Damper Valve Assembly for Soft Bottoming Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dampers lack control over damping effects during the end stroke, leading to inadequate soft bottoming performance.
Innovation Solution
A damper design featuring a stem assembly resiliently connected to the piston assembly and piston rod via a biasing means, with an elongated cavity that guides the stem assembly to actuate a valve assembly, reducing damping medium flow as the piston nears the end member, thereby enhancing compression resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a valve with a movable element preloaded by a spring is provided to restrict flow when the piston nears the end stroke, then compression resistance is increased, but control over the damping effect is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly incorporates a movable element that dynamically adjusts the flow restriction based on piston position. The movable element transitions from a spring-preloaded static state to an actively controlled state where it can be positioned by the piston rod, enabling dynamic adjustment of damping characteristics during the compression stroke.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback mechanism where the piston rod's position directly influences the movable element's position, which in turn controls the flow restriction. This closed-loop control allows the damping effect to be automatically adjusted based on the real-time position of the piston, providing both compression resistance and controllable damping.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a supplementary spring is interposed between the piston and the movable element to actuate the valve, then the valve can be actuated during end stroke, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the actuation function into the existing piston rod structure. Rather than adding a separate supplementary spring mechanism, the piston rod itself is designed to directly actuate the movable element, combining the piston's motion with the valve actuation function and eliminating the need for additional springs or complex linkage mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston rod serves multiple functions: it transmits the compression force, positions the movable element, and controls the valve operation. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for dedicated actuation components, reducing structural complexity while maintaining full valve actuation capability during the end stroke.
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 solution provides improved soft bottoming performance by effectively controlling damping medium flow, increasing compression resistance during the end stroke and maintaining low manufacturing and assembly costs.
Implementation Method 1
a stem assembly resiliently connected to the piston assembly and/or the piston rod via a biasing means
Implementation Method 2
said valve assembly being configured to control a damping medium flow entering or exiting the first working chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A damper filled with a damping medium in use comprising an inner tube; a movable assembly comprising a piston assembly and a piston rod attached to said piston assembly, said movable assembly being slidably disposed within the inner tube, the movable assembly defining a first working chamber and a second working chamber within the inner tube, the piston rod being disposed in the second working chamber; an end member disposed at an end of the inner tube, the end member having an inner surface facing towards the first working chamber; an actuated valve assembly being provided in the end member, said valve assembly being configured to control a damping medium flow entering or exiting the first working chamber, wherein the movable assembly comprises a stem assembly, said stem assembly being slidably connected to and partially embedded in said movable assembly.