JP2008020059A - Valve structure for shock absorber - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a valve structure for a shock absorber capable of improving ride comfort of a vehicle even when piston speed reaches a high speed region. <P>SOLUTION: The shock absorber D is provided with a valve disk 1 defining one chamber 41 and another chamber 42 and provided with a port 2 establishing communication between one chamber 41 and another chamber 42, a leaf valve 10 laminated on another chamber 42 side surface of the valve disk 1 and closing the port 2, a communication passage 17 establishing communication between another chamber side opening end of the port 2 and one chamber 41, and a flow control valve 20 reducing flow path area of the communication passage 17 when pressure in one chamber 41 gets to predetermined pressure or higher. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an improved valve structure of a shock absorber.

  Conventionally, this kind of shock absorber valve structure is embodied in, for example, a piston portion of a shock absorber for a vehicle, and an annular leaf valve is laminated on the outlet end of a port provided in the piston portion. A valve that opens and closes a port is known.

  In particular, in the above-described shock absorber valve structure in which the inner periphery of the leaf valve is fixedly supported and the port is opened and closed by bending the outer peripheral side, the damping force in the medium and high speed regions becomes too large in the vehicle. In order to solve this problem, as shown in FIG. 3, the inner periphery of the leaf valve L is not fixedly supported and the inner periphery of the leaf valve L is connected to the piston rod R or the piston P as shown in FIG. Has been proposed in which a valve structure of a shock absorber is slidably brought into contact with the outer periphery of a cylindrical piston nut N fixed to the piston rod R and the back surface of the leaf valve L is urged by a spring S through a main valve M. In the figure, it is embodied in the expansion side damping valve of the shock absorber (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the shock absorber to which this valve structure is applied, as shown in the figure, when the piston speed when the piston P moves upward is in a low speed region, the outer peripheral side of the leaf valve L is stacked on the leaf valve L. As shown in FIG. 4, when the contact portion is bent as a fulcrum, it exhibits substantially the same damping characteristic as the valve structure in which the inner periphery is fixedly supported. The pressure of the hydraulic oil passing through the valve acts on the leaf valve L, and the leaf valve L lifts and retreats in the axial direction from the piston P together with the main valve M against the urging force of the spring S. Compared to the valve structure of the shock absorber supported by the vehicle, the flow passage area is increased and the damping force is suppressed from being excessive, so that the riding comfort in the vehicle can be improved.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-291196 (FIG. 1)

  However, in the proposed valve structure as described above, although it is a useful technique in terms of improving riding comfort in a vehicle, it may be pointed out that there are the following problems.

  This is because, for example, when the piston speed when the piston P moves upward reaches the high speed region, in the conventional shock absorber valve structure, the leaf valve L moves backward from the piston P in the axial direction according to the piston speed. The damping coefficient does not increase.

  Therefore, when the piston speed reaches the high speed region, the damping force is insufficient, and the vibration is not sufficiently suppressed, so that the riding comfort in the vehicle is deteriorated.

  Therefore, the present invention was devised to improve the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to improve the riding comfort in the vehicle even when the piston speed reaches the high speed region. It is to provide a valve structure of a shock absorber.

  In order to solve the above-described object, the valve structure of the shock absorber in the problem solving means of the present invention includes a port that separates the one chamber from the other chamber in the shock absorber and communicates the one chamber with the other chamber. In a valve structure of a shock absorber comprising a valve disc provided and a leaf valve stacked on the side of the other chamber of the valve disc to close the port, a communication path that communicates the other chamber side opening end of the port with the one chamber And a flow rate control valve that reduces the flow passage area of the communication passage when the pressure in the one chamber exceeds a predetermined pressure.

  According to the valve structure of the shock absorber of the present invention, the damping coefficient can be increased when the piston speed reaches the high speed region, and the damping force is not insufficient even when the piston speed reaches the high speed region. Vibration suppression is sufficiently performed, and riding comfort in the vehicle can be improved.

  Furthermore, in a situation where the amplitude at which the shock absorber is fully extended and the piston speed reaches the high speed region, the damping coefficient can be increased to increase the damping force generated by the shock absorber. Therefore, the piston speed can be quickly reduced, and the impact at the maximum extension can be reduced.

