Position-Sensitive Damper Assembly for Separate Jounce and Rebound Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional position-sensitive dampers lack the ability to adjust externally and remotely for weight variations, resulting in minimal deviation between jounce and rebound damping control, and require complex designs like double-wall constructions that are costly and difficult to manufacture and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A position-relative damper assist system with a piston assembly and adjustment assembly that varies the fluid passage cross-sectional profile, allowing for distinct damping curves between jounce and rebound modes, and a biasing assembly that adjusts the damping effect based on piston displacement, eliminating the need for external bypass tubes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional position-sensitive dampers are used, then basic damping function is provided, but the ability to adjust externally and remotely for weight variations is lacking, resulting in minimal deviation between jounce and rebound damping control
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is divided into functionally independent segments: a position-sensitive mechanism for automatic adjustment and a separate external adjustment mechanism for remote tuning. This segmentation allows each subsystem to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, enabling both adaptability and adjustability without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The damper incorporates a dynamic position-sensitive mechanism that automatically adjusts damping characteristics based on real-time piston position feedback. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to adapt to varying weight conditions and operating conditions, providing minimal deviation between jounce and rebound damping control while maintaining system simplicity
2Reliability
If double-wall constructions are used to achieve position-sensitive damping, then distinct damping curves between jounce and rebound modes are obtained, but manufacturing and maintenance become costly and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the position-sensitive adjustment mechanism from the complex double-wall construction and implements it as a separate, standalone system within the damper. This extracted mechanism works in conjunction with a simplified single-wall structure, achieving distinct damping curves without the manufacturing and maintenance difficulties associated with double-wall constructions
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the position-sensitive mechanism with the external adjustment mechanism into a unified system that controls both jounce and rebound damping. This integration allows the system to achieve distinct damping curves through coordinated operation of the two mechanisms rather than requiring complex double-wall construction
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional shock absorbers with hydraulic fluid restriction are used, then basic shock damping is achieved, but separate damping control for jounce and rebound modes is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The damper employs dynamic adjustment mechanisms that modify hydraulic flow characteristics based on piston position and direction of motion. The position-sensitive mechanism automatically varies orifice openings during compression and extension cycles, enabling distinct damping curves for jounce and rebound modes without requiring overly complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The position-sensitive mechanism incorporates feedback from piston position to automatically adjust damping characteristics. This feedback loop enables the system to differentiate between jounce and rebound phases and apply appropriate damping forces, achieving separate control capability while maintaining reasonable system complexity
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 system provides improved ride quality and handling by enabling separate damping control for jounce and rebound, simplifying manufacturing and maintenance, and reducing the complexity of the design while maintaining effective damping performance.
Implementation Method 1
a piston assembly being operatively disposed between the top and bottom mounting components, the piston assembly having a piston head being displaceable within a chamber defined about a portion of one of the top and bottom mounting components, the piston head being provided with at least one fluid passage for allowing fluid of the chamber to travel from one side of the chamber to another side of the chamber via the piston head of the piston assembly
Implementation Method 2
a biasing assembly cooperating with the adjustment assembly for selectively varying a configuration of the adjustment assembly in response to a given input indicative of the positioning of the piston assembly within the stroke distance
Data Source
AI summary
A position-relative damper assist system (1) for use with a vehicle, the position-relative damper assist system (1) comprising top and bottom mounting components (5, 3), a piston assembly (9), an adjustment assembly (19), and a biasing assembly (21). The piston assembly (9) is operatively disposed between the top and bottom mounting components (5, 3), and has a piston head (11) being displaceable within a chamber (13), and being provided with at least one fluid passage (15) for allowing fluid (17) of the chamber (13) to travel therethrough, in order to provide a corresponding damping effect. The adjustment assembly (19) cooperates with the piston head (11) of the piston assembly (9) for adjustably varying an effective cross-sectional profile of the at least one fluid passage (15) in order to in turn vary a corresponding flow rate of fluid (17) passing through said at least one fluid passage (15), and in turn vary the resulting damping effect. The biasing assembly (21) cooperates with the adjustment assembly (19) for selectively varying a configuration of the adjustment assembly (19) in response to a given input indicative of the positioning of the piston assembly (9) within a stroke distance (7), in order in vary the resulting damping effect in response to a corresponding displacement-profiled (23) provided by the biasing assembly (21).