Backpack Valve Oscillation Damper with Integrated Flow Guide

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vibration dampers require multiple connection bores and separate housings, leading to complex production, space constraints, and limited applicability, as well as inability to achieve continuous damping force adjustment in both rebound and compression stages.

Innovation Solution

The vibration damper integrates both damping valves into a single housing with a flow guide element, allowing fluid to flow centrally to each valve in both directions of piston rod movement, reducing the number of required bores and space, while enabling separate and continuous damping force adjustment in both stages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If two damping valves are arranged in separate housings on the outer circumference of the damper tube, then each valve can be independently controlled, but the vibration damper takes up a considerable amount of space and requires four connection bores in the damper tube

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent damping controlVSAvoidspace occupation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two separate damping valve housings into a single common housing that contains both damping valves. This housing is integrated into the damper tube, reducing the overall space occupation while maintaining independent control of both valves through separate connection bores that are now positioned more efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If two damping valves are arranged in separate housings on the outer circumference of the damper tube, then each valve can be independently controlled, but four connection bores have to be made in the damper tube which is complex in terms of production technology

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent damping controlVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the mounting of both damping valves into a single integrated housing structure that is attached to the damper tube. This merging reduces the number of separate mounting operations and connection points required, simplifying the production process while still allowing independent control of each valve through properly positioned connection bores.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If two damping valves are arranged in separate housings on the outer circumference of the damper tube, then each valve can be independently controlled, but the vibration damper takes up a considerable amount of space which is not available to the chassis designers in all vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent damping controlVSAvoidapplicability in different vehicles
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates both damping valves into a single housing unit that is mounted within the damper tube structure. This consolidation significantly reduces the external space requirements, making the vibration damper adaptable to various vehicle chassis configurations where space is limited, while maintaining the capability for independent damping control in both rebound and compression stages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Volume of moving object

If both damping valves are arranged in a common housing with flow guide element, then space requirements are minimized and production is simplified, but the flow distribution to each valve must be precisely controlled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace occupationVSAvoidflow distribution control
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a flow guide element as an intermediary component within the common housing. This flow guide element is positioned to receive damping fluid and distribute it to both damping valves in the correct flow directions. The flow guide element acts as a mediator that ensures proper flow distribution without requiring complex external control mechanisms, thus managing the flow distribution challenge while maintaining space efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 configuration minimizes space requirements, allows for independent damping adjustments in both stages, and simplifies production, making the vibration damper more versatile and applicable in vehicles with limited space.

Implementation Method 1

a flow guide element is provided, by which the two hydraulic chambers are separated from one another in such a way that the damping fluid flowing into the first hydraulic chamber during a retracting movement of the piston rod is fed to the first damping valve in the direction of flow through the valve, and the damping fluid flowing into the second hydraulic chamber during an extending movement of the piston rod is conveyed to the second damping valve in the direction of flow through the valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow direction control:

Implementation Method 2

The damping force can be changed continuously using the two electromagnetic control valves. In this way, with the known vibration damper, the damping forces in the rebound stage and in the compression stage of the vibration damper can be continuously changed independently of one another.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping force adjustment:

Data Source

PatentEP2255103B1Oscillation damper having backpack valve
Publication Date: 2018.10.31 THYSSENKRUPP BILSTEIN GMBH
  • EP2255103B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2255103B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2255103B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a hydraulic oscillation damper having a damper tube (1), which is at least partially filled with damping liquid, a piston rod (2), which can be extended and retracted oscillating in the damper tube (1), a work piston (3), which is fastened to the piston rod (2), and which divides the damper tube interior into a piston-rod-side work chamber (4) and a piston-rod-distal work chamber (5), and having a first and a second damping valve (6, 7), which are disposed hydraulically parallel to the work piston (3) and are fastened to the damper tube (1), having continuously variable damping force, wherein said first damping valve (6) is only permeated by said damping liquid during a retraction movement and said second damping valve (7) is only permeated by said damping liquid during an extension movement of said piston rod (2). In order to refine such an oscillation damper such that only two connection holes must be provided for the backpack valve in the damper tube and the damper only requires a small radial installation space, it is proposed that both damping valves (6, 7) are situated in a shared housing (8) having a first (9) and a second hydraulic chamber (10), the first hydraulic chamber (9) is connected via a first hole (11) to the piston-rod-distal work chamber (5) and the second hydraulic chamber (10) is connected via a second hole (12) to the piston-rod-side work chamber (4), and a flow guiding element (13) is provided, through which the two hydraulic chambers (9, 10) are separated from one another such that the damping liquid flowing into the first hydraulic chamber (9) during a retraction movement of the piston rod (2) is supplied to the first damping valve (6) in the valve permeation direction, and the damping liquid flowing into the second hydraulic chamber (10) during an extension movement of the piston rod (2) is supplied to the second damping valve (7) in the valve permeation direction.