Parallel Adjustable Damping Valve for Compact Vibration Damper
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vibration dampers with adjustable damping valves face installation space challenges, particularly when combined with air springs or constructed as suspension struts, as existing designs often require complex connections and additional space for dual directional movement.
Innovation Solution
The vibration damper features a parallel longitudinal axis for the adjustable damping valve and outer housing with a clamping surface for axle connection, including a tubular base body, axial stop, and radial indentation for cap engagement, allowing for a compact and stable design that absorbs forces and simplifies assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separately adjustable damping valve is provided for both movement directions, then damping control in both directions is improved, but installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separately adjustable damping valves into a single integrated damping valve unit that controls both movement directions. This merging approach maintains the versatility of bidirectional damping control while significantly reducing the installation space required, as the housing for both valves is consolidated into one compact structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The single damping valve unit is designed to perform multiple functions by controlling damping in both compression and rebound movements. The valve mechanism incorporates adjustable elements that can independently regulate flow in both directions, making one component serve the role of what would traditionally require two separate valves.
2Volume of stationary object
If the adjustable damping valve is mounted at the bottom end of the outer receptacle tube, then installation space is reduced, but connection to vehicle axle becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the axle connection functionality directly into the housing of the bottom-mounted damping valve. The housing includes built-in connection elements such as threaded bores or mounting surfaces that allow direct attachment to the vehicle axle, eliminating the need for separate connection mechanisms and simplifying the overall assembly.
3Ease of manufacture
If the outer housing is designed as a tubular base body, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but structural stability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite construction for the tubular housing, combining different materials or structural layers to achieve both manufacturing simplicity and high strength. The housing may use reinforced plastics, metal composites, or multi-layer constructions that maintain the ease of tubular fabrication while providing enhanced force absorption and structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tubular base body design utilizes curved, cylindrical geometry which inherently provides superior strength-to-weight ratio compared to angular designs. The curved structure efficiently distributes applied forces around the circumference, maintaining structural integrity while allowing simple extrusion or drawing manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A vibration damper includes at least one adjustable damping valve having an outer housing connected to one end of an outer receptacle of the vibration damper. A longitudinal axis of the adjustable damping valve and a longitudinal axis of the vibration damper run parallel. The outer housing of the adjustable damping valve has a clamping surface for an axle connection part.