  The valve structure of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of a piston portion of a shock absorber in which a valve structure according to an embodiment is embodied. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a damping characteristic in a shock absorber in which the valve structure of the shock absorber according to the embodiment is embodied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the valve structure of the shock absorber in one embodiment is embodied as an extension side damping valve of the piston portion of the shock absorber, and includes one chamber 41 and the other chamber 42 in the shock absorber D. A piston 1 that is a valve disk having a port 2 that is separated and communicates with the one chamber 41 and the other chamber 42, a piston rod 5 that is a shaft member that rises from the axial center of the piston 1, and the piston that is disposed on the inner peripheral side. The rod 5 is inserted and the annular leaf valve 10 which is stacked on the bottom 1a which is the side surface of the other chamber of the piston 1 and closes the port 2, and the piston rod 5 is inserted on the inner peripheral side and the leaf valve 10 is inserted. An annular valve restraining member 11 that is stacked, and a coil spring 1 that is a biasing means that biases the leaf valve 10 via the valve restraining member 11 in a direction to close the port 2. A communication passage 17 that communicates the open end of the other chamber side of the port 2 with the one chamber 41, and a flow rate control valve 20 that reduces the flow area of the communication passage 17 when the pressure in the one chamber 41 exceeds a predetermined pressure. Configured.

  On the other hand, a shock absorber in which the valve structure is embodied is well known and will not be described in detail, but specifically, for example, a cylinder 40 and a head member (not shown) that seals the upper end of the cylinder 40. ), A piston rod 5 slidably penetrating a head member (not shown), the piston 1 provided at the end of the piston rod 5, and the piston 1 in the cylinder 40 in FIG. One cylinder 41 on the upper side, the other chamber 42 on the lower side, a sealing member (not shown) that seals the lower end of the cylinder 40, and the volume change in the cylinder corresponding to the volume of the piston rod 5 protruding and retracting from the cylinder 40. A cylinder or an air chamber (not shown) for compensation is provided, and the cylinder 40 is filled with a fluid, specifically, hydraulic oil.

  In the valve structure, when the piston 1 moves upward in FIG. 1 with respect to the cylinder 40, the pressure in the one chamber 41 rises and the port 2 and the communication from the one chamber 41 to the other chamber 42. When hydraulic oil moves through the passage 17, a damping force generating element that gives resistance to the movement of the hydraulic oil by the leaf valve 10 to cause a predetermined pressure loss and generates a predetermined damping force in the shock absorber. Function as.

  Hereinafter, the valve structure will be described in detail. The piston 1 serving as a valve disk is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and an insertion hole 1b through which a piston rod 5 of a shock absorber is inserted into an axial center portion of the bottom portion 1a, An annular window 3 communicating with the other chamber side opening end of the port 2, an annular valve seat 1c formed on the outer peripheral side of the window 3 and projecting from the bottom 1a of the piston 1 toward the leaf valve 10, and extending to the outer peripheral side. It is configured with a cylindrical portion 1f provided.

  Further, the bottom portion 1a is provided with a disk-side passage 18 that communicates the window 3 serving as an opening end on the other chamber side of the port 2 and the insertion hole 1b. In the present embodiment, a plurality of the disk-side passages 18 are provided. However, one may be provided, or the disk-side passage 18 may be directly communicated with the opening end of the port 2 or may be connected to the opening end of the port 2. You may make it communicate through the window 3. FIG.

  The piston 1 is provided with a pressure-side port 1d that allows a flow of hydraulic oil from the other chamber 42 to the one chamber 41 when the shock absorber contracts, on the outer peripheral side of the port 2 on the extended side of the bottom 1a. It has been.

  As described above, the tip 5a of the piston rod 5 penetrating the shaft core of the piston 1 serving as a valve disk is inserted into the insertion hole 1b of the piston 1, and the tip 5a of the piston rod 5 is below the piston 1 in FIG. It protrudes to the side and rises from the axial center of the piston 1. The outer diameter of the tip 5a of the piston rod 5 is set to be smaller than the outer diameter on the upper side in FIG. 1 from the tip 5a, and a step portion 5b is formed in a portion where the outer diameters of the upper side and the tip 5a are different. Yes.

  Further, the tip 5a of the piston rod 5 is provided with a vertical hole 5d that opens from the tip surface 5c, and is hollow, and opens from the side facing the one chamber 41 and communicates with the vertical hole 5d. The inside of the piston rod 5 as a shaft member communicates with the one chamber 41. Further, the vertical hole 5d is communicated to the outside of the piston rod 5 by an axial port 5f provided on the side of the tip 5a of the piston rod 5 and an annular groove 5g provided on the outer periphery of the tip 5a.

