Method for Arranging a Separating Piston in a Cavity and a Device with Such a Separation Piston

Abstract

A steering damper system and method of regulating the fluid pressure of such a system are provided. The system can comprise a piston rod, a cylinder, a passage, and a damper portion. The damper portion can comprise a damper cavity, an outer piston, an inner piston, and a biasing component. The damper cavity can be in fluid communication with the passage. The outer piston can be slidably disposed in the damper cavity and define a chamber and a duct that is in fluid communication with the chamber and the passage. The inner piston can be slidably disposed in the chamber of the outer piston. The biasing component can exert an axial biasing force against the inner piston for regulating the pressure of fluid disposed in the system passes intermediate the passage, the damper cavity, and the chamber of the outer piston.

Description

The present invention relates, among other things, to a method for arranging a separating piston in a system cavity where a liquid medium is sealed off and separated from a second medium, for example gas (air), by means of the separating piston.

The invention also relates to a device with a separating piston in a system cavity, for example a steering damper cavity, where the piston seals off and separates a liquid medium from a second medium, for example gas (air).

When arranging the separating piston in the cavity, the separating piston is to be positioned in the cavity in a position where it can carry out its function with regard to maintaining the pressure within a predetermined pressure range. The system and the device must be able to compensate for changes in volume as a result of changes in temperature, leakage, etc, so that the system, the steering damper, etc, has the same damping characteristics in spite of the said varying factors.

The setting of the initial position of the separating piston in the cavity is critical and has hitherto involved a complicated method in which a special tool is used and it has been necessary to empty the system of the liquid medium in order to carry out the setting, which, in the case of the replacement or repair of a separating piston in an existing system that is in use, means that the whole system must be emptied of liquid in order to carry out the replacement or repair.

The objects of the present invention are, among other things, to solve this problem and make possible non-critical setting of the initial position of the separating piston even though the system is provided with liquid. The separating piston is given an initial position that takes into account any variations in pressure between the upper and lower sides of the separating piston resulting from the said temperature variations, leakage, etc.

The principal characteristics of a method according to the invention are, among other things, that the liquid medium is introduced or has been introduced into the cavity, that a first part of a piston comprised in the separating piston is lowered into the liquid medium in a direction towards the inner part of the cavity, and that a second part of a piston comprised in the separating piston is lowered into the cavity and is caused to interact with the first part of the piston by the application of an interaction force, for example via an actuating area located on the second piston. A volume of liquid is thereby confined between the parts of the piston by the said interaction and, following the said interaction, the second part of the piston is subjected to downward-pressing forces, for example via the said actuating area, with the result that parts of the second piston are urged to continue to penetrate into the first part of the piston. As a result of this, all or parts of the confined volume of liquid are forced out into the cavity under the first part of the piston via a passage in this, whereupon the volume of liquid thus forced out acts upon a lower area that is larger than the in the first piston part down-pressed area of the second piston part. As a result of the difference in area between the in the first piston part down-pressed area of the second piston part and the lower area, the downward-pressing force causes the first part of the piston to move upwards in relation to the second part of the piston. The motion is ended when the first and second piston part is pressed together into a final position, so that the separating piston as such is at a distance from the said inner parts of the cavity. A spring function, for example a mechanical spring, is finally arranged to act on the separating piston at the upper part of the second part of the piston.

The principal characteristics of a device according to the invention are, among other things, that the separating piston can comprise first and second parts of the piston, that the first part of the piston is arranged to be able to be inserted into the liquid medium towards the inner parts of the cavity and that the second part of the piston is similarly arranged to be able to be inserted into the liquid medium and is able to be partially pressed down, by downward-pressing forces, into the first part of the piston. In the partially pressed-down position of the second piston, the first and second parts of the piston contain a volume of liquid medium and the first piston is provided with a passage leading in a direction towards the said inner parts, which passage is arranged to allow all or parts of the confined volume of liquid medium to pass through as a result of the downward-pressing forces. The first piston has a lower area and the second piston has a down-ward pressed area. The lower area is larger than the down-ward pressed area and the downward-pressing forces cause the volume of liquid medium that has been forced out to make contact with the lower area and hence cause the first part of the piston to move from the said inner parts towards the second part of the piston to a final combined position for the parts of the piston at a distance from the inner parts. In order to maintain the downward-pressing forces and pressurization of the liquid medium, the second piston can interact with a spring function.

