Position-Sensitive Shock Absorber With Nested Choking Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing position-sensitive shock absorbers using twin tubes for by-pass channels are bulkier and require intricate designs, limiting their adjustability and practicality for varying damping characteristics across different segments of the piston stroke.
Innovation Solution
A position-sensitive shock absorber with a working piston and a choking member, where a spring biases the choking member to restrict fluid flow at specific points along the piston stroke, altering damping characteristics through the use of compression and rebound valves and passageways, allowing for adjustable damping based on piston position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If twin tubes are used to create by-pass channels for position-sensitive damping, then different damping characteristics along the stroke are achieved, but the shock absorber becomes bulkier and requires intricate by-pass channel designs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the by-pass channel function from a separate twin-tube structure and integrates it into the single-tube design. The choking member is positioned within the housing to create a by-pass flow path that allows fluid to flow around the working piston during specific portions of the stroke, eliminating the need for intricate external by-pass channels while maintaining position-sensitive damping characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The choking member is nested within the housing and positioned to cooperate with the working piston. The spring is positioned between the working piston and the choking member, creating a compact nested arrangement where multiple functional elements are integrated within the single-tube structure, reducing overall complexity and size compared to twin-tube designs.
2Device complexity
If non-adjustable valving is used in standard shock absorbers, then the design is simpler, but different damping characteristics at different stroke positions cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic damping characteristics through the interaction between the working piston and the choking member. As the working piston moves through different positions in the stroke, it engages with the choking member to open or close by-pass flow paths, automatically adjusting the damping characteristics without requiring external adjustment mechanisms. The spring provides dynamic positioning of the choking member based on piston position.
Solution Approach 2:
The shock absorber automatically adjusts its own damping characteristics based on the piston position and fluid pressure. The working piston itself serves to control the choking member position through fluid pressure and spring force, eliminating the need for external adjustment mechanisms while providing position-sensitive damping throughout the stroke.
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 adjustable damping characteristics along the piston stroke, providing softer damping at the beginning and stiffer damping towards the end, enhancing ride comfort and stability without the bulkiness of traditional twin-tube designs.
Implementation Method 1
A spring is positioned between the working piston and the choking member
Implementation Method 2
The fluid passageways through the vented piston are covered by circular plates, or discs which restrict and/or prevent the flow of fluid through the passageways to obtain the necessary compression and rebound characteristics
Implementation Method 3
Shock absorbers are typically oil-filled cylinders within which a vented piston is mounted
Data Source
AI summary
A position-sensitive shock absorber is disclosed. The position-sensitive shock absorber includes a choking member positioned within the housing at a specific point along the stroke of the working piston that cooperates with the working piston to increase the resistance to fluid flow when the working piston reaches the specific point along its stroke thereby defining a second damping characteristic of the position-sensitive shock absorber from the specific point along the stroke of the working piston onward.