  A hollow spool 21 is slidably inserted into the vertical hole 5d. The spool 21 includes a bottomed cylindrical tube portion 22 and a shaft portion 23 extending from the lower end of the tube portion 22 in FIG. The cylindrical portion 22 has a small outer diameter on the upper end side, and a gap is formed between the inner periphery of the vertical hole 5e.

  In addition, through holes 22a and 22a that communicate the inside and outside of the spool 21 are provided on the upper end side that has a small diameter of the cylindrical portion 22, and the sliding contact portion 22c that is in the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 22 and that is in sliding contact with the inner periphery of the vertical hole 5d An annular groove 22b communicating with the spool 21 is provided. Further, a through hole 22d is provided from the bottom of the cylinder portion 22 to the shaft portion 23 to communicate the inside of the tube portion 22 and the outside of the shaft portion 23, and the pressure on the one chamber 41 side is the back side of the cylinder portion 22, that is, Also, it acts on the end portion side of the cylindrical portion 22 on the shaft portion 23 side.

  The spool 21 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the shaft portion 23 and is interposed between a lower end of the cylindrical portion 22 and a cylindrical member 24 inserted on the lower side of the vertical hole 5d in FIG. The upper end of the spool 21 in FIG. 1 is in contact with the bottom of the vertical hole 5e. The shaft portion 23 functions as a guide for the spring 25 and is inserted into the cylindrical member 24 to cooperate with the cylindrical member 24 to prevent the shaft 21 from shaking relative to the vertical hole 5d. Then, the pressure of the one chamber 41 acts on the spool 21 by taking the area obtained by dividing the cross-sectional area of the shaft portion 23 from the cross-sectional area of the large-diameter portion of the cylindrical portion 22 as the pressure receiving area. Since the spring force of the spring 25 can be set small due to the presence, the flow control valve 20 provided inside the piston rod 5 as the shaft member can be reduced in size accordingly. .

  When the upper end of the spool 21 in FIG. 1 is in contact with the bottom of the vertical hole 5e, the annular groove 22b faces the shaft port 5f provided on the side of the tip 5a of the piston rod 5, and the annular groove 22b. The shaft port 5f is in communication. On the other hand, when the spool 21 moves backward in FIG. 1 against the urging force of the spring 25, the sliding contact portion 22c of the cylindrical portion 22 faces the shaft port 5f, and the annular groove 22b and the shaft port 5f When the lap area is reduced and the annular groove 22b cannot face the shaft port 5f and the sliding contact portion 22c completely faces the shaft port 5f, the shaft port 5f is closed.

  Then, the pressure in the one chamber 41 acts on the spool 21 through the horizontal hole 5e, and when the pressure in the one chamber 41 becomes a predetermined pressure or more, the spring 21 resists the urging force of the spring 25 and moves downward in FIG. The lap area between the annular groove 22b and the shaft port 5f is reduced. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the flow control valve 20 includes the spool 21 and the spring 25 described above, and is provided inside the piston rod 5 that is a shaft member.

  When the pressure in the one chamber 41 becomes a predetermined pressure, the flow rate control valve 20 moves backward in FIG. 1 against the urging force of the spring 25 to reduce the lap area. The predetermined pressure is set to the pressure in the one chamber 41 that is generated when the piston speed reaches the high speed region when the piston 1 moves upward in FIG. For example, in this flow control valve 20, the lap area is reduced by the pressure in the one chamber 41 generated when the piston speed is 0.6 m / s or more.

  Subsequently, the tip 5a of the piston rod 5 is inserted into the insertion hole 1b of the piston 1 together with the pressure-side leaf valve 100, the spacer 101 and the valve stopper 102, and the piston nut 4 is inserted into the piston rod 5 from below in FIG. The piston 1 is clamped between the stepped portion of the piston rod 5 and the upper end of the piston nut 4 and fixed to the piston rod 5 by being screwed into a screw portion 5 h provided at the tip of the piston rod 5.

  In this way, when the piston 1 is fixed to the tip 5a of the piston rod 5, the opening end on the insertion hole 1b side of the disc-side passage 18 provided in the bottom 1a of the piston 1 is in an annular groove 5g provided on the outer periphery of the tip 5a. The window 3 which is set so as to face each other and serves as the other chamber side opening end of the port 2 includes a disk side passage 18, an annular groove 5 g provided at the tip 5 a of the piston rod 5, a shaft port 5 f, a vertical hole 5 d and a horizontal hole. 5e is communicated with the one chamber 41, and the communication path 17 is constituted by these. Therefore, the flow rate control valve 20 can adjust the flow path area of the communication path 17 by changing the lap area of the annular groove 22b and the shaft port 5f.

