Electronic Steering Damper Valve With Radial Ports for Precise Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering dampers with electronically controllable valves are insensitive to lower damping forces and require strong actuators for high forces, making them unsuitable for small vehicles like bicycles and motorcycles, where a more precise control of damper medium flow is needed.
Innovation Solution
A valve design with a longitudinally slidable valve body and radial ports around the outer valve case, coupled with an electronic actuator, allows for precise control of damper medium flow, featuring a bleed port for pressure balancing and a conical portion to reduce turbulence, enabling accurate damping force adjustment and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a needle valve is moved axially to open for damping medium flow, then the valve allows high damping medium flow, but the valve becomes insensitive to lower damping forces
Solution Approach 1:
The single axial needle valve is segmented into multiple radial ports distributed around the valve body. This segmentation allows the valve to control flow through multiple smaller openings rather than one large opening, enabling precise control of lower damping forces while maintaining the capability for high flow when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve transitions from controlling flow in one dimension (axial movement of needle valve) to controlling flow in multiple dimensions through radial ports distributed circumferentially. This dimensional change enables more granular control over the damping medium flow, improving sensitivity to varying damping forces.
2Force
If larger fluid pressures are caused by higher forces, then the forces on the needle increase, but a stronger actuator is required which increases the size of the steering damper
Solution Approach 1:
The force requirement is segmented across multiple radial ports rather than concentrated on a single needle valve. This distribution of force requirements allows the use of a smaller actuator while still achieving the necessary total damping force through the combined effect of multiple ports.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve design changes the pressure distribution parameters by using multiple radial ports instead of a single axial needle valve. This parameter change reduces the peak pressure on any single point, allowing a smaller actuator to control the overall damping force while maintaining the capability for high damping forces when needed.
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 provides high precision in responding to changes in driving conditions, reduces the load on the actuator, and allows for smaller, faster electronic actuators, enhancing vehicle stability and handling while minimizing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the valve body seals the radial ports when the valve body is in the closed position and such that the valve body does not seal the radial ports when the valve body is in the open position
Implementation Method 2
The bleed port allows a constant two-way flow of damper medium such that even when the valve body is in the closed position, there can be a flow of damper medium through the valve between two damping chambers of a steering device
Implementation Method 3
a housing connected with the outer valve case. The housing houses an electronic actuator operatively coupled to the valve body for moving the valve body within the outer valve case along the longitudinal axis
Implementation Method 4
featuring a bleed port for pressure balancing and a conical portion to reduce turbulence
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a valve (1) for regulating a damper medium flow in a steering damper, the valve (1) comprising an outer valve case (2) extending around a longitudinal axis (A) from a first end (4) to a second end (6); a valve body (10) arranged in the outer valve case (2) and longitudinally slidable therein; and a housing (20) connected with the outer valve case (2), wherein the housing (20) houses an electronic actuator (22) operatively coupled to the valve body (10) for moving the valve body (10) within the outer valve case (2) along the longitudinal axis (A) between a closed position, in which the valve body (10) is closer to the first end (4) of the outer valve case (2), and an open position, in which the valve body (10) is closer to the second end (6) of the outer valve case (2). The outer valve case (2) comprises a plurality of radial ports (3) distributed around a circumferential portion (5) of the outer valve case (2), wherein the radial ports (3) are arranged such that the valve body (10) seals the radial ports (3) when the valve body (10) is in the closed position and such that the valve body (10) does not seal the radial ports (3) when the valve body (10) is in the open position. The outer valve case (2) further comprises a bleed port (7) arranged at a wall portion of the outer valve case (2) positioned between the first end (4) of the outer valve case (2) and the circumferential portion (5) around which the radial ports (3) are distributed. The disclosure further relates to a steering damper comprising the valve and to a method of assembling a valve for a steering damper.