Damping Valve Fail Passage for Uncontrollable Damping Force

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing damping valve systems face uncontrollability of damping force when transitioning to a fail state during normal operation, leading to ineffective pressure control and inability to adjust damping force until recovery to the normal state.

Innovation Solution

A damping valve configuration that includes a main passage, a main valve, a pilot passage with a throttle, an electromagnetic valve with a pressure control valve and a switching valve controlled by a single solenoid, and a fail passage with a fail valve, where the switching valve is positioned upstream of the pressure control valve and the fail passage is branched from the upstream of the switching valve, ensuring continuous pressure control and damping force generation even in fail states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the pilot valve is disposed on the downstream of the back pressure chamber to control the secondary pressure, then the valve opening pressure of the main valve element can be adjusted, but when the solenoid cannot be energized, the pilot valve retreats maximally to shut off the pilot passage, causing uncontrollability of damping force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve opening pressure adjustmentVSAvoiddamping force control in fail state

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A fail passage is introduced as an intermediary pathway that bypasses the pilot valve. This fail passage includes a fail valve that can control the secondary pressure independently when the pilot valve shuts off, ensuring continuous damping force control capability even in fail states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The fail passage and fail valve are designed as a backup system that activates when the primary pilot valve fails. This prior cushioning ensures that the system maintains control capability by providing an alternative pressure control pathway before complete loss of function occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If the pilot passage is shut off by the pilot valve in fail state, then the fail passage can control pressure, but the pressure control valve function becomes ineffective and damping force adjustment is lost until recovery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure control in fail stateVSAvoiddamping force adjustment capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure control function is segmented into two independent pathways: the primary pilot passage with the pilot valve for normal operation, and the fail passage with the fail valve for fail state operation. This segmentation allows each pathway to function independently, maintaining adaptability even when one pathway is shut off.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If a single solenoid controls both pressure control valve and switching valve functions, then device complexity is reduced, but the switching valve may abut on the flange and shut off the pilot passage during normal operation, causing uncontrollability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolenoid quantityVSAvoidpilot passage shut off during normal operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fail passage is designed to be branched from the upstream of the switching valve, establishing a backup pressure control pathway before the switching valve can potentially shut off the pilot passage. This preliminary arrangement ensures that if the switching valve abuts on the flange, the fail passage remains available for pressure control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 prevents uncontrollability of the damping force during normal operation and allows for effective pressure control and damping force adjustment, even in fail states, by maintaining the functionality of the fail passage and pressure control valve, thereby stabilizing vehicle body posture and improving ride quality.

Implementation Method 1

The solenoid adjusts a valve opening pressure of the pilot valve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Implementation Method 2

a pressure to separate the main valve element from the annular valve seat acts from the upstream of the port

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentUS9759284B2Damping valve

Publication Date: 2017.09.12 KYB CORP

AI summary

A damping valve includes a main valve opening and closing a main passage, and a pilot passage reducing a pressure of the upstream of the main passage by a throttle to guide as a back-pressure biasing the main valve to the closing direction. A pressure control valve being disposed on the downstream of the throttle and including a seating portion controlling the back-pressure, and a switching valve including a circular depressed portion opening and closing the pilot passage are integrated and controlled by a single solenoid. The damping valve includes fail passages being branched from the downstream of the throttle to bypass the main valve, and a fail valve opening and closing the fail passage. The switching valve is arranged on the upstream of the pressure control valve in the pilot passage. The fail passages are branched from the upstream of the switching valve of the pilot passage.