembly 25. This second damping valve assembly 25 can be identical in design to the first damping valve assembly 15. A check valve 27 within the second damping valve assembly 25 assumes a closed position when damping medium is displaced from a working chamber 11 remote from the piston rod via a third fluid channel 29 into the second damping valve assembly 25. For the inflow of damping medium from the reservoir 23 into a working chamber 9; 11 that expands during the working movement of the vibration damper 1, the corresponding check valve 19; 27 opens, so that the adjustable damping valves 17; 31 within the respective damping valve assembly 15; 25 only have a single flow direction.

[0022] Optionally, a motor-driven pump 33 is assigned to the vibration damper 1, which preferably has two delivery directions and is hydraulically connected in parallel to the two damping valve assemblies 15; 25 via a fourth fluid channel 35, thus also connecting the two working chambers 9; 11. The pump 33 can be used to actively pump damping medium between the two working chambers 9; 11.

[0023] The Fig. 2 shows the vibration damper 1 after Fig. 1 with an outer tube 37 on which a valve block 39 is attached. The valve block 39 carries the two adjustable damping valve devices 15; 25, which in this example point radially in the same direction and are arranged parallel to each other. Furthermore, the external storage tank 23 and a line connection 41 for the external pump 33 are attached to the valve block 39.

[0024] As in particular the Fig. Since the valve block is removable from section 3, it sits on the continuous outer tube 37. The valve block 39 preferably does not completely enclose the outer tube, but only to the extent that radial mounting is possible. This is intended to minimize the mass of the valve block.

[0025] In the Fig. 4 is the vibration damper 1 according to Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section. The piston rod-side working chamber 9 has at least one connection opening 43 in the working cylinder 3 to the first fluid channel 13, which is formed by an annular space between the working cylinder 3, the inside of the outer tube 37 and a piston rod guide 45. The fluid channel 13 opens into a pipe stub 47 of the valve block 39.

[0026] The working chamber 11, located away from the piston rod, is connected, for example, via at least one connection opening 49 in a base section 51 of the working cylinder 3 to the third fluid channel 29. The third fluid channel 29 is also formed by the annular space between the reservoir tube 37 and the working cylinder 3. The third fluid channel 29 is axially closed by an outer tube end 53. A separating ring 55 on the outside of the working cylinder 3 separates the third fluid channel 29 from the first fluid channel 13.

[0027] The Fig. Figure 5 shows an excerpt from the Fig. 4 in the area of ​​the valve block 39. In this section, the basic structure of the two damping valve assemblies 15; 25 can be seen, each having an electromagnetic actuator 57 that exerts an adjusting force on a pre-stage valve 59, which in turn controls a closing force on the adjustable main stage valve 17; 31. An example of such a damping valve assembly is known from DE 10 2021 202 304 A1.

[0028] Within a wall of the valve block 39, at least one fluid channel 60, 62 extends, opening with a connection opening 61; 63 into a contact surface 65 of the valve block 39 with the outer cylinder 37, wherein a material-locking connection area 67 at the contact surface 65 frames the connection opening 61; 63. Fig. 6) Fluid channel 60 is part of the first fluid channel 13, and fluid channel 62 is part of the third fluid channel 29. The connection openings 61; 63 in the outer cylinder 37 each have, together with the fluid channels 60; 62, an inlet opening for the damping valve assembly 15; 25, originating from the connected first 13 or third fluid channel 29, respectively. Fluid channel 60; 62 penetrates a base 69 of a valve housing 71 of the damping valve assembly 15; 25, which is also formed by the valve block 39. The base 69 has the pipe stub 47 for the hydraulic connection of the damping valve assembly 15; 25 and forms the outer edge of the inlet opening. A valve insert 73; 75 of the damping valve assembly 15; 25 engages in this pipe stub 47. This valve insert 73; 75 also carries the respective check valve 19; 27.

[0029] The pipe stub 47 externally limits an annular space 77 within the valve housing 71, which has an outflow opening 79; 81 of the adjustable damping valve 17; 31 of the damping valve assembly 15; 25.

[0030] The Fig. Figures 6 to 8 show the valve block 39 as a single component in different views. Fig. In section 6, the valve block 39 is oriented such that the contact surface 65 with the outer tube 37 is clearly visible. The connection openings 61 and 63 do not contain separate seals, but are radially sealed to each other by the material bond between the valve block 39 and the outer tube 37. Preferably, the entire contact surface 65 between the outer tube 37 and the valve block 39 forms the material bond connection area 67. The material bond can be created, for example, by means of an adhesive bonding or a soldering process. Consequently, the contact surface 65 is coated with adhesive or solder.

[0031] How to, for example, in the Fig. As can be seen in Figure 5, the valve block 39 carries two damping valve devices 15 and 25, which are connected to each other via a connecting channel 83 within the contact surface 65 of the valve block 39. This results in a connecting channel 83 with an oval edge contour. Furthermore, the contact surface 65 is adapted to the radius of the outer tube 37 and is curved accordingly. A seal sealing the connecting channel 83 would, in a conventional design, have a relatively complex shape as an elastomer ring and would also have to be mounted in alignment with the connecting channel 83. With the material-bonded seal, the exact edge geometry of the material bond is irrelevant, since all openings within the contact surface 65 are spaced so far apart that certain inaccuracies / defects at the opening edges have no negative impact on the sealing function.

