Suspension Damper Floating Piston Membrane for Friction Smoothing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Friction between the floating piston and the tube in vehicle suspension dampers reduces ride comfort by causing a step or digital characteristic in vehicle roll performance during initial compression.
Innovation Solution
A flexible membrane separates the working and gas chambers, allowing pressure differences to flex the membrane without moving the floating piston for small suspension impulses, thereby reducing friction and smoothing the pressure transfer for larger impulses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a floating piston is used to separate working fluid from gas chamber, then the suspension damper can effectively dampen suspension impulses, but friction between the floating piston and tube causes a step characteristic in vehicle roll performance
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible membrane is introduced as an intermediary element between the working fluid and gas chamber. The membrane transmits pressure changes from the working fluid to the gas chamber without requiring direct mechanical contact between the floating piston and tube walls, thereby eliminating friction while maintaining pressure transfer functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical floating piston system with a membrane-based pressure transmission system. Instead of relying on mechanical movement of a solid piston, the system uses the elastic deformation and pressure transmission properties of a flexible membrane to achieve the same separation and pressure transfer function without friction.
2Stress or pressure
If the floating piston moves relative to the tube during compression, then pressure is applied to the working fluid, but friction initially resists movement causing digital characteristic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane instead of a rigid floating piston. The membrane's flexibility allows it to deform and transmit pressure changes smoothly without the frictional resistance that occurs when a rigid piston moves against the tube walls, thereby eliminating the digital characteristic in vehicle roll performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic pressure transmission through the flexible membrane to apply pressure to the working fluid. This approach leverages fluid pressure rather than direct mechanical contact, allowing smooth pressure application without friction-induced movement resistance.
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
This solution effectively dampens suspension impulses without the friction peak, enhancing ride comfort by eliminating the digital characteristic in vehicle roll performance and improving the smoothness of suspension movement.
Implementation Method 1
A flexible membrane separates the working and gas chambers, allowing pressure differences to flex the membrane without moving the floating piston
Implementation Method 2
the pressurized gas chamber moves the floating piston back toward the piston in rebound
Data Source
AI summary
A shock for a vehicle includes a tube elongated along an axis. A piston is disposed in the tube and is moveable relative to the tube along the axis. A rod is connected to the piston. A floating piston is spaced from the piston along the axis and is moveable relative to the tube along the axis. The tube defines a working chamber between the piston and the floating piston. The tube defines a gas chamber. The floating piston separates the gas chamber from the working chamber. The floating piston has a housing slideably engaged with the tube and a membrane fluidly separating the working chamber from the gas chamber. The membrane is flexible relative to the housing.