Damper with integrated electronics
View Patent ↗The present disclosure relates to a damper system for a vehicle. The damper system may have an electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber including a rod guide assembly, a pressure tube, a reserve tube and an electromechanical valve. The electromechanical valve may be disposed in a valve cavity within the shock absorber. An integrated electronic system may be included which has a power drive electronics. The power drive electronics is electrically coupled to the electromechanical valve. The integrated electronic system is disposed along an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pressure tube, and at a location radially outwardly of the pressure tube adjacent the rod guide assembly.
1. A damper system for a vehicle, the damper system comprising:
an electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber including a rod, a rod guide assembly, a pressure tube, a reserve tube and an electromechanical valve;
the electromechanical valve being disposed in a valve cavity within the electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber; and
an integrated electronic system having power drive electronics, wherein the power drive electronics is electrically coupled to the electromechanical valve, and the integrated electronic system is disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pressure tube, and at a location external to the pressure tube, the rod guide including a hollow cylindrical wall through which the rod extends, the cylindrical wall being positioned between the integrated electronic system and the rod.
2. The damper system of claim 1 , wherein the integrated electronic system is disposed at least partially within the rod guide assembly.
3. The damper system of claim 1 , wherein the electromechanical valve includes a plurality of electromechanical valves.
4. The damper system of claim 1 , wherein the electromechanical valve includes a plurality of electromechanical valves, and the valve cavity comprises a plurality of valve cavities, and wherein each one of the plurality of electromechanical valves is disposed in a respective one of the plurality of valve cavities in a circumferentially spaced apart configuration.
5. The damper system of claim 3 , wherein the electromechanical valves are disposed in a circumferential arrangement within the electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber.
6. The damper system of claim 1 , wherein the integrated electronic system is disposed along an external surface of the electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber.
7. The damper system of claim 1 , wherein the electromechanical valve comprises a digital valve.
8. The damper system of claim 1 , wherein the electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber further comprises a lead frame for electrically coupling the integrated electronic system to the electromechanical valve.
9. The damper system of claim 1 , wherein the integrated electronic system comprises a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA).
10. The damper system of claim 9 , wherein the PCBA comprises a ring-shaped structure which enables a portion of a piston rod of the electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber to pass therethrough.
11. The damper system of claim 1 , wherein the integrated electronic system is bounded on at least two sides by the rod guide assembly.
12. A damper system for a vehicle, the damper system comprising:
an electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber including a piston, a piston rod for supporting the piston for reciprocating linear movement, a rod guide for guiding axial movement of the piston rod, and a plurality of electromechanical valves;
the plurality of electromechanical valves being disposed in a corresponding plurality of valve cavities within the electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber; and
an integrated electronic system having power drive electronics;
wherein the power drive electronics is electrically coupled to the plurality of electromechanical valves; the rod guide including a hollow cylindrical wall through which the rod extends, the cylindrical wall being positioned between the integrated electronic system and the rod.
13. The damper system of claim 12 , wherein the integrated electronic system is disposed adjacent to an exterior surface of the electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber.
14. The damper system of claim 12 , wherein the integrated electronic system is disposed in a housing that prevents hydraulic fluid from contacting the integrated electronic system.
15. The damper system of claim 12 , wherein the integrated electronic system is disposed in a housing that protects the integrated electronic system from environmental elements.
16. The damper system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of electromechanical valves comprise a plurality of digital valves.
17. The damper system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of digital valves are arranged circumferentially and radially outwardly from the piston rod.
18. The damper system of claim 12 , wherein the integrated electronic system comprises a ring-shaped structure which enables a portion of the piston rod to pass therethrough.
19. The damper system of claim 12 , wherein the integrated electronic system is bounded on at least two sides by the rod guide.
20. An electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber, the electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber comprising:
a piston rod;
a piston supported from the piston rod;
a rod guide assembly;
a plurality of digital valves;
a printed circuit board assembly having power drive electronics and electrically coupled to the plurality of digital valves; wherein the printed circuit board assembly has a ring-shaped structure which enables a portion of the piston rod to pass therethrough, the rod guide including a hollow cylindrical wall through which the rod extends, the cylindrical wall being positioned between the integrated electronic system and the rod.