Shock Absorber Valve With Sleeve-Spool Damping Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shock absorbers lack the ability to provide a wide range of adjustment of damping parameters, require lengthy adjustment times, and do not allow easy control of actuation threshold values, limiting their adaptability to various applications.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable valve with a hollow valve body, rotatable sleeve, and movable spool that allows for precise control of damping parameters through alignment of apertures, enabling high-speed and low-speed damping adjustments, and combining the functions of a bleed valve and spool valve for rapid parameter adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If shim stack valves or conventional spool valves are used, then the shock absorber can provide basic damping function, but the range of adjustment of damping parameters is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber, second chamber, third chamber) with separate control mechanisms. The rotatable sleeve is segmented with multiple apertures that can be independently aligned, and the movable spool is divided into multiple parts that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows independent control of different damping parameters, enabling a wide range of adjustment while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve employs dynamic adjustment mechanisms where the rotatable sleeve can rotate to different angular positions to align various aperture combinations, and the movable spool can shift positions to vary opening areas. This dynamic capability allows the shock absorber to adapt damping parameters in real-time, providing versatile adjustment range without requiring multiple fixed valve configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable bleed valves are used, then damping parameters can be adjusted, but the adjustment time is lengthy
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable sleeve is pre-configured with multiple apertures at different angular positions, and the movable spool is pre-positioned with specific opening areas. These preliminary configurations allow for rapid selection of damping parameters by simply rotating the sleeve or moving the spool, eliminating the need for lengthy adjustment procedures. The system prepares multiple ready-to-use configurations that can be quickly switched between.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex multi-step mechanical adjustment mechanisms with a simplified rotation-and-slide system. The rotatable sleeve provides angular positioning control, while the movable spool provides linear positioning control. This substitution reduces adjustment time by converting complex mechanical operations into simple rotational and linear movements that can be executed rapidly.
3Ease of operation
If conventional valves relying solely on pressure threshold values are used, then actuation is simple, but the control of adjustment parameters is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the valve are assigned different functions: the rotatable sleeve controls aperture alignment for flow path selection, the movable spool controls opening area for flow rate adjustment, and the valve body chambers provide pressure differential generation. This local differentiation of qualities allows simple actuation through localized movements while achieving comprehensive control over damping parameters through the combined effect of these localized actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds angular dimension control through the rotatable sleeve to the traditional linear pressure-based control. While conventional valves only vary flow area in one dimension (linear movement), this invention introduces a second dimension (angular rotation) that enables independent control of flow paths and opening areas. This dimensional expansion provides superior parameter control while maintaining ease of operation through simple rotational and linear movements.
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
The adjustable valve provides a wider range of damping adjustments, reducing adjustment time and stress on components, enhancing adaptability to various vehicle conditions, and improving shock absorber performance.
Implementation Method 1
the movable spool is configured to divide the hollow valve body into a first chamber and second chamber
Implementation Method 2
the rotation of the rotatable sleeve relative to the hollow valve body is configured to vary an alignment between at least one sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures and at least one valve aperture of the plurality of valve apertures
Implementation Method 3
the movement of the movable spool relative to the hollow valve body is configured to vary an available opening area of at least one valve aperture of the plurality of valve apertures
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
An adjustable valve (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) for a shock absorber. The adjustable valve comprising a hollow valve body (110, 410) wherein the hollow valve body comprises a plurality of valve apertures (160, 170, 180, 460, 470, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498). The adjustable valve according to the first aspect further comprises a rotatable sleeve (140, 440) rotatably arranged around at least part of the hollow valve body, wherein the rotatable sleeve comprises a plurality of sleeve apertures (165, 175, 185, 465, 475, 485). The adjustable valve further comprises a movable spool (130, 430) slidably arranged within the hollow valve body and configured to move relative to the hollow valve body wherein the movable spool is configured to divide the hollow valve body into a first chamber (210) and second chamber (215). Moreover, the rotation of the rotatable sleeve relative to the hollow valve body is configured to vary an alignment between at least one sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures and at least one valve aperture of the plurality of valve apertures. Additionally, according to the first aspect the movement of the movable spool relative to the hollow valve body is configured to vary an available opening area of at least one valve aperture of the plurality of valve apertures.