  Moreover, the above-described piston nut 4 is configured to include a cylindrical portion 4a and a flange 4b extending from the outer periphery of the lower end in FIG. 1 of the cylindrical portion 4a. The outer periphery of the upper end of the cylindrical portion 4a is a small diameter portion. 4c is formed. A flange 4d is provided on the inner periphery of the lower end of the cylindrical portion 4a. The inner diameter of the flange 4d is smaller than the inner diameter of the vertical hole 5d at the tip 5a of the piston rod 5, and the flange 4d 1, the lower end surface of the cylindrical member 24 is brought into contact with the upper end surface to prevent the spool 21 and the spring 25 constituting the flow control valve 20 from falling out of the vertical hole 5d.

  A plurality of annular spacers 7 having a smaller diameter than the leaf valve 10 slidably contacting the outer periphery of the small diameter portion 4c of the cylindrical portion 4a of the piston nut 4 are stacked on the bottom portion 1a of the piston 1, and below the spacer 7 The leaf valve 10 slidably contacting the outer periphery of the small diameter portion 4c is stacked, and a plurality of annular spacers 8 having a smaller diameter than the leaf valve 10 and slidably contacting the outer periphery of the small diameter portion 4c are stacked from below the leaf valve 10. In addition, a valve restraining member 11 that is slidably contacted with the outer periphery of the small diameter portion 4c from below the spacer 8 is laminated.

  The leaf valve 10 is configured as a laminated leaf valve by laminating a plurality of annularly formed plates. The upper surface in FIG. 1 is brought into contact with the valve seat 1c to close the port 2 of the piston 1. Can be done. In this embodiment, the leaf valve 10 is configured as a laminated leaf valve. However, the number of the annular plates depends on the damping characteristic (relationship of the damping force with respect to the piston speed) realized by this valve structure. It may be optional, and there may be a single sheet or multiple sheets depending on the attenuation characteristics generated in the shock absorber, and the outer diameter of each leaf may be set differently depending on the attenuation characteristics generated in the shock absorber. it can. Further, although not shown in detail, a notch formed on the outer periphery of the leaf valve 10 seated on the valve seat 1c or a known orifice formed by being stamped on the valve seat 1c is provided.

  In addition, the lower end opening part in the insertion hole 1b provided in the bottom part 1a of the piston 1 is enlarged in diameter, and the enlarged diameter part 1e is provided, and a step part is formed, and the small diameter part 4c in the cylinder part 4a is formed in this step part. The middle and upper ends can be inserted.

  Incidentally, by providing the enlarged diameter portion 1e, the piston nut 4 can be positioned in the radial direction with respect to the piston 1, and the above-described leaf valve 10, spacers 7 and 8, and valve restraining member 11 are attached to the piston nut 4. After assembly, these members can be attached together with the piston 1 to the tip 5a of the piston rod 5, which is convenient for manufacturing. However, the enlarged diameter portion 1e may be omitted.

  Further, as described above, by forming the piston 1 in the shape of a bottomed cylinder, a member constituting the valve structure such as a leaf valve can be accommodated in the piston 1, and the piston 1 shown in FIG. The length from the middle upper end to the lower end in FIG. 1 of the piston nut 4 can be shortened, and the piston portion can be reduced in size.

  The valve holding member 11 stacked at the lowest position in FIG. 1 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a flange 11 a, and is an urging means between the flange 11 a and the flange 4 b of the piston nut 4. A coil spring 15 is interposed, and the leaf valve 10 is pressed against the valve seat 1c by the coil spring 15.

  That is, the urging force of the coil spring 15 is applied to the inner peripheral side of the leaf valve 10 via the valve holding member 11, and the leaf valve 10 is urged in the direction of closing the port 2 by the coil spring 15.

  Therefore, when the piston 1 moves upward in FIG. 1 and the difference between the pressure in the one chamber 41 and the pressure in the other chamber 42 increases, the leaf valve 10 moves the coil spring 15 against the urging force. The entire leaf valve 10 is compressed and retracted in the axial direction from the piston 1, that is, lifted downward in FIG.

