Hydraulic Shock Absorber Spring Load Adjustment Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicular hydraulic shock absorbers face challenges in simplifying the structure for adjusting the spring load of suspension springs without detaching the axle, while ensuring durability and sufficient adjusting width, due to complex assembly processes and difficulties in sealing high-pressure working oil.

Innovation Solution

A hydraulic shock absorber design that allows vertical movement of the lower spring receiver to adjust spring load externally, using an adjusting bolt and nut mechanism that simplifies assembly and sealing, and supports the spring load directly, enabling adjustment without detaching the axle and enhancing durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a plunger and pump piston are slidably assembled to adjust spring load, then spring load adjustment is enabled, but manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespring load adjustmentVSAvoidparts machining and assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the spring load adjustment function from the complex slidable plunger-pump piston assembly and implements it through a simpler threaded adjusting bolt mechanism that directly moves the lower spring receiver, eliminating the need for complex sliding assemblies while maintaining adjustment capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of moving the plunger to adjust spring load as in conventional designs, the invention inverts the approach by directly moving the lower spring receiver through a threaded adjusting bolt, thereby simplifying the mechanical structure while achieving the same adjustment function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If a pressurizing chamber is used to support suspension spring load, then spring load adjustment is achieved, but sealing difficulty and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespring load adjustmentVSAvoidsealing of high pressure working oil
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the pressurizing chamber and its associated high-pressure sealing requirements, replacing the hydraulic pressure-based load support with a direct mechanical support structure that eliminates sealing complexity while maintaining spring load adjustment capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces expensive and complex high-pressure sealing components with simpler, more reliable mechanical structures that are easier to manufacture and maintain, reducing overall system cost and improving reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If a ball and slant member mechanism is used for spring load adjustment, then adjustment function is achieved, but durability decreases due to point contact deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespring load adjustmentVSAvoiddurability of slant member
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the ball-point contact mechanism with a threaded adjusting bolt that distributes contact forces over a larger surface area, eliminating point contact deformation and improving the durability of the slant member while maintaining adjustment functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the lower spring receiver is moved to adjust spring load, then adjustment width is improved, but assembly complexity increases when axle must be detached

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespring load adjusting widthVSAvoidassembly process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention integrates the spring load adjustment mechanism into the main body structure with the adjusting bolt accessible from outside, enabling the lower spring receiver to be moved for spring load adjustment without requiring axle detachment, thereby providing multi-functional access and simplifying the assembly process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP1780439B1Hydraulic shock absorber
Publication Date: 2008.12.17 SHOWA CORP
  • EP1780439B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1780439B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1780439B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a hydraulic shock absorber 10 having a suspension spring 33 interposed between an upper spring receiver 31 on the side of a piston rod 23 and a lower spring receiver 32 on the side of a bottom of an inner tube 12 in a working oil chamber 21 of the inner tube 12, the lower spring receiver 32 is supported by an adjust bolt 71 provided on the side of the bottom of the inner tube 12, the lower spring receiver 32 is vertically moved by threading motion of the adjust bolt 71, thereby adjusting a spring load of the suspension spring 33.