Vehicle Damper Extension for Ride Height and Damping Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle dampers lack the ability to efficiently adjust ride height and damping levels in response to varying road conditions and vehicle dynamics, limiting their effectiveness in enhancing vehicle comfort and stability.
Innovation Solution
A damper assembly with a movable plunger and piston rod system, combined with a coil spring and sealed chambers, allows for continuous adjustment of ride height and damping levels through fluid flow control, using electronic and mechanical valves, and a pressurized canister to extend or retract the damper assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional damper structure is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the ride height cannot be adjusted dynamically
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is divided into two separate cylinders: a first cylinder containing the piston and damping fluid, and a second cylinder containing the plunger and spring. This segmentation allows independent control of damping functions and ride height adjustment, enabling dynamic adaptability while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston rod serves multiple functions: it connects the piston to the plunger, transmits damping forces, and acts as a sealing element against the second cylinder. The plunger both supports the spring and adjusts ride height by varying damper length. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, achieving adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If the plunger is sealed to the second cylinder, then packaging and assembly are improved, but the sealing interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger is sealed directly to the second cylinder, merging the plunger assembly with the cylinder structure. This integration simplifies packaging by reducing the number of separate sealed components and improves assembly by eliminating additional sealing interfaces between separate parts, thereby enhancing ease of manufacture without significantly increasing overall complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the coil spring surrounds both cylinders, then packaging is improved, but the spring installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coil spring is positioned to surround both the first and second cylinders, nesting the spring within the overall damper assembly structure. This nested configuration improves packaging by utilizing the existing cylindrical space efficiently and reduces the need for additional mounting structures, thereby simplifying overall packaging despite the spring spanning multiple components.
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 damper assembly provides improved vehicle ride height adjustment and damping control, enhancing comfort and stability by adapting to road conditions and vehicle dynamics, while maintaining efficient packaging and assembly characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
The damper assembly may include a coil spring surrounding the first cylinder and the second cylinder
Implementation Method 2
As the damper is compressed or extended, fluid flows between rebound and compression working chambers within the damper to counteract vibrations
Data Source
AI summary
A damper assembly includes a first cylinder defining a first chamber and a second cylinder defining a second chamber. The damper assembly includes a piston rod extending from within the first chamber along an axis to the second cylinder. The damper assembly includes a piston fixed to the piston rod and movable within the first chamber along the axis. The damper assembly includes a plunger movable within the second chamber along the axis from a compact position to an extended position. The damper assembly includes a coil spring surrounding the first cylinder and the second cylinder.