Side-Collector Damper Intake Valve Assembly for Compact Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current damper designs are bulky and costly due to the inclusion of valve blocks and check valves, which increase the size and complexity of the damper, making them inefficient in absorbing vibrations effectively.
Innovation Solution
A damper design featuring an inner tube with a piston that defines working chambers, an outer tube with a cover member and control valves externally mounted, and an intake valve assembly that eliminates the need for mechanical attachment of the intake valve assembly to the outer tube, allowing for pre-assembly and reduced packaging height, thereby minimizing size and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If valve blocks and check valves are included in damper designs, then fluid flow control is improved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the intake valve assembly from the traditional valve block structure and positions it separately within the outer tube. This separation eliminates the need for a complex valve block while maintaining fluid flow control functionality through the independently positioned intake valve assembly with its own valve body and valve members.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper is segmented into distinct functional components: the piston assembly within the inner tube, the intake valve assembly within the outer tube, and externally mounted control valves. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall structure by eliminating the need for integrated valve blocks.
2Reliability
If valve blocks and check valves are included in damper designs, then fluid flow control is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a traditional longitudinal valve block arrangement to a radial/dimensional arrangement where the intake valve assembly is positioned within the outer tube volume. This dimensional change allows better space utilization and reduces the overall damper size while maintaining fluid flow control capabilities.
3Stability of the object's composition
If intake valve assembly is mechanically attached to outer tube, then structural stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intake valve assembly is designed to be self-retaining within the outer tube through its own structural features, eliminating the need for external mechanical attachment mechanisms. The valve assembly maintains its position through internal clearance fits and structural interference, simplifying the manufacturing process by eliminating welding or fastening operations.
4Reliability
If traditional damper design with valve blocks is used, then fluid control functionality is complete, but packaging height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent redistributes valve components from a longitudinal arrangement (increasing height) to a radial arrangement within the outer tube volume. The intake valve assembly utilizes the radial space between the inner and outer tubes, and control valves are mounted externally, thereby reducing the packaging height while maintaining complete fluid control functionality.
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 design enhances the efficiency of vibration absorption by optimizing the placement and assembly of components, reducing the overall height of control valves and eliminating the need for welding, resulting in a more compact and cost-effective damper.
Implementation Method 1
The piston may limit the flow of damping fluid between first and second working chambers that are defined within the damper body in order to produce a damping force that counteracts the vibrations
Implementation Method 2
one or more intake valves that control fluid flow through the intake valve assembly between the first intermediate chamber and the central passage and between the first intermediate chamber and the fluid transport chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A damper with inner and outer tubes and a piston disposed within the inner tube to define first and second working chambers. A fluid transport chamber is positioned between the inner and outer tubes. A collector chamber is positioned outside the outer tube. An intake valve assembly, abutting one end of the inner tube, is positioned inside the outer tube to define a first intermediate chamber that is arranged in fluid communication with the collector chamber. The intake valve assembly includes a central passage that is arranged in fluid communication with the second working chamber and one or more intake valves that control fluid flow through the intake valve assembly between the first intermediate chamber and the central passage and between the first intermediate chamber and the fluid transport chamber.