# Patent

## Title
Adjustable damping valve arrangement

## Abstract

An adjustable damping valve arrangement for a vibration damper comprises an actuator which exerts an actuating force on a multiple-part auxiliary valve body of an auxiliary valve. The auxiliary valve influences a closing force on a main stage valve via an auxiliary valve closing body which is movable axially relative to a shaft portion on the actuator side. During a lift movement, a main stage valve body of the main stage valve compresses a rear space connected to the control space via the auxiliary valve. An auxiliary valve closing spring acts upon the auxiliary valve closing body in closing direction independently from the actuator control, and the rear space has a flow-off channel having a damping valve which generates a damping force during a lift movement of the main stage valve body when the rear space is closed.

## Background
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to an adjustable damping valve arrangement for a vibration damper.
2. Background of the Invention
US 2010/252766 A1 shows an adjustable damping valve arrangement with auxiliary valve having an auxiliary valve body comprising two parts. An armature of an electromagnetic actuator is fixed to a central support. Abutting at the front side is a valve seat body which controls a flow cross section of a control space. The pressure on pressure-impinged surfaces at the main stage valve body is adjusted by means of the magnitude of the flow cross section in order to determine the closing forces.
The incident flow in the adjustable damping valve arrangement in this particular arrangement outside the working spaces is always from only one direction regardless of the movement direction of the piston rod, and the damping medium flows out into the compensating space.
However, the damping valve arrangement can also be arranged at the piston rod, in which case the flow through the damping valve arrangement is in two directions. Particularly in this variant, it may happen over a prolonged deenergized state of the actuator, e.g., in case of failure of the power supply, that the main stage valve is permanently open to an extent which is not acceptable for driving safety.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the problem of the main stage valve being opened in an undefined manner during outage of the power supply.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, this object is met in that an auxiliary valve closing spring acts upon the auxiliary valve closing body in closing direction independently from the actuator control, and the rear space has a flow-off channel having a damping valve which generates a damping force during a lift movement of the main stage valve body when the rear space is closed.
The spring can be constructed with a comparatively small closing force so as to affect the normal operating state of the damping valve arrangement as little as possible. A further advantage of the invention consists in that the step can be implemented in a very simple manner.
The damping valve results in a damped, defined opening movement of the main stage valve. In principle, the main stage valve could also be able to carry out an opening movement without damping valve because small gaps between the moving components would allow leakage. However, this leakage would be undefined.
For purposes of optimal utilization of installation space, the flow-off channel is formed in the main stage valve. The advantage consists in that no alterations need be carried out on the housing of the damping valve arrangement.
According to an advantageous subclaim, the auxiliary valve has two separate flow connection portions to the control space for two separate incident flow surfaces of the main stage valve, and a check valve controls the entrance of damping medium from the flow connection portions into the control space.
The flow portions are also constructed in the main stage valve body. A flow connection serves as flow-off channel for the rear space. The arrangement of the damping valve in the main stage valve body offers the possibility of checking the adjustment of the damping valve independently from the damping valve arrangement.
In order to facilitate production of the flow paths inside the main stage valve, the main stage valve body is constructed of a plurality of parts and a flow portion is constructed in a separation joint between the main stage valve and the auxiliary valve.
It is further provided that a clamping pin of the main stage valve body preloads at least one valve disk of the damping valve at least indirectly in closing direction.
The clamping pin is preferably constructed as a component that is separate from the main stage valve body. This simplifies the production of the flow paths inside the main stage valve body.
In order to minimize the installation space requirement for the damping valve, at least one valve disk of the damping valve is constructed so as to be flexible. Therefore, a separate closing spring is not needed for the damping valve.
The auxiliary valve closing spring is supported at a valve body of an emergency operation valve of the damping valve arrangement. The great advantage consists in that there is a smaller spring preloading in normal operation than in emergency operation. In this was, the influence of the auxiliary valve closing spring on normal operation can be minimized.
Alternatively, the auxiliary valve closing spring can be arranged spatially between the shaft portion and the auxiliary valve seat body. This variant requires only a small installation space.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
The invention will be described more fully referring to the following description of the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an adjustable damping valve arrangement of the present invention at a piston rod;
FIG. 2 is a view of an auxiliary valve body as individual part; and
