Adjustable Damping Curve Shock Absorber With Needle Valve Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic shock absorbers require disassembly for damping performance adjustments, limiting ease and flexibility in modifying the damping curve, especially for compression and rebound settings.
Innovation Solution
The shock absorber design incorporates adjustable controls with a needle nut and aperture seat that allow for external adjustment of the damping curve by controlling hydraulic oil flow, featuring an engineered taper profile and interchangeable orifice sizes, enabling precise and repeatable adjustments with minimal disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If external adjustment controls are added to allow damping performance adjustment, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is nested within the existing shock absorber structure. The adjustable orifice is integrated into the piston assembly, with the orifice size controlled by a needle valve that is part of the existing hydraulic system. This nesting approach allows adjustment functionality to be added without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of orifice size within the hydraulic system to achieve damping adjustment. By providing multiple orifice sizes and allowing selection during assembly or adjustment, the system can modify its damping characteristics without requiring a completely different mechanism, thus improving ease of operation while controlling complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple orifice sizes are provided for damping adjustment, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the orifice functionality by providing multiple discrete orifice sizes that can be selected based on different damping requirements. Each orifice size represents a segmented option within the overall damping adjustment range, allowing the system to achieve high adaptability through a manageable set of discrete choices rather than a continuous complex mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The shock absorber is designed with universal adaptability by incorporating multiple orifice sizes that can handle various damping requirements. The same basic shock absorber structure can be configured for different applications (compression, rebound, or both adjustments) by selecting appropriate orifice sizes, making the device versatile without requiring multiple specialized designs.
3Manufacturing precision
If the shock absorber is disassembled for damping adjustments, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The desired orifice size is selected and prepared before the adjustment process. The shock absorber can be configured during assembly with the appropriate orifice size predetermined, or adjustment components are prepared in advance. This preliminary action ensures that when adjustment is needed, the process is quick and maintains precision without requiring extensive disassembly or time-consuming procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism is designed to be extractable or accessible without complete disassembly of the shock absorber. The orifice selection and adjustment components can be accessed and changed by removing only specific parts (such as the piston assembly or adjustment caps) rather than disassembling the entire shock absorber, thus reducing adjustment time while maintaining the precision benefits of controlled assembly.
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
This solution provides a wide range of damping curve adjustments with minimal disassembly, offering more control over the damping performance, reducing noise, and allowing for on-the-fly changes, while enabling designers to achieve specific damping profiles.
Implementation Method 1
an adjustable orifice is provided which allows adjustment of the damping curve in compression and/or rebound by controlling the flow rates of the fluid
Implementation Method 2
The adjustment controls may include an adjuster knob, an adjuster nut, a needle nut, and an aperture seat
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustment control for adjusting the damping of a shock absorber includes an aperture seat to be secured to a bore of the shock absorber; a needle nut including a needle; an adjustment nut shaft stud including a threaded portion configured to engage with a threaded portion of the needle nut; an adjustment nut to be secured to the base and defining a non-circular cavity to receive at least a portion of the adjustment nut shaft stud and a noncircular region of the needle nut such that the needle nut cannot rotate relative to the non-circular cavity of the adjustment nut; and an adjustment knob, wherein rotation of the adjustment knob causes rotation of the adjustment nut shaft stud relative to the adjustment nut, and wherein rotation of the adjustment nut shaft stud causes axial movement of the needle nut relative to an orifice of the aperture seat.