Multi-Chamber Shock Absorber with Position-Switched Damping Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shock absorbers lack the flexibility to effectively set damping forces, limiting their ability to adapt to varying vehicle conditions and improve riding comfort.
Innovation Solution
A shock absorber design featuring a cylinder with multiple chambers and adjustable damping valves, where the flow passage areas between chambers change based on piston position, allowing for enhanced damping force settings by altering the communication between upper, middle, and lower chambers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single damping valve is used in conventional shock absorbers, then the structure is simple, but the degree of freedom in setting damping force is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorber divides the single damping valve into multiple damping valves (first damping valve between upper and middle chambers, second damping valve between middle and lower chambers). Each damping valve can independently control fluid flow and generate damping force, thereby enhancing the degree of freedom in setting damping force while maintaining reasonable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a multi-chamber nested structure where the cylinder is divided into upper, middle, and lower chambers that contain each other. The pistons are positioned within these nested chambers, allowing independent control of fluid flow between different chamber combinations, which enables versatile damping force settings without excessive structural complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple damping valves and chambers are introduced to enhance damping control, then the degree of freedom in setting damping force is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The middle chamber serves multiple functions: it acts as a communication hub between upper and lower chambers, contains the second damping valve, and enables various flow path configurations. This multi-functionality allows the patent to achieve versatile damping control without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic switching between different chamber communication states (upper-middle, middle-lower, upper-lower) based on piston position and flow requirements. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize damping characteristics for different operating conditions without requiring a completely reconfigurable 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 design enhances the degree of freedom in setting damping forces, improving riding comfort and handling by adjusting damping characteristics based on piston position, thereby optimizing vehicle performance across different driving conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a first damping valve provided between the upper chamber and the middle chamber and configured to generate a damping force; a second damping valve provided between the lower chamber and the middle chamber and configured to generate a damping force
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a shock absorber that includes a middle chamber formed by a piston, a first damping-force generating device that is provided between an upper chamber and the middle chamber and generates a damping force, a second damping-force generating device that is provided between a lower chamber and the middle chamber and generates a damping force, and a position-based state changing device that changes a state of a passage to a state in which the upper chamber and the lower chamber communicate with each other, a state in which the upper chamber and the middle chamber communicate with each other, or a state in which the lower chamber and the middle chamber communicate with each other depending on a position of the piston.