Hydraulic Damper Compression Valve Module for Fast Stroke Energy Dissipation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suspension dampers face a trade-off between improving car handling and reducing vibrations, with low compression forces leading to safety, comfort, and noise issues during severe road conditions, and existing solutions require precise manufacturing and complex designs to function effectively.
Innovation Solution
A compression valve module with a substantially rigid disc, an outer tubular member, an inner cylindrical member, radially extending bridge members, and a spring, which forms a normally open, quick-closing valve that operates independently of piston position and dependent on velocity, allowing for easy tuning and installation as an add-on device without modifying existing components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If low compression forces with degressive characteristics are used to improve passenger comfort, then passenger comfort is improved, but wheel-knuckle displacements increase leading to suspension closure or jounce bumper engagement affecting safety and durability
Solution Approach 1:
The compression valve module dynamically adjusts compression force based on piston velocity. At low velocities, the valve remains open allowing free fluid flow and low compression force for comfort. At high velocities exceeding threshold velocity, the valve closes to increase compression force and prevent suspension closure, thus resolving the contradiction between comfort and safety/durability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the compression force parameter from low (degressive) to high (progressive) based on operating conditions. The compression valve module transitions the damper characteristics from degressive to progressive when piston velocity exceeds the threshold, allowing the same damper to provide both comfort at normal speeds and safety at severe conditions
2Force
If existing compression valve designs are used to increase compression force at high velocity, then compression force increases, but manufacturing precision requirements increase and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression valve module uses simple, robust components including a disc, spring, and housing that can be manufactured with standard tolerances. The design avoids complex precision mechanisms while achieving reliable high-velocity compression force increase, reducing manufacturing precision requirements compared to prior art
Solution Approach 2:
The compression valve module is designed as a separate, modular add-on device that can be installed independently of the base valve assembly. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and tested separately with appropriate tolerances, reducing overall manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining effective operation
3Reliability
If complex valve assemblies are used to control fluid flow, then damping performance improves, but device complexity increases and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential function needed for high-velocity compression control from complex existing valve designs. The compression valve module uses a simple disc-spring mechanism rather than multiple valve members, compression springs, and axial projections, reducing device complexity while maintaining damping performance
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a normally closed valve that opens under pressure like traditional designs, the compression valve module uses a normally open valve that closes under high velocity pressure. This inverted approach simplifies the mechanism by eliminating the need for complex opening mechanisms while achieving the desired damping performance
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 compression valve module increases energy dissipation during fast compression strokes, reduces production costs due to tolerant dimensional variations, and enhances valve dynamics with low mass and low impact forces, maintaining laminar fluid flow and minimizing wear.
Implementation Method 1
a spring acting on the disc to bias the disc to its open position
Implementation Method 2
a compression valve module which increases an amount of dissipated energy during extremely fast compression strokes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a hydraulic damper (1), in particular for the suspension system of a motor vehicle, comprising a tube (2) filled with working fluid; a piston assembly (3) slidably positioned inside the tube; a fluid compensation chamber located outside of the tube and a base valve assembly (6) at the end of the tube for controlling the flow of working fluid between the tube and the compensation chamber. In order to increase an amount of dissipated energy during extremely fast compression strokes without modification of the other damper components, affecting neither tuning options nor performance in normal operating range of the piston velocities, the damper (1) comprises a compression valve module (13) which is attached to the base valve assembly (6) inside the tube and comprises a substantially rigid disc (17) having an outside diameter less than the inner diameter of the tube (2), an outer tubular member (14) secured to the tube (2), an inner cylindrical member (15) substantially coaxial with the outer tubular member (14), at least one radially extending bridge member (16) securing the inner cylindrical member (15) to the outer tubular member (14), an abutment surface (22) for the disc (17) defined by the inner cylindrical member (15) and/or the outer tubular member (14), retaining means (19) secured to the inner cylindrical member (15) and/or the outer tubular member (14) and defining the disc (17) open position (23) spaced from the abutment surface (22) in an axial direction (L) and a spring (18) acting on the disc to bias the disc (17) to its open position (23). The disc (17) is movable between the open position (23) to allow free fluid flow through the compression valve module (13) and the abutment surface (22) to substantially prevent or restrict fluid flow through at least one flow passage (24).