Position Sensitive Suspension Damping with Adjustable Fluid Meter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle suspension systems face issues with 'bottom out' conditions, where the dampening piston becomes fully retracted due to compressive forces, leading to harsh rides and poor handling characteristics, and the dampening fluid's temperature changes affect its viscosity, requiring a user-adjustable and temperature-compensating solution.
Innovation Solution
A shock absorber design featuring a secondary compression chamber with an adjustable fluid meter and a bottom out cup, utilizing a blow off valve and user-adjustable metering valve to increase dampening as the piston nears full compression, and allowing fluid communication between the cup and rebound chamber via a reversible check valve, enabling on-the-fly adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the dampening piston is designed to prevent bottom out conditions, then ride quality is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components like secondary chambers and adjustable valves
Solution Approach 1:
The dampener is divided into multiple functional chambers: a primary compression chamber and a secondary compression chamber. The secondary chamber activates only during bottom out conditions, segmenting the dampening function to address specific problems without requiring complete redesign of the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates user-adjustable metering valves that allow dynamic adjustment of dampening characteristics. This enables the system to adapt to different riding conditions and temperature variations, improving reliability while maintaining a relatively simple base structure.
2Force
If the dampening fluid viscosity is increased to prevent bottom out, then dampening performance is improved, but the temperature sensitivity worsens causing stiffness at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different dampening characteristics to different parts of the compression stroke. The secondary compression chamber with adjustable metering valve provides localized high-dampening action only when needed (near bottom out), while the primary chamber handles normal compression with temperature-appropriate viscosity characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable metering valve allows users to change the flow parameters of the dampening fluid dynamically. This enables optimization of dampening force at different temperatures without being constrained by a single fixed viscosity formulation.
3Force
If additional dampening components are added to mitigate bottom out, then bottom out resistance is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to reduced adjustability
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable metering valve serves multiple functions: it controls fluid flow between chambers, adjusts dampening characteristics for different temperatures, and provides user customization. This multi-functionality consolidates several potential adjustment mechanisms into a single accessible component.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to be easily adjusted by the user without requiring specialized tools or expertise. The metering valve provides direct user access to modify dampening characteristics, enabling riders to self-adjust for different conditions.
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 effectively mitigates 'bottom out' conditions by providing adjustable and temperature-compensated dampening, ensuring a consistent ride quality by allowing users to adjust the dampening rate in real-time and accounting for fluid temperature changes.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid damper including a damper chamber divided by a piston into a primary compression and a primary rebound chamber
Implementation Method 2
an adjustable fluid meter controls fluid flow out of the secondary compression chamber
Implementation Method 3
communication is selectively permitted between fluid in the sealed bottom out cup and the rebound portion of the chamber via a fluid path(s) formed in the interior of the piston shaft
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for position sensitive dampening. In one aspect a fluid damper is provided comprising a damper chamber divided by a piston into a primary compression and a primary rebound chamber; a secondary compression chamber in fluid communication with the damper chamber; and an adjustable fluid meter controlling fluid flow out of the secondary compression chamber.