In further developments of the concept of the invention, the first part of the piston is tubular and has an inner cavity that receives parts of the second part of the piston. An end part comprises the said passage in the form of a central hole that extends through the first part of the piston, and the first part of the piston can have a seal at the end part that can interact with the inner wall of the system cavity. The end part can have the lower area on its outside. The second part of the piston can be arranged to be able to be inserted in the inner cavity of the first part of the piston and can be sealed against the inner wall of this cavity by means of a sealing arrangement. In an additional embodiment, the actuating area of the second piston can comprise an outer flange surface, upon which the spring function, in form of a mechanical spring, can be arranged or can make contact. In addition, the second part of the piston can have a central part that extends upwards. In addition, the said distance is selected to ensure that the separating piston, comprising the first and second parts of the piston, carries out movements within the system cavity within the limits in which the separating piston is to operate. A considerable part or all of the confined volume of liquid medium can have been forced out through the passage when the downward-pressing forces cause the parts of the piston to assume a completely combined or pressed-together position. At its outer end surface, the first piston can have a peripheral contact surface that can make contact with a corresponding stop surface in the inner part of the system cavity, and the inner part can have an opening that is opposite the central hole in the first part of the piston, into which the confined volume of the liquid medium is initially able to be forced down.

By means of what is proposed above, a reliably-operating and advantageously-constructed separating piston is obtained that, in spite of the fact that it comprises two parts of a piston, can be constructed in such a way that the parts of the piston maintain their relative positions in a combined position as a result of the ratio of their areas. The system can be filled with liquid when the piston is inserted and the distance to the inner parts can be given a value that enables the separating piston to operate within fixed or predetermined limit values in, preferably, a steering damper.

Currently proposed embodiments of a method and a device will be described below, with reference to the attached drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows in vertical section a steering damper, and

FIGS. 2 a-2b show in vertical section parts of an accumulator comprised in the steering damper according to FIG. 1, in which the parts of the a piston assume different positions in relation to each other when the method is implemented.

FIG. 1 shows a steering damper represented by 1, the basic construction of which can be of a known type and, for example, consists of the Öhlins SD100 or SD200 steering damper sold on the general market by the applicant of the present patent application. The steering damper comprises mounting devices 2 for mounting the steering damper onto the handlebars of a motorcycle, cycle, etc, (not shown in FIG. 1). In addition, there are mounting devices 3 for mounting it to the frame or chassis of the vehicle (not shown). The steering damper comprises a piston rod 4 extending in the longitudinal direction of the damper that has mounting devices 3 at one end. A piston (piston arrangement) 5 is fixed on the piston rod, which piston operates in a liquid medium 6 that has been introduced into the cavity 7 of the steering damper. The cavity, the piston rod and the piston can be mounted on a part 8, in or on which the first mounting device is arranged. The piston rod is mounted so that it passes through the ends of the part 8 and has sealing devices 10 that allow a movement between the rod and the part 8. The steering damper also has a unit 11 that is connected to the part 8, which unit 11 comprises a duct system with ducts 12, 13 and 14 that make possible for liquid to pass between the upper and lower sides 5a and 5b of the piston 5, in other words, that connect the partial cavity 7a above the piston with the partial cavity 7b below the piston. In the embodiment, the unit 11 also comprises a reservoir for a unit 15 that maintains the pressure of the liquid and that ensures that the steering damper can retain its damping characteristics within predetermined variations in temperature, in the event of minor leakage in the steering damper, etc. In FIG. 1, the unit is also shown enlarged and in a protruding position and has accordingly been given the reference numeral 15′. The unit 11 has a longitudinal opening 16, in which the unit 15, 15′ is mounted. The unit 11 is also provided with a pressure-regulating device 17 of a known type. The unit 15, 15′ shows a piston arrangement 18 that acts as a separating piston between the liquid (for example hydraulic oil) 6 in the steering damper (the system) on the underside 18a of the separating piston and a gaseous medium 19, (for example air), on the upper side 18b of the separating piston. The unit 15, 15′ has a cavity 20, with the partial cavities 20a and 20b for the gas and liquid mediums. On the separating piston 18, there is a spring, that consists of a spiral spring 21 in the example illustrated, that is in contact with an actuating area 18p. The spring is attached between the actuating area and an internal surface 22 on a part (a nut) 23 that closes the cavity 20 and the separating piston 18 operates against the effect of the spring function, that can also be achieved by other means and arrangements. At its other end, the unit 15, 15′ is provided with a connecting arrangement 24 for connecting the partial cavity 20b to the duct arrangement. At one end, the unit 15, 15′ has a sealing element 25 that seals the unit against an inner surface on the cavity 16. The separating piston is provided with a sealing element 26 that seals off the unit against an inner surface 20c in the cavity 20. The cavity 20a is connected to the surrounding atmosphere 27 via a passage (hole) 28, for example in the said nut 23 that is connected to the unit 15, 15′ in such a way that it forms a seal. A (tubular) part, which surrounds the cavity 20 and the separating piston 18, is indicated by 29.

