Tiered-Response Damper With O-Ring Flow Path Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dampers rely on manufacturing tolerances and wear of the housing to define damping force, leading to unpredictability and unreliability over time.
Innovation Solution
A piston-and-cylinder-type damper design where the damping response is defined solely by the piston assembly, using an O-ring that changes positions based on compression speed to control fluid flow through different pathways, independent of the housing condition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a disk deforms under pressure to close the internal passage when closing force is high, then the damping response is defined by housing and piston assembly interaction, but the final force definition becomes dependent on manufacturing tolerances and wear, causing loss of precision over time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the damping force definition into two distinct pathways: a first pathway for low closing forces and a second pathway for high closing forces. This segmentation allows each pathway to be optimized independently, with the second pathway being solely dependent on the piston assembly geometry, thereby eliminating the precision problems associated with housing-piston interaction tolerances and wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the high-force damping response definition from the housing-piston interaction and relocates it entirely to the piston assembly internal geometry. By taking out the dependency on housing tolerances and wear-prone interfaces, the system achieves stable and precise high-force damping characteristics that are solely determined by the piston assembly manufacturing.
2Speed
If the O-ring blocks the first pathway at high compression speeds, then damping fluid flows only through the second pathway, but this requires precise positioning and deformation control of the O-ring
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a dynamic O-ring that changes its position and deformation state based on compression speed and force. At low speeds, the O-ring remains in a first position allowing flow through both pathways; at high speeds, the O-ring deforms to block the first pathway, directing flow solely through the second pathway. This dynamic behavior enables speed-dependent damping control while maintaining reliability through the well-defined geometric relationship between the O-ring and piston assembly features.
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
Provides precise and predictable damping forces by ensuring the damping response is not dependent on housing integrity, maintaining accuracy and reliability throughout the damper's life cycle.
Implementation Method 1
when the compression speed or force of the piston assembly is relatively high (above the threshold), the O-ring is disposed at a second position relative to the piston assembly blocking or sealing the first pathway
Implementation Method 2
the O-ring is made of a flexible material, and is deformed when at the second position and not deformed when at the first position
Implementation Method 3
the first passageway is defined around the perimeter of the piston assembly, i.e. between said outer perimeter and an inner wall/surface of the casing
Implementation Method 4
the second pathway for the damping fluid to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber is an internal passage in the piston assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A piston-and-cylinder-type damper operable to perform a compression stroke and a return stroke, comprising a casing containing damping fluid, an O-ring inside the casing, and a piston assembly having a contact surface facing the O-ring is provided. When a compression speed or force of the piston assembly is relatively low, the O-ring is disposed at a first position relative to the piston assembly defining a first pathway and a second pathway for the damping fluid to flow from a first chamber to a second chamber, and when the compression speed or force of the piston assembly is relatively high, the O-ring is disposed at a second position relative to the piston assembly blocking the first pathway and allowing the damping fluid to flow only through the second pathway, wherein the first passageway is defined between an outer perimeter of the piston assembly and an inner wall of the casing.