Multi-Law Shock Absorber Valve Switching for Comfort and Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shock absorbers lack the ability to adaptively adjust damping levels based on the operating regimen of a vehicle, leading to a trade-off between comfort and stability.

Innovation Solution

A shock absorber design featuring a regulating body with primary and secondary valves, an activating shaft, and a piston pin with multiple orifices and channels, allowing for manual or automatic selection of multiple damping laws.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a high level of damping is configured in the suspension to minimize the movement of the bodywork, then stability is improved, but comfort deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle stabilityVSAvoidriding comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shock absorber employs a dynamic damping adjustment mechanism that allows the damping coefficient to vary based on operating conditions. The system includes a controllable valve mechanism that can switch between different damping states (high damping for stability, low damping for comfort) based on suspension extension/compression speed and oscillation frequency, enabling the vehicle to adapt between stability and comfort modes as needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the damping parameter dynamically by adjusting the valve opening degree or valve position in response to detected suspension conditions. The control system monitors extension/compression speed and oscillation frequency, then modifies the damping coefficient accordingly - increasing damping when stability is needed and decreasing it when comfort is prioritized, thus resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If a low level of damping is chosen in the suspension to uncouple wheel movement from bodywork, then comfort is improved, but stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveriding comfortVSAvoidvehicle stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The shock absorber employs a dynamic damping adjustment mechanism that allows the damping coefficient to vary based on operating conditions. The system includes a controllable valve mechanism that can switch between different damping states (high damping for stability, low damping for comfort) based on suspension extension/compression speed and oscillation frequency, enabling the vehicle to adapt between stability and comfort modes as needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the damping parameter dynamically by adjusting the valve opening degree or valve position in response to detected suspension conditions. The control system monitors extension/compression speed and oscillation frequency, then modifies the damping coefficient accordingly - increasing damping when stability is needed and decreasing it when comfort is prioritized, thus resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If a secondary piston is incorporated to regulate oil passage and generate multiple damping laws, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping law selectionVSAvoidshock absorber structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the damping regulation function from a complex secondary piston mechanism and implements it through a simpler controllable valve system. The valve mechanism, controlled by solenoids or motors, regulates oil passage between chambers to achieve multiple damping laws without requiring an additional piston, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical secondary piston regulation system with an electro-hydraulic control system using solenoids or motors to actuate the valve. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity by eliminating the need for a second piston and its associated passive elements, while providing more precise and flexible control over the damping characteristics through electronic actuation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enables adaptive damping adjustment to suit various operating conditions, improving both comfort and stability by allowing selection of different damping laws based on speed and frequency of oscillations.

Implementation Method 1

A shock absorber is a device intended for attenuating the oscillations of the suspension by means of dissipating kinetic energy until said suspension recovers the equilibrium position thereof

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic damping: Viscous Damping

Data Source

PatentEP4467837B1Shock absorber with multiple damping laws
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 KYB EUROPE GMBH SUCURSAL EN NAVARRA
  • EP4467837B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4467837B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4467837B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

The present invention relates to a shock absorber with multiple damping laws comprising a regulating body (12) with a primary valve (14) and a secondary valve (15), and an activating shaft (21) with a plurality of channels (16, 17), the activating shaft (21) being housed in an axial orifice (36) of a piston pin (30) that incorporates a plurality of orifices (31, 32, 33) intended to align by rotation of the activating shaft (21) with the channels (16, 17) to determine a damping law and, with the second orifice (32) in direct communication with the regulating body (12), wherein the regulating body (12) comprises a floating piston (13) that has a toroidal configuration and is made of an elastic material, so that it gradually transfers a force to the primary valve (14) depending on the pressure to which it is subjected.