Patent Publication Number: US-2023160449-A1

Title: Cylinder with switchable system and shock absorber having the same

Description:
FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a shock absorber for a vehicle, and more particularly to a cylinder with a switchable system and a shock absorber having the same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A conventional magnetorheological shock absorber is filled with magnetorheological fluid whose viscosity can be changed by a magnetic field that is created by an electric current controlled by the conventional magnetorheological shock absorber. As the viscosity the magnetorheological fluid changes, damping characteristics of the magnetorheological fluid change accordingly. When a vehicle (e.g., a car) is equipped with the conventional magnetorheological shock absorber, a driver may operate a button at the driver&#39;s seat to adjust damping characteristics of the conventional magnetorheological shock absorber (i.e., to make the conventional magnetorheological shock absorber stiffer or softer). Therefore, vehicles with the conventional magnetorheological shock absorber may offer good maneuverability and a comfortable ride to drivers and are popular with consumers. 
     However, because manufacturing costs of the conventional magnetorheological shock absorber are relatively high, in most situations, only vehicles with high selling prices (e.g., race cars and luxury cars) are equipped with the conventional magnetorheological shock absorber, which the average consumer may not be able to afford. In addition, the magnetorheological fluid includes small metal particles that may abrade components of the conventional magnetorheological shock absorber, which may result in leakage of the magnetorheological fluid. Consequently, consumers may have to frequently replace, or repair, the conventional magnetorheological shock absorber that is leaking, and maintenance expenses may be relatively high. Though some consumers may replace the conventional magnetorheological shock absorber with a conventional mechanical shock absorber to avoid high maintenance expenses, the stiffness of the conventional mechanical shock absorber then becomes non-adjustable during driving, and the drive mode button at the driver&#39;s seat will become superfluous. 
     SUMMARY 
     Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a cylinder that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art. 
     According to the disclosure, the cylinder is adapted for a shock absorber, and includes a cylinder body, a piston, a cover and an electronic control device. The cylinder body has an inner surface that defines a disposing space. The piston is movably disposed in the disposing space, and divides the disposing space into a liquid space that is adapted for a damping liquid to flow therein, and an air space that is adapted for a gas to be filled in. The cover is mounted to the cylinder body such that the air space of the cylinder body, is enclosed. The electronic control device is disposed in the air space of the cylinder body, divides the air space into a first chamber space and a second chamber space, and has a chamber communicating opening, an electromagnetic unit, and a rod unit. The first chamber space and the second chamber space fluidly communicate with each other through the chamber communicating opening. The electromagnetic unit generates a magnetic field when energized. The rod unit includes a blocking member, and is controllable by the electromagnetic unit to convert between a blocking state, in which the blocking member blocks the chamber communicating opening to prevent fluid communication between the first chamber space and the second chamber space, and an unblocking state, in which the blocking member unblocks the chamber communicating opening to permit fluid communication between the first chamber space and the second chamber space. 
     Another object of the disclosure is to provide a shock absorber that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art. 
     According to the disclosure, the shock absorber includes a shock absorber body and the cylinder as mentioned above. The shock absorber body is adapted for a damping liquid to flow therein, and includes an adjusting knob that is adapted to change a level of a damping force. The cylinder is connected to the shock absorber body and is adapted for the damping liquid to flow therein. The piston of the cylinder is adapted to be movable by the damping liquid to compress the gas that is filled in the air space of the cylinder so that the cylinder absorbs shock. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG.  1    is a fragmentary perspective view of a first embodiment of a shock absorber according to the disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a side view illustrating a cylinder of the first embodiment; 
         FIG.  3    is a partly exploded perspective view of the cylinder; 
         FIG.  4    is a sectional view of the cylinder; 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded perspective view of a cover and an electronic control device of the cylinder; 
         FIG.  6    is another exploded perspective view of the cover and the electronic control device of the cylinder; 
         FIG.  7    is fragmentary, enlarged sectional view of the cylinder, illustrating a rod unit of the cylinder in an unblocking state; 
         FIG.  8    is a fragmentary plan view illustrating coil ends of a coil of the electronic control device extending through a coil opening of the electronic control device; 
         FIG.  9    is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in  FIG.  7   ; 
         FIG.  10    is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view of the cylinder, illustrating the rod unit of the cylinder in a blocking state; 
         FIG.  11    is a side view illustrating a second embodiment of the shock absorber according to the disclosure; and 
         FIG.  12    is another side view illustrating a damping rod member of the second embodiment moving toward a piston of the second embodiment to compress a gas. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  to  3   , a first embodiment of a shock absorber according to the disclosure includes a shock absorber body  100  and a cylinder  200 . 