FIGS. 2 a and 2b show the assembly and the arrangement for the construction of the piston 18 in greater detail. The method can be considered to work in three steps or phases, with FIG. 2a showing the first step, FIG. 2b showing the second step and FIG. 1 showing the third step.

In step 1, the liquid medium 6 is introduced or has been introduced into the cavity, whereupon a first part of a piston 18c comprised in the separating piston 18 is inserted down into the liquid medium in a direction towards the inner part 30 of the cavity. The first part of the piston 18c has a lower area 18f on the underside 18a of the separating piston. In the second step, a second part of a piston 18d comprised in the separating piston is inserted down into the cavity 20 and is caused to interact with the first part of the piston 18c by the application of an interaction force F1 via an actuating area 18e and/or 18p located on the second piston. A volume 31 of the said liquid 6 is thereby confined between the parts of the piston 18c and 18d by the said interaction. In the third step, the second part 18d of the piston is subjected to downward-pressing forces, via the said actuating area 18e and/or 18p, that correspond to or exceed the said forces F1.

Application of this downward-pressing force results in an overcome of the friction forces between the first 18c and the second 18d piston part and parts 18g of the second piston 18d are urged to continue to be inserted into the first part of the piston 18c. As a result of this, all or parts of the confined volume of liquid 31 are forced out into the cavity 32 below the first part of the piston 18c via a passage 33 in this. The forced-out volume of liquid acts upon a lower area 18f of the first piston part 18c that is larger than the by the part 18g in the first part 18c down-ward pressed area 18h. As a result of the difference in area of the down-ward pressed area 18h and the lower area 18f, the first part of the piston 18c will be caused to move upwards in relation to the second part of the piston 18d by the downward-pressing force F1 and, in a final position in which it is pressed together with the second piston, the separating piston as such is at a distance A from the said inner parts of the cavity. The said spring function 21 can thereafter be caused to act against the separating piston at the upper part 18e of the second part of the piston or the actuating area 18p that is also assumed to be located on the upper part. The second part of the piston has a sealing arrangement 34 for sealing the second part of the piston against an inner surface 35 of the first part of the piston that has an inner cavity 36 for the second part of the piston. The second part of the piston also has an internal guide 37 for the spring. The spring 21 extends down between the guide and an inner wall in the first part of the piston to interact with the actuating area 18p and in this way control is achieved.

Thus, when inserted into the liquid, the separating piston comprises first and second parts of the piston 18c and 18d that can be pressed together. The ratio of the down-ward pressed area 18h and the lower area 18f is selected in such a way that the relative combined positions established at the time of the insertion are retained when the spring function 21 is applied. Before the second part 18d of the piston is inserted into the first part 18c of the piston, the lower area 18a of the first 18c piston part rests on a stop surface 38 of the inner part 30. While it is being inserted, the piston is raised from the inner parts 30 of the cavity by the distance A that ensures pressurization that provides the same damping characteristics in the damper irrespective of variations in temperature, leakage, etc. The inner part 30 can also include an opening/cavity 32 that is opposite the central hole 33 in the first part of the piston 18c, in which the confined volume 31 is initially able to be forced down. In an embodiment, the whole confined volume 31 is initially forced out between the parts 18c, 18d of the piston. By the expression “upper part of the second part of the piston” is meant the actual part of the piston without the guide 37. In an embodiment, the second part of the piston does not need to be pressed into the first part of the piston but is over the first part of the piston and hence confines a volume in a corresponding way.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but can be modified within the framework of the following claims and concept of the invention.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A method for regulating pressure of a fluid in a steering damper system, the method comprising: filling a damper cavity with the fluid;placing an outer piston into the damper cavity such that the outer piston is slidably disposed in the damper cavity and forms a fluid-tight seal with an interior surface of the damper cavity, the outer piston defining a chamber and a duct, the duct being in fluid communication with the chamber and the fluid in the system;moving the outer piston downwardly into the damper cavity such that the outer piston is submerged in the fluid, the fluid passing through the duct in the outer piston and into the chamber of the outer piston;placing an inner piston into the chamber of the outer piston such that the inner piston is slidably disposed in the chamber of the outer piston and forms a fluid-tight seal with an interior surface of the chamber;exerting an axial force against the inner piston such that fluid disposed in the chamber of the outer piston is urged into the damper cavity through the duct of the outer piston and until a lower surface of the inner piston contacts a stop surface of the chamber of the outer piston; andbiasing at least a portion of the inner piston against a portion of the damper cavity.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the outer and inner pistons are positioned at a given distance above a bottom surface of the damper cavity after the lower surface of the inner piston contacts the stop surface of the chamber of the outer piston.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of biasing at least a portion of the inner piston comprises inserting a spring into the damper cavity.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising biasing the spring against an internal surface of a closure part being connected to the damper cavity for closing the damper cavity.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of adjusting an available volume of the system using a pressure regulation device, the system comprising a passage being in fluid communication with the damper chamber, the pressure regulation device being operative to vary the volume of the passage.

