Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] This disclosure relates generally to the field of vehicles, and more particularly to the field of piston support devices for shock absorbers used in vehicles.
BACKGROUND
[002] Shock absorbers play a pivotal role in various mechanical systems, ranging from automotive vehicles to industrial machinery, by mitigating the effects of external forces and vibrations. Conventionally, shock absorbers rely on a combination of bearing span (distance between piston entry and piston end at maximum extension of the piston) and safety margin (minimum distance between the piston end and a base valve end) to provide stability and withstand dynamic loads during operation of machinery, or when the vehicle undergoes motion. However, optimizing these parameters while integrating a device which changes damping force based on frequency may pose challenges, such decreasing span and decreasing the safety margin. As a result, the functionality of the shock absorbers may be affected.
[003] Therefore, there exists a need for assembling the device which changes damping force based on frequency, in the shock absorbers without compromising the bearing span and the safety margin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[004] In an embodiment, a piston support device for a shock absorber is disclosed. The piston support device may include a base portion, at least one protrusion formed on a surface of the base portion, and a frictionless pad attached to an outer surface of each protrusion from the at least one protrusion. Further, the frictionless pad engages an inner radial surface of a pressure tube of the shock absorber.
[005] In an embodiment, a shock absorber is disclosed. The shock absorber may include a pressure tube, and a piston slidingly disposed within the pressure tube. Further, the shock absorber may include a piston support device coupled to the piston. The piston support device may include a base portion, at least one protrusion formed on a surface of the base portion, and a frictionless pad attached to an outer surface of each protrusion from the at least one protrusion. Further, the frictionless pad engages an inner radial surface of a pressure tube of the shock absorber.
[006] In an embodiment, a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle may include a suspension assembly. The suspension assembly may further include a shock absorber. The shock absorber may include a pressure tube, and a piston slidingly disposed within the pressure tube. Further, the shock absorber may include a piston support device coupled to the piston. The piston support device may include a base portion, at least one protrusion formed on a surface of the base portion, and a frictionless pad attached to an outer surface of each protrusion from the at least one protrusion. Further, the frictionless pad engages an inner radial surface of a pressure tube of the shock absorber.
[007] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[008] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles.
[009] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a suspension assembly in a vehicle, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a shock absorber, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the shock absorber, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 4A illustrates a perspective view of a piston support device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 4B illustrates a top view of the piston support device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 4C illustrates a bottom view of the piston support device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 4D illustrates a side view of the piston support device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 5A illustrates a side-sectional view of the piston support device in a compression stroke, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 5B illustrates a front-sectional view of the piston support device in the compression stroke, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates a sectional view of the piston support device in a rebounding stroke, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The foregoing description has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which forms the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying other devices, systems, assemblies, and mechanisms for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristics of the disclosure, to its device or system, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.
[0020] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusions, such that a system or a device that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus.
[0021] Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same numerals have been used to refer to the same or like parts. The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to FIGs. 1-6.
[0022] As explained earlier, optimizing the bearing span and the safety margin while integrating the device which changes damping force based on frequency, may affect the functionality of the said shock absorbers. For example, with addition of the device which changes damping force based on frequency may decrease the safety margin as well as the bearing span, which may damage the device which changes damping force based on frequency and a piston of the shock absorber during compression stroke. Also, the decrease in the bearing span may result in inadequate load bearing by the piston especially during rebound stroke. As a result, the functionality of the shock absorbers may be affected.
[0023] To this end, a piston support device is disclosed. The piston support device may include a device which changes damping force based on frequency, which may be integrated with the piston end of the piston rod of the shock absorber. The piston support device may include a base and a plurality of protrusions extending from the base, such that the exterior of the plurality of protrusions may be configured to contact an inner radial surface of a pressure tube of the shock absorber. Therefore, such contact may enable supporting of the piston and the piston rod without compromising the bearing span and the safety margin of the shock absorber, and hence, may provide enhanced support against the load experienced by the piston and the piston rod.
[0024] While the following embodiments explain the construction and assembly of the piston support device for shock absorbers used in vehicles, it must be appreciated for a person skilled in the art to understand that such shock absorbers with piston support device may be implemented in, but not limited to, any industrial machinery subjected to frequent forces which required to be damped. The following embodiments illustrate the piston support device, in conjunction with FIGs. 1-6.
