Hydraulic Damper Piston Rod Adjustment for Independent Rebound and Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic dampers have fixed bump and rebound damping characteristics, which impede performance if the damping characteristics cannot be adjusted, and attempts to adjust low-speed damping increase oil flow path, impairing responsiveness.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic damper with an adjustment mechanism within the fluid passageway that includes a float assembly and compression/rebound valves, allowing independent adjustment of damping characteristics by moving float assembly portions against barriers and interacting with valves to control fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If adjustment mechanisms are located around the cylinder in a twin tube setup or along with the remote reservoir to adjust low speed damping characteristics, then damping adjustability is improved, but the oil flow path is significantly increased, impeding the responsiveness of the damper
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is nested within the piston rod structure. The piston rod contains internal passages and housing the adjustment mechanism, allowing the mechanism to be embedded within existing components rather than adding external elements. This nesting approach provides damping adjustability while avoiding significant increases in oil flow path complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston rod serves multiple functions: it transmits mechanical force, contains the fluid passageway, and houses the adjustment mechanism. By making the piston rod multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate external adjustment mechanisms that would extend the oil flow path, thereby maintaining responsiveness while providing damping adjustability.
2Device complexity
If fixed bump and rebound damping characteristics are used in high speed damping, then the damper structure is simple, but the performance is impeded when damping characteristics cannot be adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces adjustable damping characteristics through a mechanism that can dynamically change the orifice configuration. The piston rod includes adjustment features that allow the operator to modify the size and shape of fluid passages, transforming the fixed damping system into a dynamic, adjustable one while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables changes in damping parameters by providing adjustment mechanisms within the piston rod that modify fluid flow restrictions. By changing the physical parameters of the fluid passages (such as orifice size or passage cross-section), the system can adjust damping characteristics for both bump and rebound without fundamentally altering the overall damper structure.
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
Enables independent adjustment of compression and rebound damping characteristics, improving responsiveness and performance by varying fluid flow restrictions without increasing oil flow path complexity.
Implementation Method 1
A hydraulic damper converts kinetic energy into heat energy using viscous friction of a non-compressible fluid (such as hydraulic oil)
Implementation Method 2
the float assembly is driven by the flow of fluid through the fluid passageway, such that when the piston moves in compression, at least a portion of the float assembly will be driven toward the second opening
Data Source
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AI summary
A hydraulic damper, comprising a damper cylinder containing a fluid, a piston slidably retained within the damper cylinder, the piston dividing the damper cylinder into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber, a piston rod for driving the piston within the damper cylinder, the piston rod comprising a fluid passageway having a first opening in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber, and a second opening in fluid communication with the second fluid chamber wherein the piston is slidably moveable along the direction of elongation of the damper cylinder in compression and rebound, where compression results in a flow of fluid through the fluid passageway from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber, and rebound results in a flow of fluid through the fluid passageway from the second fluid chamber to the first fluid chamber; and an adjustment mechanism located within the fluid passageway between the first opening and second opening and comprising a compression adjustment means for adjusting the restriction of fluid flow through the fluid passageway when the piston is in compression and a rebound adjustment means for adjusting the restriction of fluid flow through the fluid passageway when the piston is in rebound.