Shock Absorber Check Valve for Faster Extension Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing shock absorber designs face an increase in axial length due to the use of coil springs, which leads to a rise in pressure loss and reduced responsiveness during the extension stroke.
Innovation Solution
The shock absorber incorporates a disk-type check valve and a pilot valve system that allows hydraulic fluid to flow from the spool back-pressure chamber to the cylinder lower chamber during the extension stroke, reducing the axial length and improving responsiveness by compensating for the volume change of the back-pressure chamber with minimal lift, thus preventing pressure loss and operational lock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a check valve with a coil spring is used to allow hydraulic fluid to flow during extension stroke, then the volume compensation and responsiveness are improved, but the axial length of the piston bolt increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydraulic pressure from the cylinder lower chamber to directly open the check valve during extension stroke, replacing the need for a coil spring mechanism. The check valve is configured to open when hydraulic pressure exceeds a certain threshold, eliminating the requirement for axial spring stroke space while maintaining volume compensation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil spring component is completely removed from the check valve mechanism. Instead of using elastic deformation of a spring to enable valve opening, the invention extracts this function and achieves valve actuation purely through hydraulic pressure differential, thereby eliminating the axial space requirement for spring compression and extension.
2Reliability
If the axial length of piston bolt is increased to accommodate coil spring stroke, then the check valve can open properly, but the total length of shock absorber increases
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve opening pressure is controlled purely by hydraulic pressure from the cylinder lower chamber acting on the valve area, without requiring mechanical spring pre-compression space. This allows the shock absorber to maintain proper valve function while reducing overall axial length.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of solving the valve-opening pressure requirement through axial dimension (spring stroke), the invention transitions to using radial pressure distribution and hydraulic force vectors to achieve the same functional outcome in a more space-efficient manner.
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 enhances the responsiveness of the shock absorber during the extension stroke while reducing the overall length and manufacturing costs by utilizing a disk-type check valve, which provides a larger opening area with a smaller lift, thereby maintaining efficient hydraulic fluid flow and pressure management.
Implementation Method 1
a valve spring configured to bias the valve body in a valve-opening direction
Implementation Method 2
a pilot valve configured to control a flow of the hydraulic fluid in the common passage
Implementation Method 3
a check valve configured to permit the hydraulic fluid in the communication passage to flow into the cylinder lower chamber during an extension stroke
Implementation Method 4
an actuator configured to control a movement of the valve body
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a shock absorber capable of improving responsiveness during an extension stroke without leading to an increase in an axial length. A shock absorber includes a chamber provided on a one-side end of a pilot valve and disposed in communication with a cylinder upper chamber, a communication passage configured to establish communication between the chamber and a cylinder lower chamber via a compression-side passage, and a check valve configured to permit hydraulic fluid in the communication passage to flow into the cylinder lower chamber during an extension stroke.