Shock Absorber Damping Adjustment via Rotating Cylinder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shock absorbers require complex and cumbersome fastening operations to adjust damping characteristics, limiting their operability and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A shock absorber design featuring a rotation cylinder with a spring member that adjusts the orifice size through rotation, allowing for easy adjustment of damping characteristics without the need for nuts or locking screws, and incorporating a stepped surface and stopper to enhance durability by isolating impact forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a needle shaft fixed with a nut is used to adjust the orifice opening degree, then the damping characteristic can be adjusted, but the adjustment operation becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the static fixed orifice into a dynamic adjustable orifice by rotating the cylindrical portion to different angular positions. The rotation operation portion allows the cylindrical portion to rotate relative to the case, dynamically changing the opening degree of the orifice formed by the interaction between the cylindrical portion's outer peripheral surface and the case's inner peripheral surface. This dynamic adjustment mechanism eliminates the need for complex fastening operations while maintaining adjustable damping characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a rotational dimension to the adjustment mechanism. Instead of linear adjustment methods that require fastening operations, the cylindrical portion rotates around the axial direction to change the orifice opening degree. The rotation operation portion provides the rotational degree of freedom, allowing simple rotational movement to achieve damping adjustment without complex fastening or locking mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If an eccentric cam fixed with a locking screw is used to adjust the throttle hole opening, then the damping characteristic can be adjusted, but the adjustment operation becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the static eccentric cam mechanism with a dynamic rotational adjustment system. The cylindrical portion can rotate to different angular positions, dynamically changing the orifice opening degree without requiring locking screws or complex fastening operations. The rotation operation portion enables this dynamic adjustment through simple rotational movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex fastening components (locking screws, nuts) from the adjustment mechanism. The adjustment is achieved purely through rotational movement of the cylindrical portion, which interacts with the case to form the variable orifice. This extraction of unnecessary fastening components simplifies the adjustment operation significantly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the orifice opening degree is made adjustable, then the damping characteristic can be optimized for different conditions, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical portion serves multiple functions: it forms the orifice with the case, provides the rotational adjustment mechanism, and acts as a structural component of the shock absorber. This multi-functionality allows the damping characteristic to be adjusted for different conditions without adding significant structural complexity, as the same component performs multiple roles.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the orifice-forming function with the adjustment mechanism into a single integrated structure. The cylindrical portion's outer peripheral surface and the case's inner peripheral surface together form the orifice, and rotating the cylindrical portion simultaneously adjusts the opening degree. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall structure.
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
Facilitates easy adjustment of damping characteristics and improves durability by isolating impact forces within the shock absorber, enhancing its operability and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a spring member that is disposed inside the rear-side chamber and abuts on the rotation cylinder, the piston rod being urged by a spring force of the spring member toward a direction in which a protruding end portion of the piston rod protrudes from a proximal end portion of the case
Implementation Method 2
oil inside a rear-side chamber flows from an orifice formed on a bottom portion of the damper case, through the passage, and to a front-side chamber. At this time, a passing resistance of the oil is applied to the piston as a drag force, kinetic energy of the moving member is absorbed by this drag force of the oil, and thus, an impact force applied to the moving member is reduced
Data Source
AI summary
A shock absorber (10) has a case (11) in which a piston rod (25) is disposed, the piston rod (25) being reciprocable in an axial direction of the case (11), and a rotation cylinder (14) is rotatably provided inside the case (11) and is movable in the axial direction of the case (11). A cylinder hole (35) is partitioned by a piston (32) provided on the piston rod (25) into a front-side chamber (35a) and a rear-side chamber (35b). A spring force of a compression coil spring (37) urges the piston rod (25) in a direction to protrude from the case (11). An orifice (42), whose communication opening degree with a fluid passage (34) varies according to a rotated position of a rotation operation portion (15), is formed on the rotation operation portion (15), and positioning recesses are formed on the case (11) and are spaced apart from each other at intervals in a circumferential direction of the case (11).