FIG. 3 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the auxiliary valve according to FIG. 2.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a damping valve arrangement 1 which is fastened, e.g., to a piston rod 3 of a vibration damper, shown only partially. The damping valve arrangement 1 comprises a piston 5 which divides a cylinder 7 into a working chamber 9 on the piston rod side and a working chamber 11 remote of the piston rod, both of which working chambers 9; 11 are filled with damping medium. In this embodiment example, the damping valve arrangement is fastened to the piston rod 3, but the invention is not limited to an arrangement of this kind.
An actuator 15 of optional design is arranged in an outer housing 13. Serving as actuator in this example is a magnetic coil 17 which exerts a force on an axially movable armature 19, this force being transmitted to a multiple-part auxiliary valve body 21 of an auxiliary valve 23. The design of the auxiliary valve body is described in detail in connection with FIG. 2. At least one valve spring—in this embodiment, two opposing valve springs 25; 27 are used—preloads the auxiliary valve body 21 in the lift direction with respect to an auxiliary valve surface 29 of the auxiliary valve 23. The actuator 15 acts in the closing direction of the auxiliary valve 23. The force of the at least one valve spring 25; 27 and the force of the actuator 15 form a resultant force which acts on the auxiliary valve body 21 in the lift direction.
An auxiliary valve closing spring 30 impinges on an auxiliary valve seat body 32 in closing direction regardless of the actuator setting.
A stepped opening 33 in which a main stage valve body 35 of a main stage valve 37 can execute an axial movement is formed in an inner housing 31 of the damping valve arrangement 1. The main stage valve body 35 has a guide sleeve 39 whose back side 41 forms a surface ASchlieβD that is pressure-impinged by damping medium. Further, the main stage valve body 35 has a radial shoulder 43 which has an additional pressure-impinged surface ASchlieβD2 in the direction of the back side 41.
In a neutral position of the piston rod 3, i.e., without opening force, the main stage valve body 35 contacts a valve seat surface 45 of an axially movable valve ring 47 which contacts a housing-side valve seat surface 49 at the side of the axially movable valve ring 47 facing in direction of the working chamber 11 remote of the piston rod.
The main stage valve body 35 is formed of a plurality of parts. An outer cup 51 forms the guide sleeve 39 and the radial shoulder 43. In a separation plane, an inner disk 53 defines with the cup 51 a radial damping medium flow path 55 between the additional pressure-impinged surface ASchlieβD2, as part of the main stage valve, and a control space 57, as part of the auxiliary valve, whose outlet cross section is determined in direction of a rear space 59 by the valve body 21.
The additional surface ASchlieβD2 of the main stage valve body 35 can be acted upon with damping medium via at least two flow paths. A first feed flow channel 61 is formed directly in the main stage valve body 35 as an axial passage. A flow-off channel 63 extends inside the main stage valve body 35 between the rear space 59 of the main stage valve 37 and the damping medium flow path 55.
A flow connection 65 of the rear space 59 to the working chamber 11 remote of the piston rod inside a connection sleeve 66 between the outer housing 13 and the piston 5 is controlled by an emergency operation valve 67. The emergency operation valve 67 is formed by a valve ring 69 which is lifted from an emergency operation valve seat surface 73 by the actuator 15 against the force of at least one closing spring 71. Even a slight application of energy is sufficient for the actuator 15 to achieve the lift movement of the valve ring 69. The auxiliary valve closing spring 30 is also supported axially at the valve ring 69 so that there is a slight closing force of the auxiliary valve closing spring 30 when the emergency operation valve 67 is open. In this example, the magnetic force of the magnetic coil 17 acts on the valve ring 69. As a result of apt dimensioning of the spring forces and magnetic forces, a strict separation can be achieved between an emergency operating state and a normal operating state. In this way, the flow path between the rear space 59 and the working chamber 11 remote of the piston rod can be influenced by means of the emergency operation valve 67.
At least one connection orifice 75 leading from the working chamber 9 on the piston rod side to the pressure-impinged surface AÖZ at the underside of the radial shoulder and to the control space 57 is formed in the connection sleeve 66 of the damping valve arrangement 1. Further, the main stage valve body 35 has in the region of the radial shoulder 43 at least one axial opening 77 which connects the connection orifice 75 with surface AÖZ.
With the damping medium flow path 55 and the feed flow channel 61 for two separate incident flow paths AÖZ and AÖD, the auxiliary valve also has separate flow connection portions to the control space 57. A check valve 79 and a damping valve 81 functioning as a check valve are arranged in the feed flow channel 61 and in the flow-off channel 63 so that damping medium does not escape through the feed flow channel 61 and flow-off channel 63 in the main stage valve body 35 in direction of the working space 11 remote of the piston rod when there is an incident flow via the connection orifice 75. In so doing, the damping valve 81 is connected to the rear space 59 by the flow-off channel 63. During a lift movement of the main stage valve body when the rear space is closed, the damping valve 81 releases the flow path for a flow of damping medium out of the rear space 59 in direction of the additional surface ASchlieβD2 in connection with a damping force.
FIG. 2 is limited to a section from FIG. 1. The auxiliary valve body 21 comprises a shaft portion 83 which forms an interference fit with the armature 19. The shaft portion 83 is constructed as a hollow body in order to supply a back side of the armature 19 with damping medium for hydraulic pressure compensation.
The shaft portion 83 is adjoined by a spring holder 85 which carries a spring element 87. The spring holder 85 has a guide pin 89 in the direction of the shaft portion 83, which guide pin 89 engages in a radial positive-engagement connection with a guide surface 91 of the shaft portion 83.