[0032] In the Fig. Connection channels 85; 87 are visible within the valve block 39 for the line connection 41. Fastening elements for the line connection engage in blind holes 89; 91, as can be seen from the overall view of the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 emerges.

[0033] Each damping valve assembly 15; 25 has the discharge opening 79; 81, which hydraulically connects the annular space 77 to the connecting channel 83. This second fluid channel 21 (see also Fig. 1) between the external storage 23 and the connecting channel 83 with a storage connection 91 is also in the Fig. 6 and Fig. Figure 7 shows the second fluid channel 21, which is partially a sloping bore within the valve block 39, with the fluid channel 21 opening into a second contact surface 93 on the accumulator 23. At this second contact surface 93, the outer accumulator 23 is also metallurgically connected to the valve block 39. Here, too, the contact surface 93 is curved circumferentially to match the outer radius of a housing 95 of the accumulator 23. Additionally, the Fig. 9 referred.

[0034] The Fig. 10 and Fig. Figure 11 shows the flow paths within the valve block 39 between the two damping valve devices 15; 25, the connecting channel 83, the storage tank 23, and the line connection 41.

[0035] The Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 show one of the Fig. 2 to 11 alternative construction of the valve block 39. In contrast, the pipe fitting 47 is a component that is materially bonded to the valve block 47. In the Fig. In section 12, the upper pipe stub 47 of the damping valve assembly 15 forms only the base 69 of the valve housing 71. The lower pipe stub 47 is formed as a single unit with the entire valve housing 71. Regardless of the design of the pipe stub 47, the valve block 39 has a blind bore 97 for axial support of the pipe stub 47, including the base 69. Consequently, the upper pipe stub can be manufactured almost as a turned part. Only the cross-section for the discharge opening is produced, for example, by milling or punching. Reference sign 1 vibration damper 3 working cylinders 5 piston rod 7 pistons 9 piston rod-side working space 11 working space far from 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 Pump 35 fourth fluid channel 37 Outer pipe 39 Valve block 41 Line connection 43 Connection opening 45 Piston rod guide 47 pipe stubs 49 Connection opening 51 bottom piece 53 Outer pipe base 55 separating ring 57 Actuator 59 Pre-stage valve 60 Fluid channel 61 Connection opening 62 Fluid channel 63 Connection opening 65 contact area 67 Material bonding area 69 Bottom of the valve block 71 Valve housing 73 Valve insert 75 Valve insert 77 Ring space 79 Outlet 81 Outlet 83 Connecting channel 85 connection channel 87 Connection channel 89 Blind hole opening 91 memory connection 93 second contact surface 95 Storage housing 97 Blind hole bore in the valve block QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] DE 11 2020 003 425 T5

[0003] DE 10 2021 202 304 A1

[0027]

Claims

[1] Vibration damper (1) with at least one external damping valve assembly (15; 25), wherein the damping valve assembly (15; 25) is connected to at least one working chamber (9; 11) of the vibration damper (1) via an inlet and an outlet opening (79; 71), wherein a valve block (39) is fixed to an outer tube (37) of the vibration damper (1) in a material-bonded manner, characterized by , that within a wall of the valve block (39) at least one fluid channel (60; 62; 83; 85; 87; 91) extends, which opens with a connection opening (61; 63) in a contact surface (65) of the valve block (39) with the outer tube (37), wherein a material bonding area (67) at the contact surface (65) frames the connection opening (61; 63). [2] Vibration damper (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the entire contact area (65) between the outer tube (37) and the valve block (39) forms the material bonding area (67). [3] Vibration damper (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by , that the valve block (39) forms a base (69) for a valve housing (71) of the damping valve assembly (15; 25). [4] Vibration damper (1) according to claim 3, characterized by , that the base (69) has a pipe socket (47) for the hydraulic connection of the damping valve device (15; 25). [5] Vibration damper (1) according to claim 4, characterized by , that the pipe stub (47) defines an annular space (77) which has the outflow opening (79; 81) of an adjustable damping valve (17; 31) of the damping valve assembly (15; 25). [6] Vibration damper (1) according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized by , that the pipe fitting (47) is a component that is materially connected to the valve block (39). [7] Vibration damper (1) according to claim 6, characterized by , that the valve block (39) has a blind bore (97) for axial support of the pipe stub (47). [8] Vibration damper (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that the valve block (39) carries two damping valve devices (15; 25) which are connected to each other via a connecting groove (83) within the contact surface (65) of the valve block (39). [9] Vibration damper (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that an outer storage unit (23) of the vibration damper (1) is attached to the valve block (39). [10] Vibration damper (1) according to claim 9, characterized by , that the outer storage tank (23) is materially connected to the valve block (39). [11] Vibration damper (1) according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized by , that a hydraulic storage connection (91) of the storage tank (23) is hydraulically connected to the connecting channel (83).

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