[0025] Now, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view 100 of a suspension assembly 102 in a vehicle, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view 200 of a shock absorber 104, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0026] In an embodiment, with continued reference to FIGs. 1-2, the shock absorber 104 may be installed in the suspension assembly 102 of the vehicle. The shock absorber 104 may further include a piston rod 202, a cylinder tube 204, and a knuckle mount 206. Further, the piston rod 202 may be coupled to the suspension assembly 102 of the vehicle, and the cylinder tube 204 may be coupled to the chassis of the vehicle through the knuckle mount 206. As commonly known in the art, the piston rod 202 may be oscillatory fixated along with a hydraulic fluid in the cylinder tube 204.
[0027] Accordingly, the shock absorber 104 may experience transient load (Fx) from the suspension assembly 102, especially when the vehicle is in motion, as well as vibrational forces experienced by the vehicle during motion. The vibrational forces experienced by the vehicle may be damped by the oscillation of the piston rod 202 within the cylinder tube 204, and the transient load (Fx) may be withstood by the piston rod 202 when provided with an appropriate bearing span. Conventionally, the piston rod 202 may be coupled to a device which changes damping force based on frequency (not shown on figure), which when disposed within the cylinder tube 204. The device which changes damping force based on frequency may be separated from an inner diameter of the cylinder tube 204. The device which changes damping force based on frequency, as the name suggests, may be configured to change damping force, or force against the motion of the piston rod 202 based on frequency of the oscillation of the piston rod 202. Consequently, and as explained earlier, integration of the device which changes damping force based on frequency may result in compromising the bearing span and the safety margin.
[0028] In an embodiment, to prevent compromising of the bearing span and the safety margin, as well as to efficiently mitigate the transient load (Fx), the piston rod 202 may be coupled to the piston support device (illustrated as piston support device 306 in FIG. 3). The piston support device as explained earlier, may be a device which changes damping force based on frequency with an outer diameter thereof modified in such a way that a contact between the outer surface and the inner radial surface of a pressure tube may be established. Therefore, the piston support device may act as an extended portion of the piston rod 202 and hence, the support provided from the piston support device may mitigate the transient load (Fx) on the piston rod 202. Moreover, the piston support device may simultaneously act as the device which changes damping force based on frequency. Therefore, dampening of the force resulted by the change in frequencies may also be mitigated accordingly. The installation and construction of the piston support device is explained in detail in conjunction with FIGs. 3-4D.
[0029] Now, FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view 300 of the shock absorber 104, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As explained earlier, the shock absorber 104 may include a piston rod 202 and a cylinder tube 204. The piston rod 202 may be enclosed within a pressure tube 310. The piston rod 202 may further include a piston rod end 302 to which a piston 304 may be coupled. Further, a portion of the piston rod end 302 may further extend from the piston 304. To the portion of the piston rod end 302, the piston support device 306 may be adjoined. Further, the piston support device 306, along with the piston 304 embedded within the pressure tube 310, and the piston rod 202 may be inserted into the cylinder tube 204. Moreover, the cylinder tube 204 may also be configured to accommodate an end valve 308. The end valve 308 may be configured to regulate the flow of hydraulic fluid between the chambers of the cylinder tube 204.
[0030] In an embodiment, now referring to FIG. 4A, which illustrates a perspective view 400A of the piston support device 306, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 4B illustrates a top view 400B of the piston support device 306, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 4C illustrates a bottom view of the piston support device 306, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, and FIG. 4D illustrates a side view 400D of the piston support device 306, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0031] In an embodiment, the piston support device 306 may include a base portion 402. The base portion 402 may be formed in a shape such as but not limited to a cylindrical shape, a cuboidal shape, and the like. Further, the base portion 402 may include an outer surface, from which at least one protrusion 404 may be extended. Further, the piston support device 306 may include at least one frictionless pad 410. The at least one frictionless pad 410 may be fixated onto the at least one protrusion 404.
