Shock Absorber Bleed Valve Assembly for Independent Damping Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional adjustable damping assemblies in shock absorbers are cumbersome to adjust, making it difficult for vehicle riders to tailor damping characteristics to current driving conditions.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable bleed valve assembly comprising two serially connected bleed valves, each independently adjustable, is arranged between the compression and rebound chambers in a shock absorber, allowing for independent adjustment of damping force characteristics during compression and rebound strokes, facilitated by longitudinally extending coupling members that can be adjusted from the end of the shock absorber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable damping assemblies are arranged in piston rods, then damping force characteristics can be controlled, but the assemblies become cumbersome to adjust
Solution Approach 1:
The bleed valve assembly is divided into two independent adjustable bleed valves (first and second) that can be adjusted separately. Each valve has its own adjustment mechanism accessible from the end of the shock absorber, allowing independent control of damping characteristics for compression and rebound strokes without interfering with each other
Solution Approach 2:
Longitudinally extending coupling members are introduced as intermediaries to transmit adjustment forces from the external adjustment mechanism to the bleed valves deep within the piston rod. This allows adjustments to be made from the accessible end of the shock absorber without requiring direct access to the valves themselves
2Adaptability or versatility
If damping assemblies are made adjustable, then damping characteristics can be tailored to driving conditions, but the assemblies become cumbersome to adjust
Solution Approach 1:
The bleed valve assembly is divided into two independent adjustable bleed valves (first and second) that can be adjusted separately. Each valve has its own adjustment mechanism accessible from the end of the shock absorber, allowing independent control of damping characteristics for compression and rebound strokes without interfering with each other
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinally extending coupling members serve multiple functions: they transmit adjustment forces, provide structural support within the piston rod, and enable access to both bleed valves from a single external interface, reducing overall system complexity despite the adjustable functionality
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 precise and independent adjustment of damping force characteristics during compression and rebound strokes, improving the ease and effectiveness of damping control without affecting one stroke's adjustments in the other, thus enhancing the adaptability of the shock absorber to various driving conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Each adjustable bleed valve may be adapted to throttle a damping fluid in the piston rod more in the second open state than in the first open state
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an adjustable bleed valve assembly for a shock absorber (100). The bleed valve assembly (1) comprises: a first adjustable bleed valve (10), and a second adjustable bleed valve (20) arranged in series with the first adjustable bleed valve (10), wherein the first adjustable bleed valve (10) and the second adjustable bleed valve (20) are each pressure independently adjustable between a first open state (O1) and a second open state (O2), wherein each adjustable bleed valve (10, 20) is adapted to throttle a damping fluid in the piston rod (110) more in the second open state (O2) than in the first open state (O1), wherein the first adjustable bleed valve (10) and the second adjustable bleed valve (20) are each adjustable between the first open state (O1) and the second open state (O2) independently from one another. An adjustment device and a method for adjusting the bleed valve assembly 1 is also provided.