Twin-Tube Damper Intake Valve Layout for Auxiliary Flow Tuning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing twin tube dampers face challenges in integrating and tuning auxiliary flow functionality between valve devices, requiring extensive disassembly and often resulting in undesired fluid displacement effects, which complicates achieving desired damping characteristics.

Innovation Solution

An intake valve arrangement is designed for a twin tube damper, featuring ports for connecting to compression and rebound valve devices, with flow channels and check valve functionality that allows for auxiliary flow regulation between the devices, reducing disassembly needs and fluid displacement effects by positioning the valves closer to the ports, enabling more accurate simulation and control of damping characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If valve devices are integrated into the piston arrangement, then damping characteristics can be controlled, but fluid displacement effects occur and disassembly is required for tuning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping characteristics controlVSAvoidtuning accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the auxiliary flow regulation functionality from the piston arrangement and places it in a separate intake valve arrangement in the outer chamber. This allows the auxiliary flow channels to be tuned independently without disassembling the piston, resolving the contradiction by making tuning accessible while maintaining damping control capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The intake valve arrangement acts as an intermediary component between the outer chamber ports and the piston valve arrangement. It provides auxiliary flow channels that can be tuned independently, mediating the fluid flow between compression and rebound sides without requiring piston disassembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If valve devices are integrated into the piston arrangement, then damping characteristics can be controlled, but extensive disassembly is required for tuning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping characteristics controlVSAvoidtuning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary flow regulation is extracted from the piston and placed in the intake valve arrangement, which is accessible from the outer chamber. This allows tuning to be performed quickly without the extensive disassembly previously required, directly reducing tuning time while maintaining damping control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If flow channels are redesigned to accommodate valve devices, then valve functionality is achieved, but fluid displacement effects occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve functionalityVSAvoidfluid displacement effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary flow channels are extracted from the piston interior and placed in the intake valve arrangement in the outer chamber. This separate location eliminates the fluid displacement effects that occur when channels are integrated into the piston, while still providing the desired valve functionality for damping control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 intake valve arrangement facilitates easier tuning and more precise control of auxiliary flow, reducing fluid displacement issues and enhancing the accuracy of damping simulations, thereby improving the overall damping performance by allowing each intake valve to function as either an auxiliary flow valve or check valve based on stroke direction.

Implementation Method 1

the compression side intake valve acts as a check valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCheck valve functionality: Valve

Data Source

PatentEP4484789A1Intake valve arrangement, damper comprising the same, and method for adjusting auxiliary flow
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 ADVANCED SUSPENSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
  • EP4484789A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4484789A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4484789A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an intake valve arrangement (1) for arrangement in a twin tube damper (100) which comprises respective ports (101, 102) for connecting to a compression valve device (301) and a rebound valve device (302), the intake valve arrangement (1) comprising: an intake valve body (2, 21, 22) adapted in size and shape to provide one or more flow channels (23, 231, 232); a compression side intake valve (31, 211); a rebound side intake valve (32, 212); the intake valve arrangement adapted so that in a compression stroke of the twin tube damper, the compression side intake valve (31, 211) enables an auxiliary flow into one or more of the one or more flow channels (23, 231, 232) and the rebound side intake valve (32, 212) acts as a check valve, and in a rebound stroke of the twin tube damper, the rebound side intake valve (32, 212) enables an auxiliary flow into one or more of the one or more flow channels (23, 231, 232) and the compression side intake valve (31, 211) acts as a check valve, wherein the intake valve arrangement (1) is adapted in size and shape for arrangement in an outer chamber (100A) of the twin tube damper (100) to be fluidly arranged in-between the respective ports (101, 102).