[0032] In an embodiment, the base portion 402 may include a bore 406. The bore 406 may include a threaded bore, and may be formed centrally within the base portion 402. The bore 406 may be configured to engage the piston rod end 302. Particularly, the bore 406 may be configured to engage the portion of the piston rod end 302 extending from the piston 304. Engaging the bore 406 with the portion of the piston rod end 302 extending from the piston 304 may couple the piston support device 306 to the piston rod 202.
[0033] In an embodiment, the base portion 402 may also include at least one valve (not shown), and a plurality of fluid channels (not shown) configured to receive hydraulic fluid from the piston 304. It must be noted that the at least one valve and the plurality of fluid channels in the base portion 402 may bear similar resemblance to the at least one valve and the plurality of fluid channels of the conventional device which changes damping force based on frequency.
[0034] In an embodiment, the at least one protrusion 404 may be formed on the base portion 402. Each of the at least one protrusion 404 may be formed as a curved fulcrum, with a smaller curve formed at the base portion 402 and the larger curve formed at a predefined distance from the smaller curve. In an embodiment, the at least one protrusion 404 may collectively define an outer diameter of the piston support device 306. The outer diameter of the piston support device 306 may be equal to the inner diameter of the cylinder tube 204, or preferably, the inner diameter of the inner radial surface of the pressure tube.
[0035] Therefore, when positioned within the cylinder tube 204, the outer diameter of the piston support device 306 may be equivalent to an inner diameter of the inner radial surface of the pressure tube. Therefore, the at least one protrusion 404 may engage the inner radial surface of pressure tube. Moreover, such contact may enable the piston support device 306 to act as an extended piston. It may be appreciated that the piston support device 306 when coupled to the piston rod 202, the at least one protrusion 404 engaged to the inner radial surface of pressure tube may provide a support to the piston rod 202 and the piston 304 to mitigate the transient loads (Fx). As a result, such assembly may provide additional support without compromising the bearing span and safety margin in the shock absorber. It must be noted that the at least one protrusion 404 may not be restricted to four protrusions 404, but may also include more than four protrusions or less than four protrusions depending on the size of the shock absorber 104.
[0036] In an embodiment, the piston support device 306 may further include at least one frictionless pad 410. The at least one frictionless pad 410 may be manufactured from materials selected from, but not limited to a class of polymers such as Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PTFE), Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), and the like. The at least one frictionless pad 410 may be adjoined to the at least one protrusion 404. Particularly, each frictionless pad 410 may be adjoined to the larger curve of the protrusion 404. As a result, the at least one frictionless pad 410 may be engaged to an inner radial surface of the pressure tube. Accordingly, the at least one frictionless pad 410 may allow frictionless sliding of the piston support device 306 along with the piston 304 during compression stroke or rebounding stroke of the shock absorber 104.
[0037] Now, FIG. 5A illustrates a side-sectional view 500A of the shock absorber 104 during a compression stroke, and FIG. 5B illustrates a front-sectional view 500B of the shock absorber 104 during a compression stroke, and FIG. 6 illustrates a side sectional view 600 of the shock absorber 104 during a rebounding stroke.
[0038] In an embodiment, with continued reference to FIG. 5A-6, the piston support device 306 when engaged to the inner surface of the pressure tube 310, may result in formation of at least one fluid pocket 506 between each of the protrusion 404. The at least one fluid pocket 506 may allow transmissibility of the oil through the piston support device 306 towards the piston 304, especially during compression stroke of the shock absorber 104.
[0039] In an embodiment, during the compression stroke as illustrated in FIG. 5A, the hydraulic fluid may internally flow through the piston rod 202 via at least one fluid channel formed therein (not shown in figure), followed by the piston 304, and into the piston support device 306. In an embodiment, the at least one fluid channel of the piston support device 306 may be disposed inline to the at least one fluid channel of the piston 304. Therefore, the hydraulic fluid may flow through the at least one fluid channel of the piston 304 to the at least one fluid channel of the piston support device 306.