     The shock absorber body  100  is adapted for a damping liquid ( 1 ) to flow therein and includes an adjusting knob  11  that is adapted to change a level of a damping force. There will be no further details describing the adjusting knob  11  since an adjusting knob that is manually operable to change the level of the damping force is widely-understood by those skilled in the art. In the first embodiment, the shock absorber body  100  exemplarily uses a hydraulic shock absorber in conjunction with a coil spring. However, in certain embodiments, the shock absorber body  100  may be configured as, but not limited to, a hydraulic shock absorber in conjunction with a pneumatic spring. 
     The cylinder  200  is connected to the shock absorber body  100  and is adapted for the damping liquid (L) to flow therein. In the first embodiment, the shock absorber body  100  and the cylinder  200  are configured to be two components that are connected, but in certain embodiments, the shock absorber body  100  and the cylinder  200  may be integrally formed. 
     The cylinder  200  includes a cylinder body  3 , an oil circuit unit  4 , a piston  5 , a cover  6  and an electronic control device  7 . 
     The cylinder body  3  has an inner surface  311  that surrounds an axis (X) and that defines a disposing space  30 , and has two opposite opening ends  301  through which the disposing space  30  communicates with the external environment. 
     The oil circuit unit  4  is mounted to one of the opening ends  301  of the cylinder body  3 , and has an oil inlet  41  that is connected to the shock absorber body  100 . 
     Referring further to  FIG.  4   , the oil circuit unit  4  further has a flowing channel  42  that communicates with the oil inlet  41  and the disposing space  30 , and that is adapted for the damping liquid (L) to flow therethrough. Specifically, the flowing channel  42  fluidly communicates with the disposing space  30 , and fluidly communicates with the shock absorber body  100  (see  FIG.  1   ) through the oil inlet  41 . 
     The piston  5  is configured to be a free-floating type piston, is movably disposed in the disposing space  30  of the cylinder body  3 , and divides the disposing space  30  into a liquid space  31  and an air space  32 . The liquid space  31  communicates with the flowing channel  42  of the oil circuit unit  4  and is adapted for the damping liquid (L) to flow therein. The air space  32  is adapted for a gas (G) to be filled in. The gas (G) may be, but not limited to, nitrogen. The piston  5  includes a plurality of sealing rings that prevent the gas (G) from getting in the liquid space  31  from the air space  32 , and that prevent the damping liquid (L) from getting in the air space  32  from the liquid space  31 . 
     The cover  6  is mounted to the other one of the opening ends  301  of the cylinder body  3  such that the air space  32  of the cylinder body  3  is enclosed. The cover  6  has a cover body  60 , an outer threaded section  61 , a cover vent hole  62  and a cover opening  63  that is spaced apart from the cover vent hole  62 . The cover  6  is threadedly mounted to the other one of the opening ends  301  of the cylinder body  3  via the outer threaded section  61 . Each of the cover vent hole  62  and the cover opening  63  extends through the cover body  60  so that the air space  32  of the cylinder body  3  communicates with the external environment through the cover vent hole  62  and the cover opening  63 . The cover vent hole  62  is adapted to be disposed with a ball-check valve  21  that includes an air-blocking ball removably blocking the cover vent hole  62 . When the cover vent hole  62  is adapted to be connected to an air pump (not shown) that provides the gas (G), the air-blocking ball is pushed away from the cover vent hole  62  by the gas (G) so that the gas (G) is filled in the air space  32  of the cylinder body  3 . When the air pump ceases to provide the gas (G), or when the air pump is removed, the air-blocking ball blocks the cover vent hole  62  so that the ball-check valve  21  prevents the gas (G) from leaving the air space  32  through the cover vent hole  62 . The cover opening  63  is adapted to be mounted with a wire tube  22 . 
