Shock Absorber Leaf Valve Geometry to Prevent Seat Sticking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing valve design in shock absorbers often results in the leaf valve sticking to the seat portion, leading to abnormal noise due to vibration, which compromises the quietness of the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
The valve design features a leaf valve with an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the seat surface, reducing the contact area and minimizing sticking force, allowing smooth movement and reducing vibrations during opening and closing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the leaf valve outer periphery is allowed to seat on the seat portion to close the port, then the valve can effectively close the port, but the leaf valve sticks fast to the seat portion and cannot smoothly move apart
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies curvature by making the outer periphery of the leaf valve and the seat portion both have circular arc shapes with matched radii. This curved contact geometry reduces the contact area between the leaf valve and seat portion, minimizing the sticking force and enabling smooth valve opening while maintaining effective port closing when seated.
2Reliability
If the leaf valve sticks fast to the seat portion, then the valve maintains a tight seal, but the leaf valve vigorously moves apart and vibrates causing abnormal sound
Solution Approach 1:
By configuring both the leaf valve outer periphery and seat portion with circular arc shapes, the invention creates a line contact or reduced area contact rather than a broad surface contact. This reduces the sticking force that causes violent valve opening and subsequent vibration, thereby eliminating abnormal sound while maintaining adequate sealing through the curved contact geometry.
3Reliability
If the contact area between leaf valve and seat portion is large, then the valve sealing is improved, but the sticking force increases causing vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The circular arc shape configuration of both the leaf valve outer periphery and seat portion transforms the contact from a large area to a reduced area or line contact. This curvature-based design maintains sealing effectiveness through the conformal contact while significantly reducing the sticking force that leads to vibration and abnormal sound during valve operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Valves of the present invention includes: a valve seat member equipped with a port and a seat portion surrounding an outlet end of the port; and an annular leaf valve whose inner periphery is immovably laid on top of the valve seat member and whose outer periphery to be seated on or spaced apart from the seat portion, wherein an external shape of the leaf valve is larger than an internal shape of a seat surface of the seat portion or larger than a virtual circle passing through an inner periphery of a seat surface of each circular arc shaped portion on the seat portion, and is smaller than an external shape of the seat surfaces or smaller than a virtual circle passing through an outer periphery of the seat surface of each circular arc shaped portion.