Vibration Damper Valve Disc Structure for Smooth Rebound Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve arrangements in vibration dampers experience tilting and abrupt opening issues, leading to discomfort during vehicle movement due to uneven damping fluid flow, especially during the transition from spring deflection to rebound movement.
Innovation Solution
A valve arrangement with a flexible circular valve disc and a support disc that allows partial peripheral regions to deform, creating gaps for damping fluid flow before complete opening, preventing tilting and abrupt movements by distributing pressure evenly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a disc-shaped valve body is used that rests against control edges, then the valve can prevent abrupt opening during spring deflection, but the valve body tilts and assumes an undefined position during rebound movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid disc-shaped valve body with a flexible membrane that can deform elastically under pressure. This membrane is secured at its outer peripheral region to a support structure, allowing it to flex and create controlled openings during rebound movement without tilting or assuming undefined positions, thus maintaining stability while enabling reliable valve control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a support structure as an intermediary element that secures the membrane at its outer peripheral region. This support structure provides a stable reference point and prevents the membrane from tilting or rotating during pressure changes, ensuring the valve body maintains a defined position while still allowing controlled opening through membrane deformation
2Device complexity
If the valve body is externally guided in the housing, then the structure is simple, but the valve body cannot maintain proper alignment under pressurization
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane replaces the rigid externally guided valve body, eliminating the need for complex external guidance mechanisms. The membrane's flexibility allows it to deform under pressure while its secured outer peripheral region maintains proper alignment, achieving both structural simplicity and alignment precision
Solution Approach 2:
The valve structure is segmented into a flexible membrane portion and a rigid support structure. The membrane handles the pressure response and opening control, while the support structure provides guidance and alignment, dividing the functions to achieve both simplicity and precision
3Productivity
If damping fluid flows through the valve arrangement during rebound, then damping work is performed, but the valve opens abruptly causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane deforms gradually under increasing pressure during rebound movement, creating a progressive opening effect. This allows damping fluid to flow through the valve arrangement smoothly as the membrane flexes, maintaining damping work performance while eliminating abrupt opening and associated discomfort
Solution Approach 2:
The valve opening is made dynamic through the flexible membrane's pressure-dependent deformation. Instead of a fixed or abrupt opening, the membrane progressively increases its opening size in response to changing pressure conditions, enabling smooth fluid flow and comfortable operation while maintaining effective damping
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 configuration ensures smooth and even opening of the main valve during both spring deflection and rebound movements, reducing discomfort and oscillating vibrations, thereby enhancing the damping performance and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible circular valve disc... allows partial peripheral regions to deform
Implementation Method 2
support disc that allows partial peripheral regions to deform, creating gaps for damping fluid flow before complete opening, preventing tilting and abrupt movements by distributing pressure evenly
Data Source
AI summary
A valve arrangement for a vibration damper, as may be used on a vehicle. The vibration damper can be a telescopic suspension fork leg of a motorbike, or a shock absorber for a vehicle with more than one track, for example an automobile. The valve arrangement is for a vibration damper that has a valve housing with an annular valve seat, and is configured to receive damping fluid, and further having a valve piston arranged in an axially displaceable manner relative to the valve seat in an inner space of the valve housing. The valve piston has a main valve which has a flexible circular valve disc which can be removed from contact with a contact surface side on the valve seat. The valve disc is arranged on the valve piston by a guide pin, such that it can be moved axially relative to the latter and is guided radially.