The guide pin 89 has a fastening flange 93 for the spring element 87. The spring element 87, which is constructed as a disk spring, is centered together with the auxiliary valve seat body 32 by a radial wall 95 as part of the fastening flange 93. The spring element 87 acts upon two portions of the auxiliary valve body 21 at a distance, namely the auxiliary valve seat body 32 and the shaft portion 83. The spring holder 85 contacts the shaft portion 83 axially without clearance after the final assembly of the damping valve arrangement 1.
The spring holder 85 has a free space 97 for receiving a spring path of the spring element 87. For this purpose, the fastening flange 93 is constructed with a cone. The disk spring 87 is supported by its outer diameter at the cone. The cone forms a supporting surface 99 for limiting the deformation of the spring element 87.
The wall 95 of the fastening flange 93 is constructed so as to be somewhat longer axially than the structural height of the disk spring 87 and of the auxiliary valve seat body 32. A protruding portion serves for a positive-engagement connection so that the spring holder 85, the spring element 87 and the auxiliary valve seat body 32 form a constructional unit.
The auxiliary valve seat body 32 is constructed as a solid component and has a closure region 101 projecting into the control space 57 (FIG. 1). It adjoins a disk body 103 which extends radially up to the wall 95 of the spring holder 85. A central contact surface is formed for the spring element 87 on the top side of the auxiliary valve seat body 32 facing in direction of the spring holder 85. Adjoining radially outwardly is a conical transition 105 which likewise receives the deformation path of the disk spring 95.
As is illustrated by FIG. 3, the auxiliary valve closing spring 30 can also be arranged between the shaft portion 83 and the auxiliary valve seat body 32. In this case, the auxiliary valve closing spring is arranged between the spring holder 85 and the shaft portion. The auxiliary valve seat surface is prevented from drifting to the side by the guide surface 91.
FIG. 1 further shows that a clamping pin 107 of the main stage valve body 35 preloads at least one valve disk 109 of the damping valve 81 at least indirectly in closing direction. Formed at the clamping pin 107 is a circumferential collar 111 which preloads at least one flexible valve disk 109 of the damping valve 81 on a valve seat surface. The preloading of a check valve spring 113 does not depend on the preloading of the flexible valve disk 109. The clamping pin 107 can be secured by an interference fit in the main stage valve body 35. The loading capacity of the interference fit is appreciably greater than the preloading force on the damping valve 81. Alternatively, a preloading spring 115 can be arranged axially between the clamping pin 107 and the inner disk 53 of the main stage valve body 35. The preloading force of the preloading spring 115 is likewise greater than the required preloading force on the damping valve 81.
There are four basic operating states to be considered which will be described with reference to FIG. 1. A first operating state of the damping valve arrangement 1 is characterized by an incident flow proceeding from the working chamber 11 remote of the piston rod via a passage 117 to the valve ring 47 and main stage valve body 35. The emergency operation valve 67 is switched on, i.e., it is lifted from its emergency operation valve seat surface 73 as in the illustrated position, and the actuator 15 acts against the force of the valve springs 25; 27. The preloading of the auxiliary valve closing spring takes on the minimum magnitude so that the valve closing spring has practically no effect on the normal operating function of the damping valve arrangement. The damping medium flows along the first feed flow channel 61 in the valve body 35 and the opened check valve 79, then further along the damping medium flow path 55 to the additional valve closing surface ASchlieβD2. A first closing force component exerts the pressure on this valve closing surface ASchlieβD2. Further, damping medium flows through the flow connection 65 in the connection sleeve 66 and through the opened emergency operation valve 67 into the rear space 59. The damping valve 81 for the additional pressure-impinged surface ASchlieβD2 is closed owing to the incident flow through the feed flow channel 61. As was already described, the back side 41 of the main stage valve body 35 forms the pressure-impinged surface ASchlieβD. The closing force acting on the main stage valve body 35 is composed of the resultant closing force, which acts directly on the back side 41 of the main stage valve body 35 via the auxiliary valve body, and the pressure forces on surfaces ASchlieβD and ASchlieβD2. Because of the comparatively low throttle losses, the pressure level at surfaces ASchlieβD and ASchlieβD2 is similar to that in the working chamber remote of the piston rod, among other reasons because the damping medium flow path to the additional surface ASchlieβD2 has an outlet throttle 86 in the flow direction with respect to the additional surface ASchlieβD2. A surface AÖD at the valve ring 47 is slightly larger than the sum of surfaces ASchlieβD and ASchlieβD2 so as to exclude blocking of the lift movement of the main stage valve body 35 due to the pressure ratios. The pressure in the control space 57 of the main stage valve body plays no part in this incident flow direction of the damping valve arrangement because the auxiliary valve is bypassed by the flow connection 65 to the rear space 59.
Particularly with minimal energizing of the actuator 15 and with an incident flow of the main stage valve body 35, the auxiliary valve seat body 32 can quickly move slightly to the shaft portion 83 against the small closing force of the spring element 87. The main stage valve body 35 can follow this movement and take up a passage. The inertia of the armature 19 in this case does not affect this initial movement of the main stage valve body 35 because the spring element 87 functions in a series connection with the armature 19. When the relative movement of the auxiliary valve seat body 32 toward the shaft portion 83 is concluded as intended by operation, the spring element 87 contacts the spring holder 85.
