Electronically controlled pressurized damper
View Patent ↗A vehicle damper comprises a damping medium-filled damper body in which an element divides the damper body into two chambers. A microprocessor control unit is coupled to one or more valve and connecting arrangements that comprise at least one valve and a number of flow ducts. Respective valves and flow ducts of the valve and connecting arrangement are coupled both to respective damper chambers and a pressurizing element common to both of the chambers so that even in the chamber in which a low pressure prevails there is a positive pressure acting at all times. The valve and connecting arrangements comprise a continuously electrically controlled main valve, a non-return valve and one or more bleed valves.
1. A device comprising a vehicle damper,
the damper comprising a damper body, the damper body defining a chamber adapted to receive a damping medium;
a movable element positioned within the chamber and dividing the chamber into a first subchamber and a second subchamber; and
one or more valve arrangements comprising a continuously adjustable and electrically controlled main valve, a non-return valve, at least one bleed valve and a plurality of flow ducts, the flow ducts separately connecting a pressurizing element to the first and second subchambers;
the non-return valve being designed so that the pressurizing element is always coupled to the low-pressure side of the damper;
wherein the at least one bleed valve works in parallel with the continuously adjustable and electrically controlled main valve that is adapted to vary the flow rate through the one or more valve arrangements such that a damping force characteristic of the damper is adjusted.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more valve arrangements are arranged adjacent to another valve arrangement in a common housing, the common housing also comprising a connection to the pressurizing device.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein flow through the valve arrangements can be adjusted separately from each other such that flow through one of the valve arrangements does not flow through the other of the valve arrangements.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one bleed valve is located within the moveable element.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the damper body comprises a cylinder and the moveable element comprises a piston, the piston being fastened to a piston rod, the piston dividing the cylinder into a compression chamber and a return chamber.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the damper body is arranged inside a front fork.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the damper comprises a vane damper and the moveable element comprises an arm that is rotatable about one end.
8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor control unit coupled to said one or more valve arrangements.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein the flow through the at least one bleed valve is adjustable separately from the electrically controlled main valve.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one bleed valve comprises a flow-limiting part and the adjustment of the at least one bleed valve is achieved by exchanging the flow-limiting part with a different flow-limiting part.
11. The device of claim 9 , wherein a separate externally actuatable body adjusts the at least one bleed valve, the position of the actuatable body determining the flow through the at least one bleed valve.
12. The device of claim 1 , wherein said electrically controlled main valve and said at least one bleed valve are coupled in parallel between said first and second subchambers and said pressurizing element.
13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the flow through the at least one bleed valve is predetermined.
14. The device of claim 1 further comprising an electrical, mechanical or hydraulic unit coupled to said one or more valve arrangements.
15. An electronically controlled damper configuration, the configuration comprising a damper and a pressurizing member, the damper comprising a main chamber, a moveable member being positioned within the main chamber and dividing the main chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber, a first flow path connecting the first chamber to the pressurizing member, a second flow path connecting the second chamber to the pressurizing member, a first valve arrangement positioned along the first flow path between the first chamber and the pressurizing member, a second valve arrangement being positioned along the second flow path between the second chamber and the pressurizing member, the first valve arrangement comprising a first one-way valve, a first bleed valve and a first continuously adjustable and electronically controlled valve arranged in parallel with each other, the first continuously adjustable and electronically controlled valve being in communication with a controller such that a damping force characteristic is adjusted by varying the flow rate through the first valve arrangement via the first continuously adjustable and electrically controlled main valve and the first bleed valve being adjustable and being configured such that the pressurizing element is always coupled to whichever of the first or second chamber has a lower relative pressure.