New Valve Technology for Active Suspension

A new type of valve design is on offer based on the requirements imposed on a valve for adjustable shock absorbers.

The essential feature of this design is electronic adjustment of the characteristics of the stationary valve characteristic curve plot. By superimposing an electrical position control circuit for the valve slide position onto the hydraulic mechanical pressure control circuit of the pressure relief valve it is then possible to match characteristic curve outlines electronically within wide margins to the special requirements of the shock absorbers. The result is not only that you can use one valve for various different dampers and vehicles, you can also vary characteristic curve outlines while the vehicle is travelling.

Simulation results and plot measurements taken from a prototype valve show that this design will work in practice. Construction features of the prototype valve are noted. Highly effective compensation of flow forces enables the valve to be controlled directly by a plunger without any pre-control.

Measurements carried out on the shock absorber show that the use of this valve allows damping force to be built up quickly and reduced slowly, thus allowing considerable damping even at low damping speeds as well as a marked reduction in noise levels.