A second operating state concerns the emergency operating state of the damping valve arrangement 1 and an incident flow of the damping valve arrangement 1 proceeding from passage 117. The emergency operation valve 67 is closed due to the absence of energy supply via the actuator 15. An auxiliary valve seat body 32, as part of the auxiliary valve body 21, is guided so as to be slightly displaceable axially inside the auxiliary valve body 21. In the deenergized state of the magnetic coil 17, the valve springs 25; 27 hold the shaft portion 83 of the auxiliary valve body 21, considered statically, i.e., without incident hydraulic flow, at a maximum distance from the auxiliary valve seat surface 29 or so that the auxiliary valve seat body 32 contacts the auxiliary valve seat surface 29 with a defined preloading. Therefore, the auxiliary valve seat body 32 could occupy a maximum lift position when loaded even by the slightest pressure proceeding from the control space 57. When the emergency operation valve is closed, however, the preloading of the auxiliary valve closing spring 30 is maximized. Regardless of the dimensioning of the valve springs 25; 27, the auxiliary valve closing spring 30 moves the auxiliary valve seat body 32 into a closed position on the auxiliary valve surface 29. The rear space 59 is accordingly closed off from any incident flow via the control space 57 and flow connection 65. As in the normal operating state, the damping medium reaches the additional pressure-impinged surface ASchlieβD2 via the feed flow channel 61 in the main stage valve body 35 and the open check valve 79. In order that the main stage valve body 35 together with the valve ring 47 can lift from the housing-side valve seat surface 49, the damping valve 81 in the main stage valve body 35 opens so that damping medium which is displaced from the rear space 59 can flow off via the flow-off channel 63 in main stage valve body 35 in direction of the additional pressure-impinged surface ASchlieβD2. Accordingly, the main stage valve cannot open quickly in an uncontrolled manner, but only after overcoming the damping force of the damping valve 81. When the motion of the piston rod is reversed, the opening pressure on the main stage valve body 35 decreases and a closing spring 119 moves the main stage valve body quickly back into the closed position with open check valve 79.
The third operating state concerns an incident flow of the damping valve arrangement 1 proceeding from the working chamber 9 on the piston rod side and open emergency operation valve 67. The damping medium flows through the connection orifice 75 in the connection sleeve 66 to the pressure-impinged surface AÖZ at the radial shoulder 43 and then to the pressure-impinged surface which now functionally forms a closing surface ASchlieβZ. The pressure-impinged surface at the radial shoulder of the main stage valve body is operative for both incident flow directions of the damping valve arrangement. Depending on the energy supply of the actuator 15, there ensues an auxiliary valve position by which, in turn, a control pressure in the control space 57 and accordingly also at the pressure-impinged surface ASchlieβZ can be controlled. The pressure acting on an annular surface AÖZ opposes the pressure acting in the closing direction on surface ASchlieβZ. Because of the outlet throttle 86 which now functions as an inlet throttle, there is a pressure gradient between the pressures at surfaces AÖZ and ASchlieβZ when the auxiliary valve 23 is opened to a sufficient extent, so that the hydraulic opening force at the main stage valve body 35 is always somewhat greater than the hydraulic closing force onward from a determined pressure gradient. The pressure in the connection orifice 75 also acts on the valve ring 47 which is accordingly pressed on the housing-side valve seat surface 49. Therefore, the main stage valve body 35 lifts from the valve seat surface 45 of the valve ring 47. With its check valve function, the damping valve 81 prevents a hydraulic short circuit of the auxiliary valve 23. The function of the spring holder 85 is identical to that described in the first operating state.
The damping medium flowing out of the control space 57 through the auxiliary valve 23 arrives in the rear space 59 and through the open emergency operation valve 67 and flow connection 65 in the connection sleeve 66 into the working chamber 11 remote of the piston rod. Consequently, the rear space 59 has an inlet and an outlet with the working chamber 11 of the vibration damper.
In the fourth operating state, the feed flow again takes place via the connection orifice 75 in the connection sleeve 66, but the emergency operation valve 67 is closed due to the absence of supplied current. The flow path to the auxiliary valve 23 corresponds to the description of the third operating state. In contrast, the auxiliary valve 23 is closed due to the auxiliary valve seat spring 30. The closing spring 119 ensures that the main stage valve body 35, together with the valve ring 47, is seated on the housing-side valve seat surface 49. This prevents a hydraulic short circuiting between the working chambers via the connection orifice 75. The damping medium arrives in the rear space 59 whose outlet is blocked by the closed emergency operation valve 67. The damping valve 81 also remains closed. A flow path 121 to a pressure limiting valve 123 by which a defined pressure level in the rear space 59 can be determined is formed in the valve ring 69 of the emergency operation valve 67. The pressure level in the rear space 59 and, therefore, on the back side 41 of the main stage valve body 35 and on the pressure-impinged surface at the radial shoulder ASchlieβZ determines the closing force in emergency operation of the damping valve arrangement 1. It is clear from a comparison of the second operating state and fourth operating state that the emergency operation valve 67 is effective in only one incident flow direction of the damping valve arrangement 1 via the connection orifice 75. Tests have shown that this design of the damping valve arrangement 1 is suitable for reliable operating behavior of a vibration damper.
Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

