Damping Valve Parallel Channels Meandering Seat

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional damping valves with angled throttle channels are technically complex to produce and result in noise issues due to force jumps in damping force development, requiring thinner and less durable valve disks for comparable performance.

Innovation Solution

The damping valve design features parallel passage channels with a meandering valve seat surface, differing spacings to ensure targeted lifting, and funnel-shaped transitions for turbulence-free flow, allowing for even pressure distribution and reduced deformation of the valve disk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If throttle channels run obliquely to the longitudinal axis, then the valve disk can be lifted off the outlet opening, but the device becomes technically complex to produce and creates noise due to force jumps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve disk liftingVSAvoidthrottle channel geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve body is divided into multiple passage channels (first group and second group) with different designs. The first group has outlet openings at greater distance from the central axis, while the second group has outlet openings at smaller distance, allowing differentiated flow paths that eliminate the need for complex angled channels while achieving proper valve disk lifting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The passage channels are designed with asymmetric characteristics - the first group of passage channels has outlet openings positioned at greater distance from the central axis compared to the second group. This asymmetric arrangement creates the necessary force distribution to lift the valve disk without requiring complex angled geometry throughout the entire channel system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of operation

If the valve disk is made thinner for comparable opening behavior, then the opening behavior is improved, but the valve disk durability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening behaviorVSAvoidvalve disk durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the valve body have different channel configurations. The first group of passage channels with outlet openings at greater distance from the central axis creates a more favorable pressure distribution that allows the valve disk to maintain adequate thickness while achieving proper opening behavior, thereby improving durability without sacrificing performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Area of stationary object

If outlet openings are positioned at different distances from the central axis, then the area distribution of outlet and inlet openings is improved, but the valve seat surface design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutlet and inlet opening distributionVSAvoidvalve seat surface geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve seat surface is segmented into different regions corresponding to the first and second groups of passage channels. Each group serves a specific flow direction and has its outlet openings positioned at characteristic distances from the central axis, allowing complex area distribution to be achieved through systematic grouping rather than continuous complex geometry

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution moves from considering only radial distance to incorporating angular/azimuthal positioning by having two distinct groups of passage channels positioned at different angular locations. This dimensional approach allows optimization of outlet opening distribution in both radial and angular dimensions without excessive complexity in the valve seat surface design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design eliminates the complexity of angled channels and noise issues by ensuring a symmetrical and durable lifting movement of the valve disk, maintaining a consistent damping force without pronounced jumps, thus enhancing the noise reduction in vehicle compartments.

Implementation Method 1

When the damping medium flows into the throttle duct and the valve disk lifts off the outlet opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

A particularly favorable area distribution of the outlet and inlet openings is achieved in that the valve seat surface has a meandering design

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure distribution: Pascal's Law

Implementation Method 3

the outlet opening has a plurality of funnel-shaped transitions. The aim of this measure is a flow from the throughflow channel into the trench that is as turbulence-free as possible

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow transition: Laminar Flow

Data Source

PatentEP2614271B1Damping valve for a vibration damper
Publication Date: 2016.06.29 ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • EP2614271B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2614271B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2614271B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A damping valve (1) for a vibration damper, comprising a damping valve body (7) with separate passage channels (9, 11) for different flow directions, wherein outlet openings (17) of at least two passage channels (9a, 9b) are connected to each other via a trench (35) and at least one valve disc (21) which covers the trench and rests on a valve seat surface (37) first of all lifts off at a defined point and subsequently, starting from there, lifts off the rest of the circumference. The passage channels run parallel to a centre axis of the damping valve body, and a web (39) forming the valve seat surface separates the group of passage channels (9) for one flow direction from the group of passage channels (11) for the other flow direction, wherein the distances (A1, A2, A3) of the valve seat surface from the centre axis differ in design in the region of at least two outlet openings of at least one group of passage channels.