Shock Absorber Baffle for Damping Force Consistency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shock absorbers, including both conventional and electronically-adjustable types, often exhibit a lower magnitude of damping force due to insufficient oil fluid volume or aeration of the liquid within the reservoir chamber, leading to a lag in providing the target damping force.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a baffle positioned radially outward from the pressure tube, forming a fluid passage with an electromechanical valve and a reservoir chamber, which includes a plurality of passageways defined by grooves on the baffle and the pressure tube, ensuring minimal foaming and maintaining a consistent oil level to mitigate aeration and enhance damping force consistency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the shock absorber uses a conventional valve configuration without a baffle, then the device complexity is reduced, but aeration of the liquid occurs leading to lower damping force magnitude

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamping force consistencyVSAvoidbaffle structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The baffle acts as an intermediary component between the valve and the reservoir chamber, preventing direct contact between the gas-liquid interface and the valve. This mediator structure eliminates the aeration problem by maintaining a stable liquid level without requiring complex active control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the shock absorber maintains a minimum oil level without a baffle, then the manufacturing precision requirements are reduced, but gas and liquid mixing occurs causing aeration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid level stabilityVSAvoidbaffle positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The baffle is pre-positioned at a fixed location relative to the pressure tube during manufacturing, establishing the minimum liquid level threshold before operation. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that during shock absorber operation, the liquid level remains above the baffle, preventing gas-liquid mixing without requiring active control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Force

If the shock absorber uses a baffle to prevent aeration, then the damping force magnitude is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamping force magnitudeVSAvoidbaffle and fluid passage structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The baffle divides the reservoir chamber into distinct regions: a lower region where liquid is maintained above the baffle level, and an upper region containing gas. This segmentation prevents mixing between gas and liquid phases, ensuring consistent damping force magnitude without requiring complex active control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

This configuration effectively minimizes aeration and maintains a consistent damping force by ensuring the oil level remains above the baffle, thereby reducing lag and enhancing the shock absorber's ability to provide the target damping force.

Implementation Method 1

The baffle and the pressure tube form a fluid passage between the electromechanical valve and the reservoir chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow through defined passageways:

Implementation Method 2

The plurality of passageways are defined by grooves in the baffle and at least one of an outer surface of the pressure tube and an inner surface of the reserve tube. At least one of the plurality of passageways is disposed in fluid communication with the electromechanical valve and the reservoir for transporting fluid from the electromechanical valve to the reservoir chamber with minimal foaming.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFoaming minimization through controlled fluid passage:

Implementation Method 3

the shock absorber is configured to maintain a minimum oil level at all times. In certain shock absorbers, the physical position of the valves relative to the liquid level in the reservoir may induce a mixing of gas and liquid thereby aerating the liquid oil.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAeration mitigation through level maintenance:

Data Source

PatentUS10704641B2Baffle for damper with electromechanical valve

Publication Date: 2020.07.07 TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC

AI summary

A shock absorber includes a pressure tube forming a working chamber. A reserve tube is concentric with and radially outward from the pressure tube. A baffle is positioned radially outward from the pressure tube. A reservoir chamber is formed between the reserve tube and the baffle. A piston is attached to a piston rod and slidably disposed within the pressure tube. A rod guide is attached to the pressure tube and supports the piston rod. An electromechanical valve is positioned within the rod guide. A plurality of non-linear passageways are disposed between the baffle and at least one of the pressure tube and the reserve tube for transporting fluid between the electromechanical valve and the reservoir chamber.