Bicycle Suspension Damper Blocker for Consistent Damping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shock absorbers with damper valves face challenges in maintaining consistent force profiles for fluid flow, leading to variable damping and increased turbulence and viscous drag, especially when adjusting the valve's rotational position affects the axial position and magnetic closing force.
Innovation Solution
A damped suspension system with a valve body, blocker, bias, and adjuster, where the blocker's rotational and axial movements are independent, allowing for variable occlusion of apertures, ensuring consistent fluid flow and reduced turbulence by maintaining a constant force profile and minimizing axial displacement-related issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the blocker is rotated to adjust rotational position, then variable damping is achieved, but the axial position changes and magnetic closing force varies
Solution Approach 1:
The blocker is divided into two independent movement degrees: rotational movement for adjusting damping variable and axial movement for maintaining force profile stability. This segmentation allows the rotational adjustment function to be separated from the axial positioning function, resolving the contradiction between variable damping and consistent force profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an additional axial dimension of movement independent from the rotational dimension. By adding this degree of freedom, the system can rotate the blocker for damping adjustment while simultaneously controlling axial position to maintain consistent magnetic closing force, effectively resolving the force profile inconsistency issue.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the blocker is rotated to adjust valve opening, then variable damping is achieved, but turbulence and viscous drag increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the aperture and blocker opening to optimize fluid flow characteristics. By carefully designing the aperture shape, size, and the blocker opening geometry, the system achieves variable damping through rotation while minimizing turbulence and viscous drag in the fluid flow path.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the blocker is rotated to change aperture exposure, then variable damping is achieved, but the force required to open the valve varies
Solution Approach 1:
The blocker's rotational adjustment function is segmented from its axial positioning function. The rotational movement controls aperture exposure for damping adjustment, while the independent axial movement maintains consistent magnetic closing force, ensuring uniform force profile throughout the adjustment range.
Solution Approach 2:
By introducing independent axial movement as an additional dimension, the system can rotate the blocker for valve opening adjustment while simultaneously controlling axial position to maintain consistent magnetic closing force, resolving the force variation issue during rotation.
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 solution provides adjustable damping with consistent force profiles, reducing turbulence and viscous drag, allowing for improved fluid flow control and enhanced suspension performance by decoupling rotational and axial movements of the blocker.
Implementation Method 1
a magnet 310. Teeth 314 project from a bottom end 316 of the blocker 302. When the blocker 302 is rotated by an external adjuster (not shown), each tooth 314 rides along a sloped guide 318 in the ramped portion 312.
Implementation Method 2
The blocker may be biased towards a ramped portion 312 using a spring 308 and a magnet 310.
Implementation Method 3
A damped bicycle suspension containing a substantially incompressible fluid includes a valve body, a blocker, a bias, and an adjuster. The valve body may define at least one aperture. The aperture may have a size and shape and may allow passage of the substantially incompressible fluid between a first chamber and a second chamber.
Data Source
AI summary
A shock absorber has a valve controlling the flow rate of fluid between a first chamber and a second chamber. The shock absorber may include a blocker that has a variable profile. The blocker may be rotatable using an external adjuster to position the blocker to variably occlude an aperture and vary the damping of the suspension. A bias may also be positioned adjacent the blocker to allow force from the fluid to move the blocker and expose the aperture, thereby allowing fluid to flow through the entirety of the aperture.