Shock Absorber Piston With Nested Ring Connecting Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shock absorber designs require complex architectures and significant piston height, limiting their ability to achieve various damping characteristics, especially complex ones, and result in reduced working strokes, making them inflexible and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A shock absorber design featuring a piston with a ring-shaped connecting member and central members that allow for flexible implementation of complex damping characteristics at a short building height, utilizing main and secondary channels with non-return valves and an auxiliary valve for additional damping, enabling frequency-dependent damping behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex damping characteristics are implemented using conventional piston designs, then the damping performance is improved, but the piston building height increases and working stroke is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The piston design places the first and second central members inside the connecting member, creating a nested structure where smaller components are housed within larger ones. This nesting arrangement allows complex damping channels and valves to be compacted into a smaller overall piston height while maintaining the required working stroke
Solution Approach 2:
The piston design utilizes radial arrangement of channels and valves within the connecting member, transitioning from a linear vertical stacking approach to a multi-dimensional radial configuration. This allows multiple damping functions to be integrated in the radial direction rather than requiring increased height in the axial direction
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional piston designs are used to achieve various damping behaviors, then the damping functionality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural connector between central members, provides housing for damping channels, contains non-return valves, and facilitates fluid flow control. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed while achieving complex damping characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The piston is divided into modular components (connecting member, first central member, second central member) that can be independently designed and assembled. Each segment handles specific damping functions, allowing for standardized manufacturing and easier maintenance while achieving versatile damping behavior through their coordinated arrangement
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 achieves flexible implementation of complex damping characteristics at a reduced piston height, providing a longer working stroke and improved damping behavior, including additional comfort and frequency-dependent damping, enhancing the overall performance of the shock absorber.
Implementation Method 1
a first main non-return valve associated with the first main channel such that the first main channel and first main non-return valve allow a first main fluid flow from the second side to the first side of the piston
Implementation Method 2
a piston sealing against the cylinder wall and dividing the cylinder in first and second cylinder chambers
Implementation Method 3
the first main channel and first main non-return valve allow and damp a first main fluid flow from the second side to the first side of the piston
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A shock absorber (10) comprises a cylinder (12) and a piston (11) dividing the cylinder in first and second cylinder chambers (10.1, 10.2), the piston (11) being movable within the cylinder (12). The piston (11) comprises a first main channel (101, 301) and a first main non-return valve (111) allowing a first main fluid flow (F10) from the second to the first chamber; and a second main channel (202, 302) and a second main non-return valve (212) allowing a second main fluid flow (F20) from the first to the second chamber. Further the piston (11) comprises a connecting member (300) comprising a part of the first main channel and a part of the second main channel; a first central member (100) comprising another part of the first main channel and received into the connecting member (300) such that the parts of the first main channel in the connecting member and the first central member are in line; and a second central member (200) comprising another part of the second main channel and received into the connecting member (300) such that the parts of the second main channel in the connecting member and the second central member are in line. The connecting member seals against the cylinder wall.