     When the shock absorber is under shock impulses (e.g., when a driver drives a vehicle that is equipped with the shock absorber on uneven roads), the piston  5  is adapted to be movable by the damping liquid (L) that flows between the shock absorber body  100  and the liquid space  31  of the cylinder body  3  to compress the gas (G) filled in the air space  32  of the cylinder  200  so that the cylinder  200  absorbs the shock impulses. That is to say, according to the flow of the damping liquid (L), the gas (G) in the air space  32  may be compressed by the piston  5 , or be decompressed, so that the shock absorber absorbs shock. 
     Referring further to  FIGS.  5  to  7   , the electronic control device  7  is disposed in the air space  32  of the cylinder body  3 , divides the air space  32  into a first chamber space  321  and a second chamber space  322  (see  FIG.  4   ), and includes a device housing  71 , an electromagnetic unit  72  and a rod unit  73 . 
     The device housing  71  is disposed in the air space  32  of the cylinder body  3 , and has a base wall  711  and a surrounding wall  712 . The base wall  711  is airtightly connected to the inner surface  311  of the cylinder body  3 . The surrounding wall  712  extends from a periphery of the base wall  711  toward the cover surrounds the axis (X), is threadedly connected to the cover  6 , and defines an accommodating groove  710  that opens toward the cover  6 . The base wall  711  has a plurality of base vent holes  713  through which the accommodating groove  710  communicates with the first chamber space  321  of the air space  32  of the cylinder body  3  (i.e., the gas (G) in the first chamber space  321  may enter the accommodating groove  710  through the base vent holes  713 , and vice versa). In the first embodiment, the base wall  711  has four base vent holes  713  (see  FIG.  6   ), which, in comparison with only one base vent hole, allows more gas (G) to flow between the first chamber space  321  and the accommodating groove  710  within a specific time interval. However, in certain embodiments, the base wall  711  may have less than four base vent holes, or more than four base vent holes, as long as the gas (G) can flow between the first chamber space  321  and the accommodating groove  710 . 
     The electromagnetic unit  72  of the electronic control device  7  is disposed at the device housing  71 , is surrounded by the surrounding wall  712  of the device housing  71 , generates a magnetic field when energized, and includes a mounting base  721 , a coil seat  722 , a col  723  and two metal plates  724 . The mounting base  721  is made or a stainless steel material, is airtightly disposed in the accommodating groove  710  of the device housing  71 , and has a base part  725 , a rod part  726  and an inner surface that defines a mounting hole  727 . The base part  725  of the mounting base  721  is airtightly disposed at the surrounding wall  712  of the device housing  71 . (i.e., the base part  725  is airtightly disposed in the accommodating groove  710 ). The rod part  726  of the mounting base  721  extends from the base part  725 , through the coil seat  722 , and toward the cover  6 . The mounting hole  727  extends through the base part  725  and the rod part  726  of the mounting base  721 . Specifically, the mounting hole  727  extends along the axis (X), and has two opposite ends respectively proximate to and distal from the cover  6 . One of the ends of the mounting hole  727  that is proximate to the cover  6  is formed with a chamber communicating opening  720  through which the first chamber space  321  and the second chamber space  322  of the air space  32  of the cylinder body  3  fluidly communicate with each other. 
