Shock Assembly Fluid Circuit With Floating Shim Damping Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suspension systems require multiple fluid circuits and components to achieve varying damping forces, leading to increased manufacturing costs and complexity, while also requiring significant torque for adjusting compression settings.
Innovation Solution
A novel compression piston with a single adjustable circuit and a floating shim stack that allows for variable pre-loading, enabling control of damping forces from low to high settings and lockout without an internal floating piston, reducing the need for multiple circuits and components, and allowing for less torque to be applied for adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional suspension systems use multiple fluid circuits and components to achieve varying damping forces, then the damping force control is effective, but the manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fluid circuits into a single integrated circuit that serves multiple functions. The single circuit includes a compression chamber, rebound chamber, and accumulator chamber that work together to provide both compression and rebound damping control, eliminating the need for separate circuits while maintaining effective damping force control across different conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The single fluid circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides compression damping, rebound damping, and includes an accumulator function all within one integrated system. The circuit can adapt its characteristics through the floating shim stack mechanism to handle different damping requirements without needing separate dedicated circuits for each function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional suspension systems use multiple fluid circuits and components, then the damping control is effective, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple circuits into one, the patent reduces the number of components that need to be manufactured, assembled, and tested. The single circuit design with integrated chambers and the floating shim stack mechanism simplifies the manufacturing process while achieving the same damping control effectiveness that previously required multiple separate circuits.
3Adaptability or versatility
If significant torque is applied for adjusting compression settings, then the damping force adjustment is effective, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The floating shim stack acts as an intermediary mechanism between the adjustment input and the damping force output. Instead of requiring direct high-torque application to change damping forces, the shim stack provides mechanical advantage and progressive adjustment, allowing compression settings to be modified with reduced torque while still achieving effective damping force control.
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
This solution provides a cost-effective and performance-enhanced suspension system with adjustable damping forces, reducing manufacturing costs and complexity, while requiring less torque for adjustments, thereby improving ride comfort and component longevity.
Implementation Method 1
A novel compression piston with a single adjustable circuit and a floating shim stack that allows for variable pre-loading, enabling control of damping forces
Implementation Method 2
Shock absorbers (e.g., dampers) are used in numerous different vehicles and configurations to absorb some or all of a movement that is received at a first portion of a vehicle before it is transmitted to a second portion of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A device for controlling fluid flow in a shock assembly is disclosed. The device includes a single adjustable fluid circuit configured for controlling a damping force associated with multiple compression forces. The single adjustable fluid circuit comprises a fluid passageway through a base valve and a positionally adjustable piston assembly with a floating shim stack positioned at one end of the fluid passageway, the positionally adjustable piston assembly with the floating shim stack configured for selectively blocking a flow of fluid through the fluid passageway.