Shock Absorber Valve Arrangement for Soft Opening Damping Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve arrangements in shock absorbers suffer from overshooting issues, which negatively affect damping characteristics and on-road comfort due to initial pressure increases in the pilot chamber.
Innovation Solution
A valve arrangement with a resiliently loaded main valve member that moves away from the pilot chamber during initial pressure increases, increasing the pilot chamber volume and providing a soft opening mechanism to alleviate overshooting, while also allowing active control of damping characteristics through pilot pressure management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the pilot chamber volume is decreased during initial pressure increase, then the valve opens quickly, but overshooting occurs that negatively affects damping characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of decreasing the pilot chamber volume during initial pressure increase (conventional approach), the invention increases the pilot chamber volume. This inverted approach prevents the rapid pressure buildup that causes overshooting, while still enabling controlled valve opening through the resiliently loaded main valve member that can move in both directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of pilot chamber volume behavior during pressure increase. By making the volume increase rather than decrease, and by enabling bidirectional movement of the main valve member, the system achieves smooth valve opening without overshooting, improving damping characteristics while maintaining responsive control.
2Device complexity
If the main valve member is fixed in position, then the valve structure is simple, but the valve cannot respond dynamically to pressure changes
Solution Approach 1:
The main valve member is designed to be resiliently loaded and movable in both directions along the longitudinal axis, transforming it from a static component to a dynamic one. This enables the valve to adapt to varying pressure conditions while maintaining a relatively simple structure through the use of resilient loading mechanisms.
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 solution effectively reduces noise and vibration harshness, enhancing on-road comfort by preventing overshooting and improving dynamic damping properties.
Implementation Method 1
a pilot pressure (PP) is defined by a hydraulic pressure in said pilot chamber
Implementation Method 2
the main valve member (4) is resiliently loaded in a steady-state position from where it is movable in both directions along the longitudinal axis (A)
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a valve arrangement for a shock absorber. The valve arrangement comprises a valve housing comprising a first and a second port and a pilot chamber being in fluid communication with said first and/or second port, a pilot pressure is defined by a hydraulic pressure in said pilot chamber, a main valve member being axially movably along a longitudinal axis in said valve housing in order to restrict a main fluid flow between said first and second ports in response to said pilot pressure acting on said main valve member. Further, the main valve member is resiliently loaded in a steady-state position from where it is movable in both directions along the longitudinal axis and is configured to, during an initial pressure increase of the main fluid, move in a direction away from the pilot chamber. The disclosure further relates to a method for controlling a damping medium flow in a shock absorber.