     Referring further to  FIG.  8   , the coil seat  722  of the electromagnetic unit  72  of the electronic control device  7  is disposed in the accommodating groove  710 , is sleeved on the rod part  726  of the mounting base  721  (see  FIG.  7   ), and has a seat indented part  728 . The seat indented part  728  is formed at one end of the coil seat  722  and cooperates with the surrounding wall  712  of the device housing  71  to define a coil opening  74 . The coil  723  surrounds the coil seat  722 , is capable of being energized by electricity, and has two coil ends  729 . Through the coil opening  74  of the electronic control device  7 , the coil ends  729  extend away from the accommodating groove  710  of the device housing  71  to extend through the cover  6 , and to be adapted to extend into the wire tube  22 . The coil ends  729  are adapted to be electrically coupled to a button (not shown) that is at a driver&#39;s seat or at a bicycle handlebar, and that is operable by a driver/rider. 
     One of the metal plates  724  of the electromagnetic unit  72  is mounted to the base part  725  of the mounting base  721 . The other one of the metal plates  724  is adjacent to the chamber communicating opening  720  of the electronic control device  7 , is sleeved on the rod part  726  of the mounting base  721 , and abuts against the coil seat  722 . The metal plates  724  are made of an iron material. When the coil  723  is energized by electricity, the electric current generates a magnetic field so that the metal plates  724  become magnetic. 
     The rod unit  73  of the electronic control device  7  is disposed at the base wall  711  of the device housing  71  and the electromagnetic unit  72 , and includes a moving rod  731 , a blocking member  732  and an elastic member  733 . The moving rod  731  is made of an iron material that will become magnetic when in a magnetic field produced by an electric current. The moving rod  731  extends through the one of the metal plates  724  of the electromagnetic unit  72  that is mounted to the base part  725  of mounting base  721 , extends into the mounting hole  727  of the electromagnetic unit  72 , is movable relative to the mounting hole  727  of the electromagnetic unit  72 , and has two opposite ends, a rod base body  734 , a main rod body  735  and an axial hole  736 . The rod base body  734  is located at one of the ends of the moving rod  731 . The main rod body  735  extends from the rod base body  734  toward the chamber communicating opening  720  of the electromagnetic unit  72 , extends into the mounting hole  727  of the mounting base  721 , and has an end (i.e., the other one of the ends of the moving rod  731 ) that is opposite to the rod base body  734 , and an outer surface that faces the inner surface of the mounting base  721  of the electromagnetic unit  72 . The axial hole  736  extends through the rod base body  734  and the main rod body  735 , and extends along the axis (X). The main rod body  735  is formed with two radial holes  737  (see  FIG.  7   ) each of which extends perpendicular to the axis (X) and communicates with the axial hole  736  and the mounting hole  727  of the mounting base  721 . The blocking member  732  is mounted to the end of the main rod body  735  (i.e., the other one of the ends of the moving rod  731 ). The blocking member  732  is made of a rubber material, is configured to be in a shape of a sphere and be resilient. The elastic member  733  is resiliently disposed between the electromagnetic unit  72  and the moving rod  731 . Specifically, the elastic member  733  is resiliently disposed between the base part  725  of the mounting base  721  and the rod base body  734  of the moving rod  731 , and resiliently abuts against the one of the metal plates  724  of the electromagnetic unit  72  that is mounted to the base part  725  of the mounting base  721 . More specifically, the one of the metal plates  724  abuts against one end of the elastic member  733  opposite to the rod base body  734  (i.e., the one of the ends of the moving rod  731 ). It is noted that, in the first embodiment, the elastic member  733  is configured to be a conical compression spring that has a relatively small that is operable even when a relatively high load is applied, and that has relatively low deflection rate. Therefore, a space between the base part  725  of the mounting base  721  and the rod base body  734  of the moving rod  731  may be minimized. However, in certain embodiments, the elastic member  733  may be, but not limited to, a spring of a different type (e.g., a flat spring). 