  The leaf valve in which the axial thickness of the entire spacer 7 is set shorter than the axial length from the bottom 1a of the piston 1 to the lower end of the valve seat 1c, and the urging force acts on the inner peripheral side. 10 is given an initial deflection.

  By setting the deflection amount of the initial deflection, the valve opening pressure when the leaf valve 10 leaves the valve seat 1c and opens the port 2 can be adjusted. The deflection amount of the initial deflection is the entire amount of the spacer 7. The thickness is set so as to be optimal for a vehicle to which a shock absorber is applied. Note that the spacer 7 may be omitted depending on the axial length from the bottom 1a of the piston 1 to the lower end of the valve seat 1c.

  Further, in the above description, the urging means is the coil spring 15. However, since a predetermined urging force may be applied to the leaf valve 10, this may be, for example, a disc spring or a leaf spring, or an elastic material such as rubber. It may be a body.

  Next, the operation of the valve structure will be described. As described above, when the piston 1 moves upward in FIG. 1 with respect to the cylinder 40, the pressure in the one chamber 41 is increased, and the hydraulic oil in the one chamber 41 is increased. It tries to move through the port 2 into the other chamber 42.

  When the piston speed, which is the expansion / contraction speed of the shock absorber, is in the low speed region, the hydraulic oil is notched or valve provided on the outer periphery of the leaf valve 10 seated on the valve seat 1c when the piston speed is extremely low. The orifice passes through the orifice formed by stamping the seat 1c, and then the outer periphery of the leaf valve 10 is bent as the speed increases, and passes through the gap between the leaf valve 10 and the valve seat 1c. The valve 10 cannot be lifted back from the piston 1 against the urging force of the coil spring 15, and the leaf valve 10 is urged by the coil spring 15 to be pressed so as to close the port 2, and is a spacer. 8, the hydraulic oil passes through the gap between the leaf valve 10 and the valve seat 1c, which is formed when the leaf valve 10 is separated from the valve seat 1c. To.

  In this case, even if the piston speed is in the low speed region and the pressure in the one chamber 41 acts on the spool 21 in the flow rate control valve 20 provided in the middle of the communication passage 17, the pressure in the one chamber 41 remains at a predetermined pressure. Therefore, the spool 21 cannot be applied with a thrust force that causes the spool 21 to retreat against the urging force of the spring 25, and the spool 21 remains in contact with the bottom of the vertical hole 5d. The groove 22b and the shaft port 5f face each other so that the flow passage area of the communication passage 17 is not reduced.

  Therefore, the hydraulic oil moves from the one chamber 41 to the other chamber 42 not only through the port 2 but also through the communication passage 17.

  The damping characteristic (relationship of the damping force with respect to the piston speed) at this time is as shown in FIG. 2 because the leaf valve 10 does not retreat downward from the piston 1 in FIG. 1. In this low speed region, the damping coefficient is It will be relatively large.

  On the other hand, when the speed of the piston 1 reaches the medium speed region and the difference between the pressure in the one chamber 41 and the pressure in the other chamber 42 becomes large, the leaf valve 10 of the hydraulic oil passing through the port 2 is shown in FIG. The force to push down increases.

  Then, the force that pushes down the leaf valve 10 of the hydraulic oil passing through the port 2 and the communication passage 17 downward in FIG. 1 overcomes the urging force of the coil spring 15 and causes the entire leaf valve 10 to move backward from the piston 1 in the axial direction. Thus, the leaf valve 10 is moved downward in FIG.

  That is, the entire leaf valve 10 is separated from the bottom 1a of the piston 1, and the gap between the valve seat 1c and the leaf valve 10 is larger than when the piston speed is in the low speed region, and the piston speed is medium. When there is a speed region, the pressure in the one chamber 41 does not increase to a predetermined pressure, and the flow rate control valve 20 does not decrease the flow passage area of the communication passage 17. Therefore, the damping force generated by the shock absorber D when the piston speed is in the medium speed region is such that the entire leaf valve 10 moves backward from the piston 1 and the valve seat 1c and the leaf valve 10 compared to when the shock absorber D is in the low speed region. As the clearance between the two and the piston increases, the damping coefficient decreases although it is proportional to the increase in piston speed, and the damping characteristic has a smaller slope as shown in FIG.

  When the piston speed reaches the high speed region, the force that pushes down the leaf valve 10 of the hydraulic oil downward in FIG. 1 further increases, and the retreat amount of the leaf valve 10 that retracts downward from the piston 1 in FIG. The clearance between the leaf valve 10 and the valve seat 1c is larger than when the piston speed is in the medium speed region.

