Concentric Bypass Shock Absorber for Cavitation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shock absorbers experience cavitation during rapid movements, leading to a loss of damping function and an unsatisfactory ride quality.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a concentric cylinder bypass damper with a fluid metering valve and floating piston system that distributes damping fluid through bypass openings and a reservoir chamber, reducing pressure drops and minimizing cavitation by dispersing fluid effectively during compression and rebound strokes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional shock absorber uses a restrictive orifice to inhibit damping fluid flow, then damping force is provided during compression and rebound strokes, but cavitation occurs during rapid movements causing loss of damping function
Solution Approach 1:
The damping fluid flow path is segmented into multiple pathways: a primary restrictive orifice for normal damping operation, and secondary bypass passages that activate during rapid movements. This segmentation allows the system to provide controlled damping under normal conditions while preventing cavitation during extreme operations by redirecting fluid through alternative paths.
Solution Approach 2:
A bypass valve acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the restrictive orifice and the damping fluid chamber. During rapid compression or rebound strokes, the bypass valve opens to provide an alternative fluid pathway, preventing the pressure drop that would otherwise cause cavitation while maintaining damping function.
2Force
If damping fluid flow is restricted through a single orifice, then damping force is generated, but pressure drops increase leading to cavitation during full travel length movements
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid flow restriction is segmented into multiple pathways with different resistance characteristics. The primary orifice provides high resistance for normal damping force generation, while secondary bypass passages provide lower resistance paths that activate when pressure drops become excessive, preventing cavitation by distributing the pressure drop across multiple pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes flow parameters by switching between different fluid pathways. During normal operation, fluid flows through the restrictive orifice generating damping force. During rapid movements, the bypass valve opens to change the flow parameter (resistance), reducing pressure drop and preventing cavitation while maintaining adequate damping force.
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 significantly reduces the likelihood and magnitude of cavitation, providing a smoother ride and consistent damping characteristics across different stroke segments, enhancing vehicle suspension performance.
Implementation Method 1
During some instances of operation, conventional shock absorbers, and therefore the vehicle rider, experience cavitation, during which the shaft of the shock absorber moves into the damping fluid chamber at its full travel length without providing any damping function
Implementation Method 2
The implementation of a concentric cylinder bypass damper with a fluid metering valve and floating piston system that distributes damping fluid through bypass openings and a reservoir chamber, reducing pressure drops and minimizing cavitation by dispersing fluid effectively
Data Source
AI summary
A shock absorber including: a first cylinder having an interior, first and second ends and defining an axis, wherein the interior includes a damping fluid chamber and a damping piston movably mounted therein for movement between the first and second ends, wherein the damping piston is mounted on a first end of a shaft, wherein the first end of the shaft is movably retained within the interior of the first cylinder; first and second bypass openings configured for opening into the damping fluid chamber at first and second axially spaced-apart positions; a bypass channel fluidly coupling the first and second bypass openings; a fluid metering valve; and a floating piston dividing a portion of the shock absorber into a gas chamber and the reservoir chamber, wherein the fluid metering valve and the floating piston define the reservoir chamber there between.