Multi-Chamber Gas Spring for Linear Vehicle Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle suspension systems with single-chamber gas springs exhibit non-linear spring rate curves, becoming too soft initially and excessively stiff later, affecting ride quality and handling, and often require longer suspension lengths and more space than available in vehicle designs.
Innovation Solution
A shock absorber with multiple gas chambers that selectively communicate to maintain a substantially linear spring rate over a greater range of travel, using a travel adjustment assembly to manage gas pressure and volume between chambers, and an integrated viscous damper to enhance performance and space efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-chamber gas spring is used in vehicle suspension, then the suspension system is simpler and more compact, but the spring rate becomes non-linear (too soft initially and excessively stiff later), affecting ride quality and handling
Solution Approach 1:
The gas spring is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber and second chamber) with different volumes. The first chamber has a smaller volume and is used during initial compression to provide a softer spring rate, while the second chamber has a larger volume and engages during later compression to maintain linear spring rate characteristics. This segmentation allows the suspension to achieve both simplicity and reliable ride quality.
2Volume of moving object
If a single-chamber gas spring is used, then the suspension system requires less space, but the linear spring rate range is limited and the suspension becomes excessively stiff in the later portion of travel
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions between different gas chambers based on the compression stroke. A valve mechanism controls the communication between the first and second chambers, allowing the system to adapt its spring rate characteristics during operation. This dynamic switching enables the suspension to maintain linear spring rate over a greater range of travel while occupying minimal space.
3Force
If higher initial pressure settings are used in a single-chamber gas spring, then the suspension becomes stiffer initially, but this causes premature stiffness and reduces usable suspension stroke
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the gas spring system are assigned different pressure characteristics. The first chamber operates at higher pressure to provide initial support, while the second chamber engages to extend the usable stroke. This local differentiation of pressure zones allows the suspension to have adequate initial stiffness without premature overall stiffening, maintaining both force characteristics and travel length.
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 multi-chamber design extends the linear spring rate curve, allowing higher initial pressure settings without premature stiffness, increasing usable suspension stroke without lengthening the suspension, and integrating damping and spring functions to improve ride quality and handling while reducing space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
compressed gas acting over a piston area has replaced mechanical springs as the spring component in some contemporary suspension systems
Implementation Method 2
A shock absorber with multiple gas chambers that selectively communicate to maintain a substantially linear spring rate over a greater range of travel
Implementation Method 3
an integrated viscous damper to enhance performance and space efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for a shock absorber for a vehicle having a gas spring with first and second gas chambers, wherein the first chamber is utilized during a first travel portion of the shock absorber and the first and second chambers are both utilized during a second portion of travel. In one embodiment, a travel adjustment assembly is configured to selectively communicate a first gas chamber with a negative gas chamber.