Air Spring Flow Control for Velocity-Dependent Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air shocks have position-dependent damping forces, which may not provide sufficient damping during high-velocity impacts, leading to inadequate shock absorption and potential discomfort or damage.
Innovation Solution
The velocity-dependent air shock incorporates a flow control unit that adjusts the spring curve based on the piston's velocity relative to the lower body portion, allowing for distinct spring curves during high and low velocity events, thereby enhancing damping force variability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional air shocks use position-dependent damping forces, then the structure is simple, but the damping force is insufficient during high-velocity impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from position-dependent damping to velocity-dependent damping. The flow control unit dynamically adjusts the spring curve based on piston velocity, allowing the damping characteristics to change automatically with impact speed. This enables high-velocity impacts to generate appropriate damping forces while maintaining simple operation for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the spring curve parameter based on velocity conditions. The flow control unit changes the effective spring rate dynamically - using a first spring curve for high-velocity events and a second spring curve for low-velocity events. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by providing context-appropriate damping forces without requiring complex manual adjustment mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the air shock provides sufficient damping for high-velocity impacts, then shock absorption improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the damping response into distinct velocity-based segments. The flow control unit separates high-velocity and low-velocity events, applying different spring curves to each segment. This segmentation allows the system to optimize for high-velocity shock absorption while keeping the low-velocity operation simple and predictable, thereby improving reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow control unit acts as an intermediary between the piston movement and the spring force generation. It mediates the relationship between velocity and damping force by selectively applying different spring curves based on flow conditions. This intermediary component enables sophisticated velocity-dependent behavior while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If position-dependent damping is used, then manufacturing is simple, but damping variability across different velocities is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamics to enable the spring curve to adapt dynamically based on piston velocity rather than position. The flow control unit automatically selects between different damping characteristics depending on the velocity condition, providing versatility in damping response without requiring complex manufacturing processes or multiple physical springs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the spring curve parameter based on velocity conditions rather than position. The flow control unit modifies the effective spring rate parameter dynamically, allowing the same physical structure to provide different damping characteristics for different velocity events, thereby achieving adaptability without complicating manufacturing.
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 enables the air shock to provide appropriate damping forces during varying impact velocities, improving comfort and vehicle performance by tailoring the spring curve to specific velocity conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a flow control unit that restricts fluid flow between a first chamber and a second chamber of the additional chamber
Implementation Method 2
an air spring with a velocity dependent flow control unit
Data Source
AI summary
A velocity dependent flow control unit for an air spring. The velocity dependent flow control unit including a compression fluid pathway with a one-way valve and a rebound fluid pathway with a one-way valve. The velocity dependent flow control unit can be fixed and coupled between two additional air chambers of the air shock. A spring curve of said air shock can be dependent upon a velocity of a compression of the air shock and can be controlled by a flow rate of a fluid passing the two additional chambers and the velocity dependent flow control unit.