Annular Leaf Valve Shock Absorber for Low-Speed Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shock absorbers generate excessively small damping force at extremely low piston speeds, leading to inadequate vibration damping and passenger discomfort due to the damping force varying in proportion to the square of the piston speed.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring an annular disc with an opening window and passage, and an annular leaf valve that functions as an orifice, providing a support member to deflect and adjust the leaf valve's operation, ensuring sufficient damping force is generated even at low piston speeds by varying the resistance mechanism based on flow speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If an orifice is used for damping, then the damping force varies in proportion to the square of the piston speed, but when the piston speed is extremely low, the damping force becomes extremely small leading to inadequate vibration damping
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into multiple flow paths: an orifice for normal speed damping and a bypass passage with a leaf valve for low-speed damping. This segmentation allows different damping mechanisms to operate at different piston speeds, ensuring adequate damping force across the entire speed range including extremely low speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The leaf valve dynamically opens and closes based on piston speed. At extremely low speeds, the leaf valve opens to provide additional flow area and maintain sufficient damping force. At normal speeds, the orifice provides the primary damping. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining damping force at varying speeds.
2Force
If excessively large damping force is generated in response to vibration in frequency bands other than the resonance frequency band, then the vibration suppression effect of suspension spring and rubber cushion is impaired, but passenger comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The valve changes the flow resistance parameter dynamically based on piston speed. At low speeds (non-resonance vibrations), the leaf valve opens to reduce flow resistance and allow suspension elements to work effectively. At higher speeds (resonance vibrations), the orifice provides higher resistance for effective damping. This parameter change ensures passenger comfort by preventing excessive damping force in non-resonance frequency bands.
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 valve design ensures sufficient damping force is maintained at low piston speeds, effectively damping vehicle body vibrations and enhancing passenger comfort by adjusting the damping characteristic through the annular disc and leaf valve configuration.
Implementation Method 1
a passage that extends from an inner periphery or an outer periphery of the disc to the opening window, and an annular leaf valve that is laminated onto the disc in order to open and close the opening window. The passage is covered by the leaf valve so as to function as an orifice
Implementation Method 2
an annular leaf valve that is laminated onto the disc in order to open and close the opening window
Data Source
AI summary
A valve includes an annular disc having an opening window and a passage that extends from an inner periphery or an outer periphery of the disc to the opening window, and an annular leaf valve that is laminated onto the disc in order to open and close the opening window. The passage is covered by the leaf valve so as to function as an orifice.