Position-Dependent Shock Absorber Valve for Bottom-Out Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shock absorbers with pneumatic springs face challenges in being compact, resistant to dust and dirt, easily serviceable, and user-adjustable, while also preventing bottoming-out during heavy impacts.
Innovation Solution
A shock absorber design featuring a piston assembly with multiple fluid passages and valves that control fluid flow between the compression damper chamber and pneumatic spring, allowing for adjustable damping characteristics and preventing bottoming-out by separating fluid volumes and using biasing members and shims to manage pressure and flow resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shock absorber uses a pneumatic spring to provide damping force, then the damping performance is improved, but the device becomes more complex and harder to service
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorber is divided into separate serviceable components including a valve assembly that can be independently accessed and maintained. The valve assembly is positioned such that it can be serviced without disassembling the entire shock absorber, allowing technicians to maintain damping performance while improving serviceability.
2Volume of moving object
If the shock absorber is made compact to reduce size, then the volume is reduced, but access for servicing and adjustment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is nested within the shock absorber body in a space-efficient manner. The valve assembly extends into the compression damper chamber and is positioned to be accessible through openings in the shock absorber housing, allowing compact packaging while maintaining serviceability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the shock absorber is designed to be user-adjustable for different damping conditions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly incorporates adjustable elements that allow users to modify damping characteristics. The valve assembly includes passages and components that can be repositioned or adjusted to change fluid flow resistance, enabling adaptation to different riding conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
4Reliability
If the shock absorber uses heavy-duty components to prevent bottoming-out during heavy impacts, then reliability under heavy load is improved, but the device becomes larger and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly includes multiple fluid passages with varying cross-sectional areas and flow resistance characteristics. By designing passages with different geometries and configurations, the shock absorber provides progressive damping that increases resistance during heavy impacts to prevent bottoming-out, while maintaining a compact and relatively simple structure through optimized passage design rather than adding numerous heavy components.
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 enhances serviceability, adjustability, and prevents bottoming-out by controlling damping forces effectively, ensuring reliable performance and durability in various operational conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A pneumatic spring compresses a gaseous medium which is compressed at compression of the damper such that a pressure builds up within the pneumatic spring
Implementation Method 2
The damper includes a valve assembly for throttling fluid flow between the compression damper chamber and the pneumatic spring
Implementation Method 3
The piston is further commonly arranged to divide the cylinder into a first and second working chamber and moves in the cylinder against the resistance of the fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A shock absorber including a damper and a valve assembly for throttling fluid flow between a compression damper chamber and a pneumatic spring, with a valve assembly extending from an inner end portion of the damper into the compression damper chamber along a longitudinal central axis of the damper. A piston assembly is provided that includes an inner space which is open to the compression damper chamber and configured to receive and sealingly engage a distal portion of the valve assembly at an inner operational range of stroke and to disengage the valve assembly upon movement outside the inner operational range of stroke. The sealing engagement between the distal portion of the valve assembly and the inner space divides the compression damper chamber into an inner volume within the inner space and an outer volume in front of the piston assembly.