Base Valve Assembly for Independent Damper Rebound Tuning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle dampers lack independent tuning capabilities for rebound damping characteristics, as they are often dependent on the compression damping and rod to bore ratio, limiting the independent adjustment of rebound damping relative to compression damping.
Innovation Solution
The damper incorporates a base valve assembly with a valve body, compression disc assembly, and a rebound disc assembly, including a rebound bending disc that bends in response to pressure to control fluid flow through dedicated compression and rebound passages, allowing independent tuning of rebound damping characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If rebound damping depends on rod to bore ratio of the piston assembly and pressure tube, then the damper structure is simplified, but the rebound damping is limited to be constant for a given size of the piston assembly and pressure tube
Solution Approach 1:
The rebound disc assembly incorporates rebound springs that can be adjusted to change the rebound damping characteristics dynamically. The rebound discs are designed to flex and open/close passages based on the rebound spring force, allowing the rebound damping to be adjusted independently of the fixed rod to bore ratio geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The rebound damping parameter can be changed by adjusting the rebound spring preload or replacing springs with different spring rates. This allows the rebound damping characteristic to be varied independently from the physical dimensions of the piston assembly and pressure tube, overcoming the limitation of constant rebound damping for a given size.
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 enables independent adjustment of rebound damping characteristics, allowing for customized damping settings that are not dependent on the rod to bore ratio, enhancing comfort and performance by providing separate tuning for compression and rebound strokes.
Implementation Method 1
The rebound bending disc bends in response to pressure within the at least one rebound passage to permit flow through the at least one rebound passage
Data Source
AI summary
A damper includes a pressure tube, a piston assembly, a piston rod, a reserve tube, and a reserve chamber. The damper also includes a base valve assembly having a valve body and a compression disc assembly. The compression disc assembly engages a first end face of the valve body to restrict flow through at least one compression passage. The base valve assembly also includes a rebound disc assembly. The rebound disc assembly engages a second end face of the valve body to restrict flow through at least one rebound passage. The rebound disc assembly includes at least one rebound bending disc that directly engages the second end face to close the at least one rebound passage. The rebound bending disc bends in response to pressure within the at least one rebound passage to permit flow through the at least one rebound passage.