Piston Rod-Integrated Damping Unit for Compact Shock Absorbers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid pressure dumpers face challenges in securing installation space for damping units with complex or large configurations, which can increase size and complexity, making it difficult to achieve various damping characteristics effectively.
Innovation Solution
The fluid pressure dumper incorporates a damping unit within the head portion of the piston rod, which is exposed outside the cylinder tube, allowing for easier installation and adjustment of damping characteristics without disassembling the device, and features a dual orifice system to generate damping force based on flow path resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the damping unit is configured with complex or large components to achieve various damping characteristics, then the damping performance is improved, but the installation space requirement increases and the overall device size becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The damping unit is nested within the hollow structure of the piston rod, utilizing the internal cavity space. The piston rod serves as both a structural component and a housing for the damping unit, eliminating the need for separate installation space. This nesting approach allows complex damping characteristics to be achieved without increasing the overall device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston rod is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the structural connection element between the piston and external mechanism and as the housing for the damping unit. This multi-functionality reduces the total component count and eliminates dedicated space requirements for the damping unit, resolving the contradiction between damping performance and installation space.
2Volume of stationary object
If the damping unit is provided inside the cylinder tube, then the installation space is secured, but the adjustment and maintenance of the damping unit requires disassembly of the entire device
Solution Approach 1:
The piston rod is designed as a separable component that can be removed from the cylinder tube as a complete assembly, with the damping unit already integrated. This segmentation allows the damping unit to be adjusted or replaced by simply removing the piston rod, without requiring disassembly of the entire shock absorber or cylinder tube, thus maintaining ease of repair while securing installation space.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping unit is extracted from the traditional internal cylinder configuration and relocated to the piston rod, which can be easily removed and taken out as a separate serviceable component. This extraction maintains compact installation while enabling straightforward access for adjustment and maintenance through piston rod removal alone.
3Volume of stationary object
If a compact damping unit is used to save installation space, then the device size is reduced, but the ability to achieve various damping characteristics is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The damping unit incorporates adjustable orifices and flow resistance elements that can be modified to create different damping characteristics. By providing local adjustability within the compact damping unit structure, various damping curves and performance characteristics can be achieved without increasing the overall size of the unit or requiring additional components.
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 configuration enables secure installation of a damping unit with a compact design, allowing for various damping characteristics and easy adjustment of damping forces, effectively suppressing vibrations in applications like vehicle shock absorbers.
Implementation Method 1
a damping unit configured to generate damping force by imparting resistance to a flow of working fluid between the rod-side chamber and the bottom-side chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A shock absorber includes: a cylinder tube; a piston rod inserted into the cylinder tube so as to be freely movable back and forth; a piston connected to the piston rod, the piston being configured to partition an interior of the cylinder tube into a rod-side chamber and a bottom-side chamber; and a damping unit configured to generate a damping force by imparting resistance to flow of working fluid between the rod-side chamber and the bottom-side chamber, wherein the piston rod has a rod portion connected to the piston and supported so as to be feely slidable with respect to the cylinder tube and a head portion exposed to the outside of the cylinder tube, and wherein the damping unit is provided in the head portion of the piston rod.