Suspension Solenoid Valve Assembly With Pressure-Balanced Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solenoid valves in suspension systems require high electromagnetic force for fluid flow control, leading to increased power consumption and potential leakage, and suffer from movable part sticking and impact noise due to part contact during operation.
Innovation Solution
A solenoid valve assembly with a separator and membrane configuration that separates internal and external fluid paths, maintains pressure equilibrium, and uses a variable pitch spring to minimize cross-sectional area and reduce noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If high-pressure air is used for fluid flow control in suspension systems, then the damping and stiffness characteristics can be effectively adjusted, but a large electromagnetic force is required leading to increased power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is divided into two separate chambers: a first chamber for receiving high-pressure air and a second chamber for discharge. A partition wall with a through-hole separates these chambers, creating distinct pressure zones. This segmentation allows the high-pressure air to act on a smaller area (the through-hole) rather than the entire valve seat, reducing the electromagnetic force required while maintaining effective flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall is designed with a specific through-hole configuration that concentrates the high-pressure air flow into a localized region. This local quality approach ensures that the electromagnetic force is applied only where necessary (at the through-hole) rather than across the entire valve interface, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining effective damping and stiffness control.
2Reliability
If conventional solenoid valve configuration is used, then fluid flow can be controlled, but movable parts may stick and impact noise occurs due to part contact during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger component is completely removed from the valve structure. Instead of using a plunger that moves and contacts parts, the invention uses a valve member that rotates about a rotation axis. This extraction of the plunger eliminates the sticking problem associated with linear moving parts while the rotational motion naturally reduces impact noise compared to abrupt linear engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve member transitions from static or linear motion to rotational motion about a rotation axis. This dynamic change allows the valve to open and close through rotation rather than linear movement, reducing the likelihood of sticking and minimizing impact noise during operation. The rotational dynamics provide smoother operation compared to conventional linear plunger mechanisms.
3Power
If high-pressure air is used for suspension control, then effective damping adjustment is achieved, but leakage may occur in fluid-tight parts
Solution Approach 1:
A valve seat is introduced as an intermediary component between the high-pressure air source and the discharge chamber. The valve member contacts this valve seat during closure to seal the flow path. This intermediary structure provides a dedicated sealing interface that maintains fluid-tight performance under high-pressure conditions while enabling effective damping control through precise valve seat design.
Solution Approach 2:
The conventional linear plunger sealing mechanism is replaced with a rotational valve member that seals against a valve seat. This mechanical substitution improves sealing reliability because the rotational contact between the valve member and valve seat creates a more reliable seal under high-pressure conditions compared to linear plunger mechanisms, preventing leakage while maintaining damping control effectiveness.
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 smooth mode switching with reduced power consumption, prevents movable part sticking, and minimizes impact noise by optimizing fluid flow paths and using a variable pitch spring for enhanced elasticity.
Implementation Method 1
a coil provided inside the housing and for generating an electromagnetic force upon the power application
Implementation Method 2
providing a restoring force to the plunger; a variable pitch spring interposed between the magnetic core and the plunger
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure discloses a solenoid valve assembly for switching a mode in a suspension system, which sets an internal path separately independent from an external path for the mode switching of fluid to make the equilibrium state of the pressure operating on the inside surface and outside surface of membrane, thus smoothly controlling the opening/closing of the port by supplying a relatively small magnitude of an operating power applied to a coil of a solenoid, prevents the sticking of a movable rod with respect to a magnetic core upon the operation of the solenoid valve, thus normally performing the mode switching, and minimizes the flow cross-sectional area of the air in the internal path for fluid flow to provide a narrow section portion implementing an air cushion function, thus reducing impact noise caused by the opening/closing operation of the valve.