Steering Damper Valve Adjusts Damping via Relative Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering dampers struggle to differentiate between desired steering movements and undesired shocks caused by uneven ground, often requiring electronic components and failing to provide consistent damping characteristics for different users, while being costly and complex to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical steering damper system with a main valve unit that adjusts hydraulic fluid flow between two chambers based on the relative motion between the attaching part and the steering device, allowing for varying rotational damping depending on the cause of the movement, without electronic components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a steering damper provides strong damping to suppress shocks from uneven ground, then the handling stability is improved, but the steering responsiveness deteriorates due to delay in steering movement
Solution Approach 1:
The valve unit dynamically adjusts the opening area based on the cause of steering motion. When the driver steers, the valve opens fully for rapid fluid flow and responsive steering. When shocks occur from uneven ground, the valve restricts flow to damp vibrations. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between stability and responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping characteristic is made variable rather than uniform. The valve unit creates different flow resistance in different operating conditions - low resistance for driver-initiated steering movements and high resistance for shock-induced movements. This local differentiation of damping quality allows simultaneous optimization of both steering responsiveness and handling stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electronic components are used to sense and control damping based on movement cause, then the ability to separate desired steering movements from undesired shocks is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve unit automatically differentiates between driver-initiated steering and shock-induced movements without external control signals. The mechanical connection between the valve unit and steering components allows it to self-sense the cause of motion and self-adjust the damping characteristic accordingly, eliminating the need for electronic sensors and controllers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electronic sensing and control systems with a purely mechanical valve unit that responds directly to the physical characteristics of different steering movements. The valve's mechanical linkage to the steering components allows it to detect and respond to the cause of motion through mechanical forces alone, substituting complex electronics with simple mechanical intelligence.
3Measurement precision
If electronic sensors and controllers are installed to actively adapt damping, then the damping control precision is improved, but the manufacturing cost and ease of manufacture deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The valve unit uses simple, inexpensive mechanical components instead of expensive electronic sensors and actuators. The design prioritizes ease of manufacture and low cost while achieving sufficient damping control precision through clever mechanical design rather than expensive electronic measurement and control systems.
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
Enables effective separation of desired steering movements from undesired shocks, providing consistent damping characteristics for different users, while being inexpensive and uncomplicated to manufacture, without the need for electronic components.
Implementation Method 1
The main chamber is partitioned into two chambers, for example by means of a delimiting part that is either rotatable about a first end or laterally displaceable in the chamber. The flow of the hydraulic fluid between the chambers is adjusted by a main valve and enables an adjustable damping of the relative motion between the steering device and the frame/chassis.
Implementation Method 2
A steering damper is mounted between the rotating handlebar or steering wheel of a vehicle and its fixed frame or chassis in order to damp shocks and violent movements that propagate from the front wheel(s) to the handlebar.
Data Source
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AI summary
A device (1) is disclosed for in a vehicle adjusting the rotational damping of a steering device (2) such that the rotational damping varies depending on whether the rotational motion about a steering axis (SA) is caused by a force acting on the steering device (2) of the vehicle or a force acting on the part(s) (3) of the vehicle contacting the ground. The device comprises a steering damper (4) comprising a damping housing (4a) enclosing a main chamber which comprises hydraulic fluid and is partitioned into a first and a second damping chamber (C1, C2), for example by a delimiting part (11, 11') moveable in relation to the damping housing. The damping housing (4a) is fixed on an attaching part (5, 5') that couples together the part(s) (3) of the vehicle contacting the ground with the steering device (2). The present invention is characterized in that the flow of hydraulic fluid in the steering damper partly or wholly is adjusted by a main valve unit (HVU) that is coupled together with both the attaching part (5, 5') and the steering device (2). By means of this coupling the opening area (A1, A2) of the main valve unit is determined by a relative motion between the attaching part (5, 5') and the steering device (2) such that the flow of the hydraulic fluid in a direction from and to the respective damping chamber of the steering damper is controlled depending on the cause of the rotational movement. Furthermore, a steering device adapted to be arranged in a vehicle is disclosed.