Adjustable Shock Absorber Locking Structure Against Thread Rust
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing length-adjustable shock absorbers face issues with thread rusting due to dirt and sand accumulation, leading to difficulty in adjusting the length and noise from relative rotation, and loose connections due to vibration.
Innovation Solution
A length-adjustable shock absorber design featuring a tubular body with recessed grooves and a locking lever that engages with the adjusting cylinder to prevent relative rotation and thread rusting, allowing easy adjustment and secure locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a threaded body is used for height adjustment, then the shock absorber can be adjusted to different lengths, but dirt and sand accumulate between the threads causing rusting and making adjustment difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the threaded connection structure that causes dirt accumulation and replaces it with a groove-based locking mechanism. The adjusting cylinder has grooves that engage with corresponding grooves on the shock absorber body, eliminating the enclosed thread space where dirt and sand accumulate, thus preventing rust while maintaining length adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the continuous threaded surface into discrete groove features. Instead of relying on continuous thread engagement, the design uses multiple circumferential grooves that provide both adjustment capability and locking function, reducing the surface area where dirt can accumulate and causing rust.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a retaining ring is used to position the connecting seat, then height adjustment is possible, but vibration causes relative rotation between the retaining ring and spindle reducing positioning effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a locking lever that can be manually engaged before vibration occurs. This preliminary locking action secures the adjusting cylinder in place, preventing any relative rotation that would otherwise occur during vehicle operation. The groove engagement is designed to be locked in advance, ensuring stability during subsequent vibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the positioning function and locking function into a single integrated groove engagement system. The grooves on both the adjusting cylinder and shock absorber body work together to provide both the positioning capability for height adjustment and the anti-rotation locking mechanism, eliminating the need for separate retaining rings and spindles.
3Ease of operation
If a threaded connection is used for adjustment, then length can be changed, but the retaining ring and spindle rotate relative to each other during vibration causing loosening and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spindle component entirely and replaces the threaded connection with a groove engagement system. The locking lever engages the grooves to prevent rotation, eliminating the source of vibration-induced loosening and noise while maintaining ease of adjustment through the same lever mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking lever is designed to be engaged after adjustment, creating a preliminary locking action that prevents any relative rotation during vibration. This advance locking prevents the harmful effects of vibration before they can occur, eliminating noise and loosening issues.
Data Source
AI summary
A length-adjustable shock absorber includes a tubular body and an adjusting cylinder. The tubular body has one end formed with threads to form a threaded section. The threaded section is interrupted in an axial direction by at least one recessed groove. The adjusting cylinder is threadedly connected to the threaded section and has at least one through hole. The through hole is rotated along with the adjusting cylinder to face the recessed groove. A locking lever is pivotally connected outside the through hole. The locking lever is pivotable between a locking position and an unlocking position. When the locking lever is pivoted to the locking position, it is engaged in the recessed groove to lock the adjusting cylinder. When the locking lever is pivoted to the unlocking position, it is disengaged from the recessed groove to unlock the adjusting cylinder.