Shock Absorber Valve With Spool Control for Faster Damping Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrically controlled valves in shock absorbers are slow to react to control signals, leading to inadequate adaptation of damping characteristics, and are often larger and more expensive due to the need for strong actuators to manage fluid pressure.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring a spool movable between open and restricting positions, with radial ports and a pressure compensation chamber, allowing for rapid fluid flow adjustment and reduced actuator power requirements, utilizing a stepper motor for precise control and minimizing manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a needle valve controlled by an actuator is used to control fluid flow, then the valve can adjust damping properties, but the actuator becomes slow and requires strong power to handle larger fluid pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is segmented into multiple independent channels (first fluid channel and second fluid channel) with separate control mechanisms. The needle valve controls the first channel while the spool valve controls the second channel, allowing distributed control that reduces the power burden on any single actuator while maintaining fast response through the spool valve's low-inertia design.
Solution Approach 2:
The spool valve acts as an intermediary element that rapidly adjusts fluid flow in the second channel in response to actuator position changes. This intermediary mechanism translates the actuator's movement into quick fluid flow adjustments, thereby achieving fast reaction speed without requiring the actuator itself to be high-power.
2Speed
If a spool valve is used to control fluid flow rapidly, then the reaction speed improves, but the valve size and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spool valve is merged with the piston holder, integrating the spool's outer surface directly into the piston holder structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate spool valve housing components, reducing overall valve size and simplifying manufacturing while preserving the fast response characteristics of the spool valve mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If the spool is guided in the secondary fluid channel, then the spool movement is precisely controlled, but the pressure drop occurs further from the inlet causing fading
Solution Approach 1:
The spool is guided in a direction perpendicular to the main fluid flow direction, creating a cross-dimensional control arrangement. The spool moves radially across the fluid channel rather than axially with the flow, allowing precise control while maintaining the pressure drop close to the inlet. This dimensional change enables the spool to intercept and control flow without extending far downstream.
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 valve design enhances reaction speed and reduces the size and cost of the actuator, enabling quicker adaptation of damping characteristics while maintaining consistent and predictable fluid flow, thus improving the performance and efficiency of shock absorbers.
Implementation Method 1
The spool is configured to throttle the secondary fluid flow at the fluid inlets of the piston holder by gradually blocking the fluid inlets of the secondary fluid channel with an outer surface of the spool
Implementation Method 2
the pressure of the fluid contained within the piston holder and the spool is substantially constant independently of the fluid pressure in the second chamber of the first chamber
Implementation Method 3
The valve further comprises an electrically controlled actuator configured to move the spool between its open and restricting positions
Data Source
AI summary
An electrically controlled valve for a shock absorber. The valve comprises a piston providing a primary fluid channel for damping fluid and a housing in which a piston holder is provided with an internal secondary fluid channel for damping fluid. Fluid flow (23) through the secondary fluid channel for damping fluid. Fluid flow through the secondary fluid channel is controlled by a spool movable within the piston holder wherein the movement of the spool is enabled by an electrically controlled actuator. Fluid flow through the secondary fluid channel is controlled by restriction at the inlet of the secondary fluid channel the inlet comprising one or more radial holes through the piston holder.