Regenerative Shock Absorber With Pump-Based Damping Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shock absorbers with screw-based power transmission mechanisms suffer from wear, increased complexity, cost, and decreased responsiveness due to the use of CVT mechanisms, leading to inefficient energy regeneration and cushioning performance.
Innovation Solution
A shock absorber design featuring a cylinder with a reciprocating piston that partitions fluid chambers, a vane pump with a flow rate change mechanism, and an electric rotor-stator system for efficient energy regeneration and cushioning, eliminating the need for screw-based transmission and simplifying the structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a screw member is used as a power transmission mechanism, then the linear operation of the piston housing can be converted into rotational operation, but the screw member wears down over time and rattles occur among members
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the screw-nut mechanical transmission system with a direct magnetic coupling system where the piston rod is magnetically coupled to the rotor. This eliminates mechanical contact and friction between the piston housing and transmission components, preventing wear and rattling while maintaining operational smoothness throughout the product lifecycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the screw member and nut member from the power transmission system. By eliminating these mechanical transmission components entirely, the source of wear and rattling is removed, while the magnetic coupling directly transmits force from the piston rod to the rotor without intermediate mechanical parts.
2Speed
If a CVT mechanism is used to change rotational speed, then the rotational speed can be appropriately changed, but the speed changer mechanism becomes large and the ease of mounting to various apparatuses becomes worse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) mechanism with an electromagnetic motor system. The motor unit with armature and field coils provides rotational speed control through electrical means rather than mechanical pulleys and belts, dramatically reducing the apparatus size while maintaining the ability to control rotational speed for different operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention controls rotational speed by changing electrical parameters (current, voltage, field strength) rather than mechanical parameters (pulley ratios, belt positions). This allows for compact speed control since electromagnetic fields can be adjusted without physical transmission components, enabling mounting in various apparatuses with limited space.
3Speed
If a CVT mechanism is used to change rotational speed, then the rotational speed can be changed, but the shape of pulleys must be changed and controlled making the apparatus complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the complex mechanical CVT system with variable pulley shapes and belt positions with a simple electromagnetic motor control system. The motor unit controls rotor speed through electrical signals, eliminating the need for complex pulley shape changes and mechanical control mechanisms, thereby simplifying the overall apparatus.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the screw member and CVT members reverse rotational direction against rotational inertia, then the extension and contraction can be switched, but the responsiveness of the cushioning function becomes worse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical screw-CVT transmission system with a direct magnetic coupling and electromagnetic motor system. This allows for instantaneous reversal of rotational direction without the rotational inertia constraints of heavy mechanical transmission components, significantly improving the responsiveness of the cushioning function when switching between extension and contraction modes.
5Power
If transmission mechanisms are used to convert linear operation to rotational operation, then power can be transmitted to the motor unit, but transmission loss occurs and energy regeneration efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the intermediate transmission mechanisms (screw member, nut member, CVT mechanism, belt members) that cause transmission losses. By directly magnetically coupling the piston rod to the rotor, power is transmitted from the piston housing's linear motion to the rotor's rotation without mechanical transmission losses, thereby improving energy regeneration efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the power transmission function and the motor drive function into a single integrated system. The piston rod's linear motion directly drives the rotor through magnetic coupling, combining what were previously separate transmission and drive components into one unified system, eliminating transmission losses in the process.
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 design provides a compact, responsive, and cost-effective solution with improved cushioning and energy regeneration efficiency, reducing kinetic energy loss and enhancing the overall performance of the shock absorber.
Implementation Method 1
a stator forming a magnetic field between the electric rotor and the stator
Implementation Method 2
a pump having a first port that communicates with either one of the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber and a second port that communicates with the other one of the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber, and including a flow rate change portion that changes a circulation amount of the fluid circulating between the first port and the second port
Data Source
AI summary
A shock absorber includes: a cylinder accommodating a fluid; a piston that reciprocates with respect to the cylinder while partitioning an inside of the cylinder into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber; a pump having a first port that communicates with either one of the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber and a second port that communicates with the other one of the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber, and including a flow rate change portion that changes a circulation amount of the fluid circulating between the first port and the second port; an electric rotor rotating in conjunction with the pump; and a stator forming a magnetic field between the electric rotor and the stator.