Annular Base Valve Shock Damper for Adaptive Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shock absorbers lack the ability to dynamically adjust shock absorption based on terrain and vehicle conditions, leading to suboptimal ride comfort and performance, especially when transitioning between different surfaces or carrying varying loads.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an annular base valve flow system with a control solenoid and O-ring seals within a damper housing, allowing for adjustable fluid flow and improved sealing to enhance shock absorption and reduce assembly errors, while also providing a flexible orientation for the control solenoid and reducing manufacturing and assembly complexities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional shock absorber design is used, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the shock absorption cannot be dynamically adjusted based on terrain and vehicle conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustability by incorporating a control solenoid that can actively modulate the base valve flow area in real-time based on terrain and vehicle conditions. The solenoid varies the flow area between a first area and a second area, enabling the shock absorber to adapt its damping characteristics dynamically rather than being fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular base valve assembly serves multiple functions: it provides the primary flow restriction for shock absorption, incorporates sealing surfaces for fluid containment, and integrates with the control solenoid for active control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components while achieving dynamic adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a control solenoid is added to enable dynamic adjustment, then shock absorption adaptability improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric sealing features including a stepped sealing surface and an angled sealing surface on the base valve assembly. These asymmetric geometries provide self-aligning characteristics that ensure proper seating and sealing without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances, thereby reducing the impact of manufacturing variations on performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements localized sealing zones with specific geometries (stepped sealing surface, angled sealing surface) at critical interfaces. By concentrating precision requirements at specific local areas rather than throughout the entire assembly, the design achieves reliable sealing and flow control while maintaining reasonable overall manufacturing tolerances.
3Reliability
If an annular base valve assembly with multiple sealing surfaces is used, then fluid sealing improves, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sealing functions into a single integrated annular base valve assembly. The assembly incorporates a first sealing surface, a second sealing surface, and a third sealing surface all within one component that also provides the flow restriction function. This merging of sealing and flow control functions into a single component reduces the number of separate parts and assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular base valve assembly is inserted into and nested within the shock absorber body, with the control solenoid positioned around the assembly. This nested configuration allows multiple sealing surfaces and control elements to be compactly arranged within the shock absorber housing without requiring a dispersed layout of separate components.
4Ease of operation
If the base valve assembly is made axially symmetric, then assembly orientation flexibility improves, but flow control precision may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
While the overall base valve assembly is axially symmetric to enable flexible orientation during assembly, the patent incorporates asymmetric features such as the stepped sealing surface and angled sealing surface at specific locations. These asymmetric elements provide self-alignment and ensure consistent flow characteristics regardless of the assembly's rotational orientation, thereby maintaining flow control precision while achieving orientation flexibility.
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 dynamic adjustment of shock absorption to suit different terrains and loads, improving ride comfort and performance by minimizing fluid bypass and assembly errors, and reducing manufacturing and assembly time and costs.
Implementation Method 1
The control solenoid may be fluidly coupled with the intake pathway of the annular base valve assembly. The control solenoid may be configured to control a flow of a working fluid through the intake pathway.
Implementation Method 2
The upper O-ring may form a seal between the annular base valve assembly and the housing to prevent a working fluid from bypassing a valving of the annular base valve assembly. The middle O-ring may form a seal between the annular base valve assembly and the housing to prevent a working fluid from moving between the intake pathway and the exhaust pathway.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A shock (35, 38) with an annular base valve flow system comprising: a housing (120), said housing having an inner diameter (ID) and an outer diameter (OD); and an annular base valve assembly (300; 400), said annular base valve assembly having an OD smaller than said ID of said housing, such that said annular base valve assembly is insertable into said housing (120), said annular base valve assembly (300; 400) comprising: an intake pathway (305; 405) axially about a portion of said OD of said base valve assembly; and an exhaust pathway (215; 415) axially about another portion of said OD of said base valve assembly.