Adjustable Suspension Damper With Rotatable Valve Against Bottoming Out
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle suspension systems experience a constant damping rate throughout the entire stroke, leading to the risk of 'bottoming out' and potential deformation or breakage of damping components, which is not adjustable to varying loads or terrains.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable vehicle suspension damper system featuring a rotatable valve and damping adjustment lever that obstructs fluid flow between the piston sides, allowing for varying damping rates by rotating the valve from a fully open to a partially open or closed position, and incorporating a needle valve that opens or closes windows to change fluid flow during compression and rebound.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional damping components use a constant damping rate throughout the entire stroke, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the suspension risks bottoming out and components may deform or break
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the damping rate adjustable rather than fixed. The rotatable valve allows the damping characteristic to change dynamically based on operating conditions, enabling the system to adapt between soft and hard damping modes to prevent bottoming out while maintaining component integrity throughout the stroke.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by allowing the damping rate parameter to be varied through rotation of the valve. This changes the flow characteristics of the damping fluid through the valve, thereby adjusting the damping force applied during compression and extension strokes to match varying load and terrain conditions.
2Reliability
If the damping rate is adjusted to vary throughout the stroke, then bottoming out is prevented, but the device complexity increases with additional adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable valve serves multiple functions: it adjusts the damping rate, controls fluid flow between chambers, and prevents bottoming out across different operating conditions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each protective function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while achieving enhanced reliability.
3Strength
If the damping rate is increased to prevent bottoming out, then component deformation is reduced, but the suspension becomes less adaptable to varying loads and terrains
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the damping rate through the rotatable valve, allowing the suspension to be soft when loads are light or terrain is smooth, and hard when loads are heavy or terrain is rough. This dynamic adaptability prevents component deformation by matching the damping force to actual operating conditions rather than using a permanently high setting.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping rate parameter is made variable through the adjustable valve mechanism. Users can change the damping parameter to optimize performance for different loads and terrains, thereby maintaining component strength and preventing deformation only when necessary rather than operating at maximum damping continuously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively adjusts damping rates to prevent 'bottoming out' and deformation, providing a customizable damping force based on terrain or driving conditions, enhancing suspension performance and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
the piston assembly compresses fluid as it moves within the cylinder
Implementation Method 2
the adjuster obstructs fluid flow from a first side of a damping piston of the piston assembly to a second side of the damping piston
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle suspension damper including: a cylinder; a piston assembly; and an adjuster, wherein the piston assembly compresses fluid as it moves within the cylinder and the adjuster obstructs fluid flow from a first side of a damping piston of the piston assembly to a second side of the damping piston.