Shock Absorber Valve Stopper Layout for Durable Damping Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional valves in shock absorbers suffer from reduced durability due to stress concentration when deflecting, which affects the damping force characteristics and depends on piston speed, leading to inefficient damping performance.
Innovation Solution
A valve design with an annular valve body and first and second valve stoppers that support the valve body at different radial positions and heights, dispersing stress and improving durability by allowing controlled deflection and flow resistance adjustment based on piston speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the valve body deflects to adjust damping force at high piston speeds, then the damping coefficient can be reduced, but stress concentration occurs reducing valve body durability
Solution Approach 1:
The valve stopper is designed with multiple support portions positioned at different radial distances from the central axis, creating non-uniform support characteristics. This allows different regions of the valve body to experience different support conditions during deflection, distributing stress more evenly and preventing concentration at single points while maintaining the adaptive damping force characteristic
2Force
If the gap at the free end is maintained narrow for low speed damping, then damping force is sufficient at low speeds, but the gap widens at high speeds reducing damping control
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is designed to dynamically deflect based on piston speed. At low speeds, the valve body remains relatively straight maintaining a narrow gap for sufficient damping force. At high speeds, the valve body deflects toward the central axis, dynamically adjusting the gap width to control flow resistance and maintain appropriate damping characteristics across the speed range
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 solution enhances the durability of the valve body and maintains efficient damping force characteristics across varying piston speeds by reducing stress concentration and optimizing flow resistance, thereby improving the overall performance of the shock absorber.
Implementation Method 1
when the extension/contraction speed (piston speed) of the shock absorber increases and the end of the free end side deflects
Implementation Method 2
the valve body is deflected
Implementation Method 3
a valve is used to generate a damping force by providing resistance to a flow of a liquid generated during extension and contraction of a shock absorber
Data Source
AI summary
The valve includes a valve case; an annular valve body, an outer peripheral end of which is a free end movable to both sides in an axial direction with respect to the valve case; a facing portion provided in the valve case, the facing portion including an annular facing surface which is located on an outer peripheral side of the valve body and is configured to face the free end with a gap; and first and second valve stoppers which are located on both sides respectively in the axial direction of the valve body. The first and second valve stoppers, respectively, have a plurality of support portions that are configured to support different positions of the valve body in a radial direction at different heights when the valve body deflects.