Telescopic Fork Leg Damping System with Constant Volume Piston Rod
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telescopic fork legs with damping systems face challenges in achieving independent damping characteristics, require complex adjustment facilities, and suffer from increased medium volume and cavitation issues, necessitating a solution that integrates telescoping and damping functions with reduced components and external dimensions.
Innovation Solution
The telescopic fork leg design features a piston rod arrangement maintaining constant volume during shift motions, providing positive pressure on the low-pressure side, with adjustable leak flows for compression and return motions, and incorporates a low-pressure point to manage volume changes due to temperature variations, eliminating the need for additional valves and reducing external dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional telescopic fork leg with damping system is used, then the basic telescoping and damping functions are provided, but the damping characteristics cannot be made independent and the adjustment facilities become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The damping system is segmented into separate adjustment mechanisms for compression and rebound damping. Each direction of motion has its own leak flow adjustment, allowing independent control of damping characteristics without requiring complex integrated adjustment facilities
Solution Approach 2:
The valve arrangement is designed to be dynamically adjustable during operation. The shims can be positioned at different locations (in the main piston or beside it) and adjusted independently for compression and rebound motions, providing adaptable damping characteristics without complex external adjustment mechanisms
2Volume of stationary object
If the chamber volume is reduced to minimize external dimensions, then the telescopic fork fits better on the vehicle, but cavitation problems occur due to insufficient volume for medium displacement
Solution Approach 1:
A low-pressure point is introduced as an intermediary element in the damping system. This low-pressure point acts as a mediator that accommodates volume changes due to temperature variations and medium displacement, preventing pressure buildup that would lead to cavitation while maintaining compact external dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes pressure parameter changes by creating a controlled low-pressure zone. The pressure in the chamber is allowed to vary dynamically, with the low-pressure point serving as a reference that determines the pressure in the damping system, thereby preventing cavitation in the compact design
3Reliability
If additional valves are added to handle medium volume displacement, then cavitation is prevented, but the component count increases and external dimensions grow
Solution Approach 1:
The existing piston and chamber structure is made multi-functional. The same components that provide telescoping and damping functions also handle medium volume displacement through the low-pressure point mechanism, eliminating the need for separate valves and reducing overall component count
Solution Approach 2:
The damping system is designed to be self-regulating. The low-pressure point automatically accommodates volume changes and prevents cavitation without requiring additional active components or complex valve mechanisms, achieving cavitation prevention through the inherent design of the existing components
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
This design achieves improved damping characteristics with reduced component count, prevents cavitation, and maintains effective damping quality while allowing for easy adjustment and integration of telescoping and damping functions, maintaining positive pressure and minimizing volume changes due to temperature fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
the piston rod arrangement referred to in the introduction is designed so as in the chamber, with its parts present therein, to have substantially constant volume regardless of the shift motions and thereby to prevent substantial displacement creation and cause the medium to strive to assume and maintain a particular pressure, preferably a positive pressure, on the low-pressure side of the piston arrangement
Implementation Method 2
The said main flow of the damping system passes via damping members, for example shims, on or in the piston arrangement
Implementation Method 3
Leak flow passages can here be provided for both the compression motions and the return motions of the piston arrangement
Data Source
AI summary
A telescopic fork leg with damping system comprising piston and piston rod arrangements. The arrangements perform longitudinal shift motions in a medium-containing chamber. The chamber is situated in a tubular part belonging to the damping system. The piston rod arrangement is designed so as in the chamber, with its parts present therein, to have substantially constant volume regardless of the shift motions. Substantial displacement creation is thereby prevented. Moreover, the medium strives to assume and maintain a particular pressure, preferably a positive pressure, on the low-pressure side of the piston arrangement. Positive pressure build-up is therefore present in the damping system and the pressure on the low-pressure side does not need to be lower than the system pressure. A valve arrangement for handling a displacement can therefore be eliminated and the telescopic fork leg can be given an advantageous and easy-to-use structure with, for example, adjustment facilities for leak flows.