[0040] In an embodiment, during the compression stroke, the hydraulic fluid may get compressed by the piston 304 as the piston rod 202 may travel towards the base end valve 308, due to which the hydraulic fluid may be compressed within the pressure tube 310, and transmitted from the pressure tube 310 to a reservoir chamber 504, and also through the at least one fluid pocket 506 towards the piston 304 (also indicated by the indicia in FIG. 5A), and eventually towards an annular chamber formed behind the piston 304. Accordingly, the compression forces may be damped with the compressed hydraulic fluid. As explained earlier, as the piston support device 306 may contact the inner radial surface 502 of the pressure tube 310, the transient forces may also be withstood by the piston support device 306, and may also be configured to change damping forces based on frequency of oscillation of the piston rod 202.
[0041] In an embodiment, the during the rebounding stroke illustrated by FIG. 6, the piston rod 202 may travel away from the base end valve 308, due to which the hydraulic fluid earlier transmitted to the annular chamber may be internally transmitted through the piston 304, and also internally through the at least one fluid pocket 506 (also indicated by the indicia in FIG. 6). In the rebounding stroke, the damping forces may be changed based on frequency by the piston support device 306, and the transient forces may be withstood by the piston 304 and the piston support device 306 because the piston support device 306 may contact the inner radial surface 502 of the pressure tube 310.
[0042] With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for the sake of clarity.
[0043] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0044] In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.
[0045] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
, Claims:1. A piston support device (306) for a shock absorber (104), comprising:
a base portion (402);
at least one protrusion (404) formed on a surface of the base portion (402); and
a frictionless pad (410) attached to an outer surface of each protrusion from the at least one protrusion (404), wherein the frictionless pad (410) engages an inner radial surface (502) of a pressure tube (310) of the shock absorber (104).
2. The piston support device (306) as claimed in claim 1, comprising:
at least one fluid channel longitudinally formed within the base portion (402).
3. The piston support device (306) as claimed in claim 1, comprising:
at least one fluid pocket (506) formed between sequential protrusions from the at least one protrusion (404).
4. The piston support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion (404) is engaged to the inner radial surface via the frictionless pad (410), and wherein the at least one protrusion (404) is configured to support a piston (304) of the shock absorber (104) against a transient force.
5. A shock absorber (104), comprising:
a pressure tube (310);
a piston slidingly (304) disposed within the pressure tube (310); and
a piston support device (306) coupled to the piston, wherein piston support device (306) comprises:
a base portion (402);
at least one protrusion (404) formed on a surface of the base portion (402); and
a frictionless pad (410) attached to an outer surface of each protrusion from the at least one protrusion (404), wherein the frictionless pad (410) engages an inner radial surface (502) of a pressure tube (310) of the shock absorber (104).
6. The shock absorber (104) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the piston support device (306) comprises:
at least one fluid channel longitudinally formed within the base portion (402).
7. The shock absorber (104) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the piston support device (306) comprises:
at least one fluid pocket (506) formed between sequential protrusions from the at least one protrusion (404).
8. The shock absorber (104) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the piston support device (306) comprises:
a bore (406) centrally formed within the base portion (402), wherein the bore (406) is configured to engage the piston (304).
9. The shock absorber (104) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one protrusion (404) is engaged to the inner radial surface via the frictionless pad (410), and wherein the at least one protrusion (404) is configured to support a piston (304) of the shock absorber (104) against a transient force.
10. A vehicle, comprising:
a suspension assembly (102); and
at least one shock absorber (104) accommodated in the suspension assembly, each shock absorber comprising:
a pressure tube (310);
a piston (304) slidingly disposed within the pressure tube (310); and
a piston support device (306) coupled to the piston (304), wherein the piston support device (306) comprises:
a base portion (402);
at least one protrusion (404) formed on a surface of the base portion (402); and
a frictionless pad (410) attached to an outer surface of each protrusion from the at least one protrusion (404), wherein the frictionless pad (410) engages an inner radial surface (502) of the pressure tube (310) of each shock absorber (104).
11. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the piston support device (306) comprises:
at least one fluid channel longitudinally formed within the base portion (402).
12. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the piston support device (306) comprises:
at least one fluid pocket (506) formed between sequential protrusions from the at least one protrusion (404).
13. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one protrusion (404) is engaged to the inner radial surface via the frictionless pad (410), and wherein the at least one protrusion (404) is configured to support a piston (304) of the shock absorber (104) against a transient force.