Variable Damping Shock Absorber with Internal Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing variable damping force shock absorbers are bulky due to protruding variable valves, making it difficult to secure installation space and preventing interference with peripheral components.
Innovation Solution
The shock absorber design includes variable valves and an extensible, contractible wire within the cylinder, allowing for reduced volume and easy installation, with spools adjusting channel sections to switch between soft and hard modes during compression and rebound strokes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If variable valves are installed outside the cylinder to independently control damping force during compression and rebound strokes, then damping force control capability is improved, but apparatus volume increases making installation difficult and causing interference with peripheral components
Solution Approach 1:
The variable valves are installed inside the cylinder rather than outside, nesting the valve components within the existing cylindrical structure. This eliminates the need for external valve housings and reduces the overall apparatus volume while maintaining the capability to independently control damping force during compression and rebound strokes.
Solution Approach 2:
The spools are configured to move horizontally within the cylindrical valve body rather than vertically, utilizing horizontal space within the cylinder. This dimensional reorganization allows the variable valves to fit inside the cylinder without increasing its external dimensions, solving the space constraint problem.
2Ease of operation
If variable valves protrude to the outside of the cylinder, then valve operation is simplified, but installation space becomes difficult to secure and interference with peripheral components occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The variable valves are completely contained within the cylinder, with no protruding parts. The spools move horizontally inside the cylindrical valve body, and all valve components are nested within the existing cylindrical structure, eliminating the need for additional installation space outside the cylinder.
3Device complexity
If spools move vertically to adjust channel sections, then valve structure is simplified, but wire for electrical connection becomes constrained and cannot accommodate piston rod movement
Solution Approach 1:
The spools are configured to move horizontally rather than vertically, changing the direction of movement to a dimension that does not constrain the wire. This horizontal movement allows the wire to remain vertically oriented and flexible, accommodating the piston rod's vertical movement while enabling spool operation for channel section adjustment.
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 reduces the apparatus volume, facilitating easier installation and preventing interference with other components while maintaining adjustable damping forces.
Implementation Method 1
a first solenoid coupled to an upper end of the piston to move the first spool to a location of the hard mode or the soft mode
Implementation Method 2
a first solenoid coupled to an upper end of the piston to move the first spool
Implementation Method 3
a wire disposed between the upper variable valve and the lower variable valve so as to be vertically extensible and contractible and configured to electrically connect the lower variable valve and the upper variable valve
Implementation Method 4
an inner tube and an outer tube filled with a fluid and a piston rod configured to perform compression and rebound strokes in the inner tube
Data Source
AI summary
The present exemplary embodiments relate to a variable damping force shock absorber in which variable valves each capable of varying a damping force during compression and rebound strokes are installed inside a cylinder, and thus, a volume of an apparatus is reduced to easily secure an installation space and prevent interference with peripheral components.