Motorcycle Height Control via Single Damper Hydraulic Pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle height control devices for motorcycles, which include hydraulic jacks, pumps, and selector valves in dampers, require significant configuration changes and are heavy, costly, and fail to rapidly lower vehicle height when decelerating, especially when only one damper is equipped with the vehicle height control unit.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle height control device for motorcycles with a damper configuration that includes a wheel-side outer tube, a vehicle body-side inner tube, a hollow pipe with a partition wall, a piston, an oil chamber, an oil reservoir chamber forming an air chamber, a hydraulic jack, a suspension spring, and a selector valve, where the vehicle height control unit is provided in only one damper, allowing for efficient hydraulic oil management and rapid height adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a vehicle height control unit including hydraulic jack, pump, and selector valve is provided in each of the left and right dampers, then vehicle height control function is achieved, but the occupied space, weight, and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the vehicle height control units into a single damper instead of providing separate units in both left and right dampers. The hydraulic jack, pump, and selector valve are integrated into one damper assembly, reducing the total weight and occupied space while maintaining the vehicle height control function through coordinated operation of both dampers
Solution Approach 2:
The damper equipped with the vehicle height control unit performs multiple functions: it provides both the vehicle height control function and the damping function. The hydraulic jack, pump, and selector valve are integrated into the damper structure, allowing this single component to serve dual purposes and eliminate the need for separate height control units in both dampers
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional vehicle height control device is used with rapid deceleration, then vehicle height control is attempted, but the vehicle height cannot be sufficiently reduced within short time
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit predicts the stoppage time based on current vehicle speed and deceleration rate. When the predicted stoppage time is within a predetermined threshold, the system proactively activates the height reduction mode before the vehicle actually stops, ensuring that the vehicle height is sufficiently reduced within the remaining time. This preliminary action allows the system to respond effectively to rapid deceleration scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the vehicle height control strategy based on real-time vehicle conditions. The control unit continuously monitors vehicle speed and deceleration rate, and switches between different control modes (height reduction mode and normal mode) based on the predicted stoppage time. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to achieve sufficient height reduction even during rapid deceleration
3Weight of stationary object
If vehicle height control unit is provided in only one damper, then weight and cost are reduced, but the configuration becomes asymmetric and control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately adopts an asymmetric configuration where the vehicle height control unit (hydraulic jack, pump, and selector valve) is provided in only one damper instead of both. This asymmetric design reduces weight and cost while the control unit coordinates the operation of both dampers to achieve symmetric vehicle height control. The single control unit manages oil flow to both dampers to maintain balance
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 enables a compact, lightweight, and cost-effective vehicle height control system that rapidly lowers the motorcycle's height when stopping, ensuring the rider's feet can touch the ground, reducing occupied space and weight while maintaining damping capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic pump including a pump housing and a pump pipe, the pump housing being provided at the plunger of the hydraulic jack and forming a pump chamber of the hydraulic pump such that the pump pipe installed upright at the upper end of the hollow pipe and communicating with the oil reservoir chamber on the inner periphery of the hollow pipe is slidably inserted into the pump chamber in the pump housing
Implementation Method 2
a suspension spring provided between an upper end of the hollow pipe and the plunger of the hydraulic jack
Implementation Method 3
an oil chamber provided on an outer periphery of the hollow pipe in such a manner that the piston advances into and retracts from the oil chamber, the oil chamber being partitioned by the piston into an upper oil chamber above the piston and a lower oil chamber below the piston
Implementation Method 4
a selector valve controlling a vehicle height by adjusting an amount of hydraulic oil fed to the jack chamber in the hydraulic jack by the hydraulic pump
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle height control device comprises a vehicle height control unit including a jack housing of a hydraulic jack provided at an upper end portion of an inner tube, a suspension spring provided between an upper end of a hollow pipe and a plunger of the hydraulic jack, a pump housing provided at the plunger of the hydraulic jack and forming a pump chamber of a hydraulic pump, and a pump pipe communicating with an oil reservoir chamber on an inner periphery of the hollow pipe and slidably inserted into the pump chamber in the pump housing, and a selector valve controlling the vehicle height by adjusting the amount of hydraulic oil fed to a jack chamber in the hydraulic jack by the hydraulic pump that performs the pumping operation in conjunction with extending and contracting motion of the hollow pipe with respect to the inner tube.