  On the other hand, the pressure in the one chamber 41 also increases and reaches a predetermined pressure, and the spool 21 of the flow control valve 20 overcomes the urging force of the spring 25 and retreats downward in FIG. The lap area of the annular groove 22b and the shaft port 5f is reduced in proportion to the increase in the internal pressure, and the flow passage area of the communication passage 17 is reduced.

  Therefore, when the piston speed is in the high speed region, the retraction amount of the leaf valve 10 increases, but the flow passage area of the communication passage 17 decreases, and the hydraulic oil passes through the port 2 and the communication passage 17. Pressure loss will increase.

  That is, when the piston speed is in the high speed region, the clearance between the valve seat 1c and the leaf valve 10 increases as the piston speed increases, but the flow passage area of the communication passage 17 increases as the piston speed increases. As shown in FIG. 2, the damping coefficient when the piston speed is in the high speed region becomes larger than that in the middle speed region, so that the slope of the damping coefficient becomes larger.

  As the piston speed increases, the flow area of the communication passage 17 with respect to the increase degree of the piston speed decreases by the flow rate control valve 20, so that the hydraulic oil moves from the one chamber 41 to the other chamber 42. The pressure loss also increases, and the slope of the damping coefficient tends to increase with increasing piston speed.

  Therefore, in the valve structure of the shock absorber in the present embodiment, when the piston speed reaches the high speed region, the damping coefficient can be made larger than when the piston speed is in the medium speed region, and the piston speed is high. Even when reaching the region, the damping force is not insufficient, vibration is sufficiently suppressed, and the riding comfort in the vehicle can be improved.

  Furthermore, in a situation where the amplitude at which the shock absorber is fully extended and the piston speed reaches the high speed region, the damping coefficient can be increased to increase the damping force generated by the shock absorber. Therefore, the piston speed can be quickly reduced, and the impact at the maximum extension can be reduced. When the piston speed becomes very high and the pressure in the one chamber 41 becomes very large, the flow rate control valve 20 closes the communication path 17, and in this embodiment, the sliding contact portion of the spool 21 If 22c is made to oppose the shaft port 5f, it can be ensured that a large damping force is generated in the shock absorber to alleviate the impact at the maximum extension.

  Specifically, for example, the boundary between the medium speed region and the high speed region of the piston speed at which the damping coefficient increases may be set to be about 0.6 m / s. The predetermined pressure at which the control valve 20 starts to decrease the flow passage area of the communication passage 17 may be set to the pressure in the one chamber 41 when the piston speed is about 0.6 m / s. By doing so, when the piston speed is in the medium speed region, the flow passage area in the communication passage 17 is maximized and the pressure loss does not increase, so that the damping coefficient can be kept relatively small. The ride comfort in the vehicle can be ensured without becoming too large.

  Further, as described above, in the valve structure according to the present embodiment, the communication path 17 is provided in the piston rod 5 serving as the shaft member and the piston 1 serving as the valve disk as compared with the conventional valve structure. Since the flow control valve 10 is provided on the other side, the other configuration may be substantially the same as that of each part of the valve structure in the conventional shock absorber, and the manufacturing advantage that the compatibility of the parts is increased. There is.

  Further, since the communication passage 17 is communicated with the other chamber side opening end which is the outlet end of the port 2, the hydraulic oil is always supplied to the one chamber through the gap between the leaf valve 10 and the valve seat 1c. Since the hydraulic fluid moves from 41 to the other chamber 42, the damping characteristic can be easily adjusted as compared with a valve structure in which hydraulic oil is directly communicated with the other chamber 42 through the communication passage 17 to bypass the leaf valve 10. At the same time, the flow control valve 20 only needs to exhibit the function of reducing the flow path surface property of the communication passage 17 by increasing the pressure in the one chamber 41, and the structure of the flow control valve 20 is simplified. It becomes possible. That is, when the communication path 17 bypasses the leaf valve 10, when trying to obtain the same damping characteristic as in the present embodiment, the flow rate control valve reduces the flow path area when the piston speed is in the low speed region. When the piston speed is in the medium speed region, the flow passage area must be increased, and when the piston speed is in the high speed region, the flow passage area must be reduced again. The structure becomes complicated.

