Internal Damper Height Sensing Through Damping Fluid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suspension systems for vehicles, particularly those with non-gas spring devices, lack effective internal height sensors that can operate within the damping fluid chamber, making them vulnerable to external impacts and environmental conditions, while internal sensors in gas spring assemblies are not applicable due to the absence of a protected area within non-gaseous springs.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system utilizing a photon source and receptor within a damper assembly's damping fluid chamber, where the photon source directs a photon through the non-gaseous damping fluid to a target surface and the receptor generates a signal based on the time-of-flight measurement, allowing for accurate determination of relative distances or positions without the need for a protected area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external height sensors are used in non-gas spring suspension systems, then the sensors are exposed to road debris and environmental conditions causing reliability issues, but moving the sensors internally is not feasible due to lack of protected area
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is nested within the damper assembly housing, specifically positioned within the damping fluid chamber. The sensor housing is contained within the damper housing, creating a nested structure where the sensor benefits from the protective enclosure of the damper assembly while maintaining its measurement function through the damping fluid.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping fluid acts as an intermediary medium that allows the sensor to function internally while protected. The sensor measures height through the damping fluid without direct exposure to external conditions, and the fluid transmits the measurement signal while providing a barrier between the sensor and harmful external factors.
2Reliability
If internal sensors are used in gas spring assemblies, then the sensors are protected from external conditions, but this solution is not applicable to non-gaseous spring devices
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor design is made universal by adapting it to work within the damping fluid chamber of non-gas spring damper assemblies. The sensor can be positioned to measure height relative to either the damper housing or damper rod, making it applicable to various suspension configurations without requiring gas springs, thus extending the protected internal sensor concept to non-gaseous spring systems.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional external sensing devices are used, then installation is straightforward, but the sensors remain vulnerable to impacts and environmental exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is merged with the damper assembly as an integrated unit. The sensor housing is positioned within the damper housing and secured to internal components such as the damper rod or housing wall. This merging eliminates the need for separate external sensor mounting while providing inherent protection through the damper assembly 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
This solution provides a robust and accurate method for determining vehicle suspension heights and positions within the damping fluid chamber, shielding the sensor from external impacts and environmental conditions, while being applicable to both gas and non-gas spring systems, enhancing reliability and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the photon source directs a photon through the non-gaseous damping fluid to an associated target surface and the receptor generates a signal upon receiving the photon from the photon source once reflected off the associated target surface
Data Source
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AI summary
A damper assembly (106; 200) has a longitudinal axis (AX) and includes a damper housing (202) with a side wall portion (210) and an end wall portion (214; 216) defining a damping chamber (212) containing a quantity of damping fluid (226; FLD). A photon source (240; 306) and a photon receptor (242; 310) are operatively disposed in optical communication with the non-gaseous damping fluid (226; FLD) in the damping chamber (212). The photon source (240; 306) is operable to direct a photon through the non-gaseous damping fluid (226; FLD) toward an associated target surface (250; 250A; 304). The photon receptor (242; 310) is operable to receive the photon reflected off the associated target surface (250; 250A; 304) through the non-gaseous damping fluid (226; FLD). A sensor (130; 232; 232'; 232"; 300) suitable for such use as well as spring and damper assemblies (SDA) and suspension systems (100) are also included.