Conical Control Spring Shock Absorber Cylinder Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shock absorbers for vehicles fail to maintain optimal damping force characteristics across varying loads, leading to inconsistent ride comfort due to interference between control springs and the cylinder's inner surface, which can damage the sliding surface and disrupt targeted damping forces.
Innovation Solution
A shock absorber design featuring a conical coil control spring with a guide ring to prevent interference, ensuring the control spring does not damage the cylinder's inner surface, and a shutter mechanism that adjusts damping force based on load, maintaining optimal damping characteristics by opening or closing the bypass path accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a tubular coiled control spring is used to sense movable load, then the damping force characteristics can be automatically adjusted according to load, but the control spring may interfere with and damage the inner surface of the cylinder
Solution Approach 1:
A guide ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the control spring and the cylinder. The guide ring is in sliding contact with the inner periphery of the cylinder, while the control spring is in sliding contact with the guide ring. This intermediary structure allows the control spring to sense the movable load and adjust damping force characteristics without directly contacting the cylinder inner surface, thus preventing damage while maintaining automatic adaptability.
2Force
If the damping force characteristics are set to be optimal for heavy movable load, then the damping force is sufficient for heavy loads, but the damping force becomes excessive for light loads, resulting in bad ride comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorber employs a dynamic damping force adjustment mechanism where the control spring continuously adapts the damping force characteristics based on the actual movable load. When the movable load is light, the control spring allows the bypass paths to remain open, providing low damping force and good ride comfort. When the movable load becomes heavy, the control spring pushes the shutter to obstruct the bypass paths, increasing the damping force to an appropriate level. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the need to compromise between heavy and light load conditions.
3Ease of operation
If the damping force characteristics are set to be optimal for light movable load, then the ride comfort is good for light loads, but the damping force becomes insufficient for heavy loads, resulting in bad ride comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic adjustment mechanism enabled by the control spring and shutter system allows the shock absorber to automatically increase damping force when needed. Starting from an optimal configuration for light loads with open bypass paths, the system dynamically responds to increased movable load by having the control spring push the shutter to close the bypass paths, thereby providing sufficient damping force for heavy loads while maintaining good ride comfort across the full range of load conditions.
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 ensures stable and targeted damping force delivery across varying loads, enhancing ride comfort by preventing surface damage and maintaining optimal damping characteristics, even under heavy or light loads, thereby improving vehicle ride quality.
Implementation Method 1
the control spring are used. However, the control springs are tubular coiled springs
Implementation Method 2
a guide ring, which is slidably in contact with an inner periphery of the cylinder, is mounted to the small-diameter side end of the control spring
Implementation Method 3
the bypass paths open from the side portions of the piston nuts to communicate between the expansion-side chamber and the compression-side chamber via the piston rods
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A shock absorber includes a cylinder, a piston, a piston rod, a damping passage, a bypass path, a shutter, a biasing member, and a control spring secured to the cylinder by one end. Another end of the control spring is opposed to the shutter. When the piston exceeds a predetermined position with respect to the cylinder by displacing on the compression-side chamber side, the shutter is pushed by the control spring and closes the bypass path. The control spring is a conical coil spring. The other end side of the control spring has a small diameter. A guide ring, which is slidably in contact with an inner periphery of the cylinder, is mounted to the small-diameter side end of the control spring.