  In this embodiment, the piston nut 4 that fixes the piston 1 that is a valve disk to the piston rod 5 that is a shaft member plays a role of guiding the leaf valve 10 and the valve holding member 11. The leaf valve 10 and the valve holding member 11 may be slidably contacted with the outer periphery of the piston rod 5, and in the present embodiment, the piston 1 is provided with an insertion hole 1b and the tip 5a of the piston rod 5 is provided. The piston rod 5 is projected so as to be inserted as a shaft member, but a shaft member integral with the piston 1 serving as a valve body may be provided in the axial center portion of the piston 1.

  In the valve structure of the present invention, the leaf valve 10 is energized by a coil spring 15 as an energizing means and is laminated so as to be close to the piston 1 as a valve disk. 10 is applied to a valve that can lift the piston 10 from the piston 1 to suppress the damping force and improve the riding comfort in the vehicle. However, the leaf valve 10 is not limited to being energized by the energizing means. May be applied to a valve in which the outer periphery of the piston rod 5 is fixed to the tip 5a of the piston rod 5 and the outer periphery of the piston rod 5 bends away from the valve seat 1c to open the port 2. When the piston speed reaches the high speed region, the piston speed The damping force can be increased as compared with the case where is in the medium speed region, and the effect of the present invention is not lost.

  The description of the embodiment of the shock absorber and the valve structure of the shock absorber is finished as described above. However, the valve structure of the present invention may be embodied in the compression side damping valve of the piston portion of the shock absorber. Needless to say, the present invention can be embodied and applied to a valve of a shock absorber functioning as a damping force generating element that generates a damping force. That is, when the valve structure is embodied in the base valve portion, one chamber may be one of the piston side chamber or the reservoir chamber, and the other chamber may be the other of the piston side chamber or the reservoir chamber. Further, when embodied in the compression side damping valve, in principle, the configuration may be such that the top and bottom of the valve structure in FIG. 1 is reversed.

 It should be noted that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the details shown or described.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view in a part of piston part of the shock absorber by which the valve structure of the shock absorber in one embodiment was embodied. It is a figure which shows the damping characteristic in the buffer which embodied the valve | bulb structure of the buffer of one Embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the piston part of the buffer which actualized the valve structure of the conventional buffer. It is a figure which shows the damping characteristic in the buffer which actualized the valve structure of the conventional buffer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Piston 1a which is a valve disc Bottom part 1b Insertion hole 1c Valve seat 1d Pressure side port 1e Expanded part 1f Tube part 2 Port 3 Window 4 Piston nut 4a Tube part 4b 鍔 4c Small diameter part 4d Flange 5 Piston rod 5a which is a shaft member End 5b Piston rod step 5c End surface 5d Vertical hole 5e Horizontal hole 5f Axial port 5g Annular groove 5h Screw part 10 Leaf valve 11 Valve restraining member 11a 鍔 15 Coil spring 17 Communication path 18 Disc side path 20 Flow control valve 21 Spool 22 Cylindrical portion 22a, 22d Through hole 22b Annular groove 22c Sliding contact portion 23 Shaft portion 24 Cylindrical member 25 Spring 40 Cylinder 41 One chamber 42 Other chamber D Buffer

Claims (3)

A valve disc having a port separating the one chamber and the other chamber in the shock absorber and communicating with the one chamber and the other chamber, and a leaf valve stacked on the side of the other chamber of the valve disc to close the port And a flow control valve for reducing the flow passage area of the communication passage when the pressure in the one chamber becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure. And a shock absorber valve structure. A shaft member that rises from an axial center portion of the valve disk and is inserted into an inner peripheral side of the annular leaf valve, and an urging means that urges the leaf valve in a direction to close the port. 2. The shock absorber valve structure according to 1. The shaft member is hollow and penetrates the shaft core portion of the valve disk, and the communication path communicates with one chamber and a disk-side path that communicates the inner periphery of the valve disk and the other chamber side opening end of the port. The shaft member is formed by an inside of the shaft member and a shaft port provided in the shaft member and communicating the inside of the shaft member and the disk side passage, and the flow control valve is slidably inserted into the inside of the shaft member and is provided in the one chamber. A hollow spool that is biased toward the side, and an annular groove that is provided on the outer periphery of the spool and communicates with the inside of the spool is opposed to the shaft port. The shock absorber valve structure according to claim 2, wherein the flow passage area of the communication path is reduced by reducing the lap area between the annular groove and the shaft port by retreating against an urging force.

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