Shock Absorber Valve Member Gap Design for Debris Discharge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In shock absorbers, foreign matter can become trapped between the valve member and the channel, compromising the seal performance and hindering the discharge of debris.
Innovation Solution
A shock absorber design featuring a cylinder with partitioned liquid chambers, a rod member, and a valve member that forms a gap with the channel member, including a projecting portion to facilitate foreign matter discharge while maintaining seal integrity, through a bypass path and pressure chamber with a throttle member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the valve member is made deformable to adjust damping force, then the damping force can be adjusted according to liquid pressure, but foreign matter can be trapped between the valve member and channel member, degrading seal performance
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member is divided into multiple functional regions: a deformation portion in the center for damping adjustment and projecting portions around the outer periphery for maintaining gaps. This segmentation allows different parts to serve different purposes - the deformation portion responds to pressure for adaptability, while the projecting portions maintain structural integrity and gaps for reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the valve member have different properties: the center region is designed to be deformable under pressure, while the outer periphery has rigid projecting portions that maintain a constant gap with the channel member. This local differentiation enables the valve to simultaneously achieve damping adjustment and prevent foreign matter entrapment
2Reliability
If the valve member is made rigid to maintain seal, then foreign matter discharge is hindered, but damping force adjustment capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member combines rigid projecting portions for sealing with a deformable center portion for pressure response. The rigid outer structure prevents foreign matter entrapment while the deformable inner structure enables damping adjustment, resolving the contradiction between seal integrity and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The projecting portions act as intermediaries between the rigid channel member and the deformable valve body. They maintain a controlled gap that prevents foreign matter entrapment while allowing the deformation portion to respond to pressure changes for damping adjustment
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
Effectively discharges foreign matter without degrading the seal performance of the valve member, ensuring consistent operation and preventing foreign matter entrapment.
Implementation Method 1
a valve member deformed or displaced depending on a pressure of the liquid in the channel of the channel member to open and close the channel
Implementation Method 2
a bypass path extending from the first liquid chamber to the second liquid chamber, and a pressure chamber communicating with the bypass path via a throttle member provided in the bypass path to throttle a channel
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to facilitate discharge of foreign matter present around a valve member, while inhibiting degradation of seal performance of the valve member. A shock absorber includes a cylinder portion containing a liquid, a piston valve partitioning a space in the cylinder portion into a first oil chamber and a second oil chamber which contain oil, a piston rod connected to the piston valve and moving in an axial direction of the cylinder portion, a piston nut 43 (cylinder portion 433) forming a channel for the liquid between the first oil chamber and the second oil chamber, and a float valve 52 deformed or displaced depending on the pressure of oil in the channel in the piston nut 43 to open and close the channel. The float valve 52 for the channel member includes a projecting portion 52P and a recessed portion 52M so that, with the position of the float valve 52 adjusted, a gap is formed between the float valve 52 and the piston nut 43 (cylinder portion 433).