## Claims

1. An adjustable damping valve arrangement for a vibration damper comprising:
an auxiliary valve (23) having a multiple-part auxiliary valve body (21); and auxiliary valve seat body (32) and an auxiliary valve closing spring (30);
a main stage valve (37) including a main stage valve body (35) and a control space (57);
an actuator (15) exerting an actuating force on said multiple-part auxiliary valve body (21) of said auxiliary valve (23), said the auxiliary valve (23) influencing a closing force on said main stage valve (37) via said auxiliary valve seat body (32) which is movable axially relative to a shaft portion (83) on the actuator side by determining the pressure level in said control space (57), wherein said main stage valve body (35) of said main stage valve (37) during a lift movement causes compression in a rear space (59) connected to said control space (57) via said auxiliary valve (23); said auxiliary valve closing spring (30) acting upon said auxiliary valve seat body (32) in closing direction independently from the actuator control, and the rear space (59) comprises a flow-off channel (63) including a damping valve (81) which generates a damping force during a lift movement of said main stage valve body (35) when the rear space (59) is closed;
additionally comprising a check valve (79), wherein said auxiliary valve (23) comprises two separate flow connection portions (55; 61; 77) to said control space (57) for two separate incident flow surfaces (ASchlieβD, ASchlieβD2) of said main stage valve (37); and wherein said check valve (79) controls the entrance of damping medium from said flow connection portions (55; 61; 77) into said control space (57).

2. The damping valve arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said flow-off channel (63) is formed in said main stage valve (37).

3. The damping valve arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said flow connection portions (55; 61; 77) are constructed in said main stage valve body (35).

4. The damping valve arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said main stage valve body (35) is constructed of a plurality of parts and a flow portion (55) is constructed in a separation plane between said main stage valve (37) and said auxiliary valve (23).

5. The damping valve arrangement according to claim 1, additionally comprising at least one valve disk (109) and a clamping pin (107) in said main stage valve body (35) preloading said at least one valve disk (109) at least indirectly in closing direction.

6. The damping valve arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said clamping pin (107) is constructed as a component separate from said main stage valve body (35).

7. The damping valve arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said at least one valve disk (109) is flexible.

8. The damping valve arrangement according to claim 1, additionally comprising an emergency operation valve (67) having an emergency valve body (69) and wherein said auxiliary valve closing spring (30) is supported at said valve body (69) of said emergency operation valve (67).

9. The damping valve arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary valve body (21) includes a shaft portion (83) and wherein said auxiliary valve closing spring (30) is arranged spatially between said shaft portion (83) and said auxiliary valve seat body (32).