     Referring further to  FIG.  9   , the outer surface of the main rod body  735  of the rod unit  73  is formed with four surface indented sections  738  each of which is spaced apart from the inner surface of the mounting base  721  of the electromagnetic unit  72 . Therefore, each of the surface indented sections  738  cooperates with the inner surface of the mounting base  721  to define a gap therebetween. By virtue of the gaps, the chamber communicating opening  720  of the electronic control device  7  cooperates with the base vent holes  713  of the base wall  711  of the device housing  71  to define an air channel (F) (see  FIG.  7   ) through which the gas (G) flows. Specifically, by virtue of the air channel (F), the gas (G) flows between the first chamber space  321  and the second chamber space  322  (see  FIG.  4   ) of the air space  32 . 
     The rod unit  73  of the electronic control device  7  is controllable by the electromagnetic unit  72  to convert between a blocking state (see  FIG.  10   ), in which the blocking member  732  of the rod unit  73  blocks the chamber communicating opening  720  of the electromagnetic unit  72  to prevent fluid communication between the first chamber space  321  and the second chamber space  322  of the air space  32 , and an unblocking state (see  FIG.  7   ), in which the blocking member  732  unblocks the chamber communicating opening  720  to permit fluid communication between the first chamber space  321  and the second chamber space  322 . Because the blocking member  732  is configured to be resilient, the blocking member  732  may provide better airtightness when blocking the chamber communicating opening  720 . 
     Specifically, referring to  FIGS.  4  and  7    again, when the coil  723  of the electromagnetic unit  72  is not energized by electricity, the moving rod  731  of the rod unit  73  is not attracted to the metal plates  724  of the electromagnetic unit  72  since there no magnetic field generated. The rod unit  73  is in the unblocking state, in which the blocking member  732  is at an unblocking position and the elastic member  733  is not compressed. The gas (G) is permitted to flow between the first chamber space  321  and the second chamber space  322  of the air space  32  through the chamber communicating opening  720  of the electromagnetic unit  72 . Therefore, in the first embodiment, when the piston  5  compresses the gas (G) filled in the air space  32 , the gas (G) in both of the first chamber space  321  and the second chamber space  322  is compressed. 
     Referring to  FIG.  10    again, when the coil  723  of the electromagnetic unit  72  is energized, the moving rod  731  of the rod unit  73  and the metal plates  724  of the electromagnetic unit  72  are attracted by a magnetic force generated by the coil  723  such that the rod unit  73  is in the blocking state. Specifically, the moving rod  731  becomes magnetic, is attracted to the metal plates  724 , and moves relative to the mounting hole  727  of the mounting base  721  toward the chamber communicating opening  720  so that the blocking member  732  moves to a blocking position at which the blocking member  732  blocks the chamber communicating opening  720 . At this time, the rod unit  73  is in the blocking state, in which the elastic member  733  is compressed and stores a potential energy for moving the blocking member  732  to the unblocking position and for converting the rod unit  73  back to the unblocking state. When the rod unit  73  is in the blocking state, the gas (G) is prevented from flowing between the first chamber space  321  and the second chamber space  322  of the air space  32  through the chamber communicating opening  720 . Therefore, in the first embodiment, when the piston  5  compresses the gas (G) filled in the air space  32 , only the gas (G) in the first chamber space  321  is compressed. 
     In other words, when the rod unit  73  is in the blocking state, because the piston  5  is not able to compress the gas (G) in the second chamber space  322 , the amount of gas (G) compressed by the piston  5  is less than that when the rod unit  73  is in the unblocking state. Consequently, upon the compression, the change of the air pressure in the first chamber space  321  when the rod unit  73  is in the blocking state is faster than that in the air space  32  when the rod unit  73  is in the unblocking state. This means that the shock absorber is relatively soft when the rod unit  73  is in the unblocking state, and that the shock absorber is relatively stiff when the rod unit  73  is in the blocking state. 
