Coil-Over Shock Preload Adjustment Ring With Lever Tool Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for adjusting coil spring preload on coil-over shock absorbers are crude and inefficient, requiring tools like spanner wrenches, hammers, and drifts, making it difficult to adjust the preload without manual effort and precision.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable shock absorber system featuring a coil-over shock absorber with a dual-part adjustment ring assembly and a shock adjuster tool with a lever arm and tool grip portion, allowing for controlled rotation and torque application to adjust the preload efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional tools like spanner wrenches, hammers, and drifts are used to adjust coil spring preload, then the adjustment can be performed, but the process becomes crude and inefficient requiring significant manual effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary tool consisting of a lever arm with a grip portion that connects to the adjustment ring assembly. This intermediary mechanism translates manual gripping motion into controlled rotational torque, eliminating the need for crude tools like spanner wrenches and hammers while improving both ease of operation and adjustment efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment ring assembly incorporates a dynamic locking mechanism with movable locking members that can engage or disengage from the adjustment ring. This allows the system to transition between a locked state (for precise preload maintenance) and an unlocked state (for easy adjustment), resolving the contradiction between ease of adjustment and adjustment efficiency
2Reliability
If the adjustment ring is made lockable to maintain position, then the preload setting is stable, but the adjustment mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment ring assembly is segmented into multiple functional components: an adjustment ring with external threads, a locking mechanism with movable locking members, and a tool interface with lever arm attachment points. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function (adjustment, locking, or tool interface) independently, achieving reliable preload stability without excessive overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to be self-servicing through the tool interface. When the lever arm is rotated, it automatically actuates the locking members to engage or disengage from the adjustment ring. The system uses its own structure (the lever arm rotation) to perform the locking function, eliminating the need for separate complex locking systems while maintaining preload stability
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
Enables efficient and controlled adjustment of coil spring preload, allowing for precise tightening or loosening of the spring while attached to a vehicle or machinery, improving the method of adjusting vehicle dynamics such as ride height.
Implementation Method 1
a lever arm, with a tool grip portion connected to an inner end of the lever arm, wherein the tool grip portion is configured to detachably connect to the adjustment ring assembly
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable shock absorber system includes: a coil over shock absorber with a spring and a lockable adjustment ring; a protective cover assembly, optionally including top and bottom cover portions; a shock adjuster tool with a lever arm and a tool grip portion, including a band assembly, and a tool attachment assembly, including a connector member and a tool member; such that the tool grip portion detachably connects to the peripheral mounting surface of the lockable adjustment ring; whereby the shock adjuster tool can be used to adjust a preload of the coil-over shock absorber. Alternatively, an adjustable shock absorber system includes: a coil-over shock absorber with a spring and an adjustment ring; an adjustment ring assembly, which detachably interlocks with the adjustment ring; and a shock adjuster tool with a lever arm and a tool grip portion, which detachably connects with the adjustment ring assembly.