Side-Collector Damper Intake Valve Layout for Compact Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current damper designs are bulky and costly due to the inclusion of a valve block and check valves, which increase the size and overall cost, and often require mechanical attachment methods that complicate manufacturing and assembly.
Innovation Solution
A damper design featuring an inner and outer tube configuration with a piston that defines working chambers, an intake valve assembly, and externally mounted control valves, which minimizes the packaging height of the control valves and eliminates the need for mechanical attachment of the intake valve assembly by using a pre-assembled and press-fit approach, allowing for efficient fluid flow control during compression and extension strokes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a valve block and check valves are included in the damper design, then fluid flow control is improved, but the damper size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the valve block and check valves from the traditional damper design, eliminating these components entirely. Instead, the invention uses the outer tube to define a collector chamber and positions intake valves within the outer tube, allowing fluid flow control without the bulky valve block assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer tube serves multiple functions: it contains the intake valves, defines the collector chamber, provides structural support, and eliminates the need for separate valve blocks. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components and damper size while maintaining fluid flow control capabilities.
2Reliability
If a valve block and check valves are included in the damper design, then fluid flow control is improved, but the overall cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the valve block and check valves, the patent eliminates expensive components and simplifies the manufacturing process. The design uses fewer parts that require assembly, reducing both material costs and manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer tube performs multiple functions including structural support, intake valve housing, and collector chamber definition. This consolidation reduces the number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled, lowering overall production costs.
3Stability of the object's composition
If mechanical attachment methods are used for the intake valve assembly, then assembly stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the intake valve assembly with the outer tube by having the outer tube define the collector chamber in which the intake valves are positioned. This integration eliminates the need for separate mechanical attachment methods while maintaining assembly stability through the unified structure.
4Volume of moving object
If control valves are mounted internally in the damper, then space utilization is improved, but packaging height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the control valves horizontally along the outer tube rather than stacking them vertically. The first and second control valves are arranged side-by-side in a horizontal configuration, which reduces the packaging height while effectively utilizing the available space within the damper structure.
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 reduces the overall height of the control valves, simplifies manufacturing by eliminating welding, and enhances fluid flow control, resulting in a more compact, cost-effective, and efficient damper system.
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
Implementation Method 3
The first control valve controls the dampening level during extension strokes and the second control valve controls the damping level during compression strokes
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A damper (112; 112'; 112'') with inner and outer tubes (122, 136; 122'', 136'') and a piston (124; 124'') disposed within the inner tube to define first and second working chambers (126, 128;126'', 128''). A fluid transport chamber (138; 138'') is positioned between the inner and outer tubes (122, 136; 122'', 136''). A collector chamber (152; 152'') is positioned outside the outer tube. An intake valve assembly (154; 154'; 154''), abutting one end of the inner tube, is positioned inside the outer tube to define a first intermediate chamber (159a; 159a'; 159'') that is arranged in fluid communication with the collector chamber (152; 152''). The intake valve assembly (154; 154'; 154'') includes a central passage (158a; 158a'; 158a'') that is arranged in fluid communication with the second working chamber 128; 128'') and one or more intake valves (155a, 155b; 155a', 155b'; 155a'', 155b'') that control fluid flow through the intake valve assembly (154; 154'; 154'') between the first intermediate chamber (159a; 159a'; 159a'') and the central passage (158a; 158a'; 158a'') and between the first intermediate chamber (159a; 159a'; 159a'') and the fluid transport chamber (138; 138'; 138'').