16. A steering damper system comprising: a piston rod comprising an elongate shaft, a piston component and a mounting section, the piston component being fixed along the shaft of the piston rod and defining a diameter larger than a diameter of the shaft; anda damper module comprising: a cylinder defining top and bottom ends, the cylinder being configured with the piston rod being slidably disposed therein, the cylinder defining an inner surface having a diameter greater than the diameter of the piston component to form a seal with the piston component, the cylinder defining upper and lower sections, the upper section being that portion of the cylinder intermediate the piston component and the top end of the cylinder, the lower section being that portion of the cylinder intermediate the piston component and the bottom end of the cylinder;a passage being in fluid communication with the upper and lower sections of the cylinder, the passage defining a volume;a pressure regulation portion being in communication with the passage and being operative to modify the volume of the passage for regulating the pressure of a fluid disposed within the passage and the upper and lower sections of the cylinder; anda damper portion comprising a damper cavity, a separating piston component and a biasing component, the separating piston component being slidably disposed within the damper cavity to define first and second sections of the damper cavity, the second section of the damper cavity being in fluid communication with the passage, the separating piston component comprising outer and inner parts, the outer part being slidably disposed within the damper cavity and being configured to form a seal with an inner surface of the damper cavity, the outer part comprising an interior chamber and a duct, the duct being in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the outer part and the second section of the damper cavity, the inner part of the separating piston component being slidably disposed within the interior chamber of the outer part of the separating piston component and being configured to form a seal with an inner surface of the interior chamber, the biasing component being disposed in the first section of the damper portion and biasing the inner part of the separating piston component against at least a portion of the damper module.

17. The steering damper system of claim 16, wherein the outer and inner parts of the separating piston component each define a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the outer part having a larger surface area than the bottom surface of the inner part.

18. The steering damper system of claim 17, wherein an axial force exerted against the inner part in the direction of the second section of the damper cavity causes movement of the inner part relative to the outer part and movement of the outer part relative to the damper cavity.

19. The steering damper system of claim 18, wherein the axial force causes the inner part to move in the direction of the second section of the damper cavity and the outer part to move in the direction of the first section of the damper cavity.

20. The steering damper system of claim 16, wherein the second section of the damper cavity of the damper portion is filled with the fluid.

21. The steering damper system of claim 20, wherein the biasing component biases the inner part to maintain the pressure of the fluid in the damper system.

22. The steering damper system of claim 16, wherein the biasing element is a spring.

23. The steering damper system of claim 22, wherein the inner part of the separating piston component defines an actuating area upon which the spring can exert an axial force.

24. The steering damper system of claim 16, wherein the inner part of the separating piston component has a central part that extends upwardly, the central part being configured to stabilize the biasing component.

25. The steering damper system of claim 16, wherein the interior cavity of the outer part of the separating piston component defines a stop surface, the stop surface being configured to contact the bottom surface of the inner part of the separating piston component for limiting the movement of the inner part relative to the outer part of the separating piston component.

26. A steering damper system comprising: a piston rod comprising an elongate shaft, a piston component and a mounting section, the piston component being fixed along the shaft of the piston rod;a cylinder being configured with the piston rod slidably disposed therein and forming a seal between the piston component and an interior surface of the cylinder, the cylinder configured with the piston component being interposed between upper and lower sections of the cylinder;a passage being in fluid communication with the upper and lower sections of the cylinder; anda damper portion comprising: a damper cavity in fluid communication with the passage;an outer piston slidably disposed in the damper cavity and defining a chamber and a duct, the duct being in fluid communication with the chamber and the passage;an inner piston slidably disposed in the chamber of the outer piston; anda biasing component exerting an axial biasing force against the inner piston;wherein the axial biasing force biases the inner piston for regulating the pressure of fluid disposed in the system passes intermediate the passage, the damper cavity, and the chamber of the outer piston.

27. The steering damper system of claim 26, wherein the chamber of the outer piston defines a stop surface, the stop surface being configured to contact a bottom surface of the inner piston for limiting the movement of the inner part relative to the outer piston.

28. The steering damper system of claim 26, wherein the inner piston has a central part that extends upwardly, the central part being configured to stabilize the biasing component.

29. The steering damper system of claim 26, wherein the passage defines a volume and the system further comprises a pressure regulation portion in communication with the passage, the pressure regulation portion being operative to modify the volume of the passage for regulating the pressure of the fluid in the system.