Self-Contained Airshock Assembly for Reservoir-Free Ride Height Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle suspension systems require external air reservoirs and complex plumbing, leading to weight, space, and reliability issues, as well as the need for manual adjustments to maintain optimal ride height.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained airshock assembly that integrates a shock absorber, an airspring, an air compressor, and sensors, allowing for real-time adjustment of air pressure and ride height without an external air reservoir, using an electronic control unit (ECU) to manage settings based on ride height, air pressure, and location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional suspension systems use external air reservoirs and complex plumbing, then air pressure can be maintained, but weight and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the air compressor, airspring, and shock absorber into a single integrated self-contained assembly. The compressor is mounted directly on the shock absorber body and charges the airspring in-place, eliminating the need for separate air reservoirs and complex plumbing systems while maintaining reliable air pressure control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the external air reservoir from the suspension system, replacing it with a self-contained compressor assembly that generates and stores air pressure locally within the shock absorber unit, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture.
2Reliability
If conventional suspension systems use external air reservoirs, then air pressure can be stored, but vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air storage function is merged with the shock absorber assembly itself. The airspring is integrated directly into the shock absorber, and the compressor is mounted on the shock body, creating a compact self-contained unit that eliminates heavy external air reservoirs while maintaining adequate air pressure storage capacity.
3Device complexity
If manual adjustments are used to maintain ride height, then system complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates ride height sensors that continuously monitor the vehicle's ride height and provide feedback to the electronic control unit. The ECU automatically adjusts the compressor operation and airspring pressure based on this feedback, maintaining optimal ride height without requiring manual intervention while managing system complexity through electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-contained airshock assembly performs automatic ride height maintenance through integrated sensors and electronic control. The system monitors its own state and self-regulates air pressure and compressor operation, eliminating the need for manual adjustments and making the system self-sufficient.
4Device complexity
If self-contained airshock assembly is used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of the compressor, airspring, and shock absorber into a self-contained assembly requires precise manufacturing and assembly tolerances to ensure proper sealing, air pressure distribution, and mechanical alignment. The compressor mounting on the shock body and the airspring integration demand high manufacturing precision to achieve reliable operation.
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 self-contained airshock assembly reduces weight and complexity, enhances reliability, and allows for automatic adjustments to maintain optimal ride height and air pressure, improving vehicle performance and handling across varying terrains and loads.
Implementation Method 1
an airspring adapted to maintain a ride height of the shock absorber
Implementation Method 2
an air compressor assembly coupled with a portion of the shock absorber, the air compressor assembly to modify an air pressure in the airspring
Implementation Method 3
the ride height sensor may comprise a visually identifiable mark on a piston rod of the shock absorber. There may be an optical sensor coupled with a body of the shock absorber
Implementation Method 4
the ride height sensor may comprise a magnetostrictive sensor embedded in a shaft of the shock absorber. There may be a magnet incorporated with a seal head of the shock absorber
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
An airshock assembly (200) comprising: a shock absorber (202); an airspring (204), said airspring (204) axially coupled with a portion of said shock absorber (202), said airspring to modify a ride height of said shock absorber; and an air compressor assembly (105) coupled with a portion of said shock absorber (202), said air compressor assembly (105) to modify an air pressure in said airspring without requiring said airshock assembly (200) to utilize an air reservoir.