     It is noted that, in the first embodiment, when the rod unit  73  is in the unblocking state and when the piston  5  moves toward the oil circuit unit  4  to return to its earlier position (i.e., when the gas (G) in the air space  32  decompressed), the gas (G) in the second chamber space  322  flows into the axial hole  736  of the moving rod  731  through the chamber communicating opening  720  and the radial holes  737  of the main rod body  735 , and then flows into the first chamber space  321  through a gap between the rod base body  734  of the moving rod  731  and the base wall  711  of the device housing  71  and through the base vent holes  713  of the base wall  711 . Therefore, the difference between the air pressures in the first chamber space  321  and the second chamber space  322  is reduced so that the piston  5  may swiftly return to its earlier position. 
     By virtue of the rod unit  73  being controllable by the electromagnetic unit  72  to convert between the blocking state and the unblocking state, the amount of the gas (G) that is compressed by the piston  5  and the volume of the air space  32  that is shrunk by the piston  5  are adjustable. In addition, the structure of the electromagnetic unit  72  and the rod unit  73  is relatively simple and will not easily malfunction. 
     Referring further to  FIGS.  11  and  12   , a second embodiment of the shock absorber according to the disclosure is similar to the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the shock absorber body  100 ′ and the cylinder  200  are integrally formed, and the oil circuit unit  4  is omitted. The cylinder  200  further includes a space covering member  23  that is mounted to one end of the cylinder body  3  opposite to the cover  6  so that the liquid space  31  of the cylinder body  3  is enclosed. 
     The shock absorber body  100 ′ includes a damping piston member  12 , a damping rod member  13 , a conical cover member  14  and an elastic damping member  15 . The damping piston member  12  is movably disposed in the liquid space  31  of the cylinder body  3  and is adapted for the damping liquid (L) to flow therethrough. The damping rod member  13  extends through the space covering member  23 , and has two opposite ends respectively and fixedly mounted to the damping piston member  12  and the conical cover member  14  so that the damping piston member  12  is comovable with the damping rod member  13 . The conical cover member  14  is spaced apart from the cylinder body  3  and is disposed with the adjusting knob  11 . The elastic damping member  15  is sleeved on the cylinder body  3  and abuts against the conical cover member  14 . 
     In the second embodiment, when the damping rod member  13  urges the damping piston member  12  to move toward the air space  32  of the cylinder body  3  (see  FIG.  12   ), the damping liquid (L) is pushed by the damping piston member  12  and pushes the piston  5  toward the electronic control device  7 . Therefore, the gas (G) in the air space  32  is compressed. At the same time, the elastic damping member  15  compressed and stores a potential energy for moving the damping rod member  13  away from the air space  32 . When the potential energy stored by the elastic damping member  15  is released, the damping rod member  13  and the damping piston member  12  move away from the air space  32  so that the as (G) in the air space  32  is decompressed. Consequently, via the movement of the damping rod member  13  and the damping piston member  12 , the shock absorber achieves the effect of damping. Furthermore, as with the first embodiment, stiffness of the second embodiment is adjustable during driving. The structure of the second embodiment is relatively simple as well, and may not easily malfunction. 
     In summary, by virtue of the rod unit  73  being controllable by the coil  723  of the electromagnetic unit  72  to convert between the blocking state and the unblocking state, during driving/riding a vehicle that is equipped with the shock absorber, a driver/rider can adjust the stiffness of the shock absorber through operating a button that is electrically coupled to the coil  723  and that is at a driver&#39;s seat or a bicycle/motorcycle handlebar. That is to say, the driver/rider can adjust the shock absorber to be stiffer (i.e., the coil  723  is energized) or softer (i.e., the coil  723  is not energized) to suit the needs of the driver/rider during the driving/riding of the vehicle. Compared with a conventional magnetorheological shock absorber, the shock absorber includes the electronic control device  7  whose structure is relatively simple and may not easily malfunction. Therefore, the service life of the shock absorber may be prolonged, and maintenance expenses of the shock absorber may be reduced. The purpose of the disclosure is certainly fulfilled. 
     In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects, and that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be practiced together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure. 
     While the disclosure has been described in connection with what are considered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.