US-20260126094-A1 - ELECTROHYDRAULIC DAMPER CONTROL VALVE

US20260126094A1US 20260126094 A1US20260126094 A1US 20260126094A1US-20260126094-A1

Abstract

A high-flow and/or high-pressure electrohydraulic damper control valve is provided. The damper control valve includes an inner housing member and a single piece, stepped spool valve member having a cup shape slidably received about an axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member. At least one window aperture is provided in an upper portion of the single piece, stepped spool valve member. The single piece, stepped spool valve member includes an annular stepped portion between a first inner spool surface portion and a second inner spool surface. An annular surface portion is located on the axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member. The annular stepped portion of the single piece, stepped spool valve member selectively engages the annular surface portion of the inner housing upon movement of the single piece, stepped spool valve member to control hydraulic flow and pressure exposure.

Inventors

Tyler Eston

Assignees

FOX FACTORY, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241104

Claims (18)

1 . A high-flow and/or high-pressure electrohydraulic damper control valve comprising: an inner housing member received within an outer housing member; a single piece, stepped spool valve member having a cup shape slidably received about an axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member; at least one window aperture provided in an upper portion of the single piece, stepped spool valve member; a single, axial inlet opening provided in the inner housing member and extending axially downward into the axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member; a plurality of radially extending inlet openings provided circumferentially about the axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member; and a plurality of outlet openings provided circumferentially about an upper end portion of the outer housing member and about the single piece, stepped spool valve member slidably received on the axially extending cylindrical portion provided with the plurality of radially extending inlet openings.
2 . The electrohydraulic damper control valve of claim 1 , wherein the single piece, stepped spool valve member comprises an annular stepped portion provided between a first inner spool surface portion and a second inner spool surface portion.
3 . The electrohydraulic damper control valve of claim 2 , wherein the inner housing member comprises an annular surface portion provided on the axially extending cylindrical portion.
4 . The electrohydraulic damper control valve of claim 3 , wherein the annular stepped portion of the single piece, stepped spool valve member selectively engages the annular surface portion of the inner housing upon movement of the single piece, stepped spool valve member.
5 . The electrohydraulic damper control valve of claim 4 , wherein the inner housing member comprises feed ports that extend through the axially extending cylindrical portion and are located below the plurality of radially extending inlet openings.
6 . The electrohydraulic damper control valve of claim 5 , wherein the feed ports are located in the inner housing such that a circumference of the feed ports extend above and below the annular surface portion of the inner housing.
7 . The electrohydraulic damper control valve of claim 6 , wherein the feed ports are configured to allow hydraulic fluid that enters the inner housing member through the axial inlet opening to flow through the feed ports and engage and act upon the annular stepped portion of the single piece, stepped spool valve member.
8 . The electrohydraulic damper control valve of claim 7 , wherein the feed ports are equally spaced around the circumference of the inner housing to balance the pressure of the hydraulic pressure acting on the annular stepped portion of the single piece, stepped spool valve member.
9 . The electrohydraulic damper control valve of claim 1 , wherein a circumferential prechamber is disposed about the plurality of radially extending inlet openings provided circumferentially about the axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member.
10 . The electrohydraulic damper control valve of claim 1 , further comprising pressure balancing ports provided in a lower portion of the single piece, stepped spool valve member.
11 . The electrohydraulic damper control valve of claim 10 , wherein the pressure balancing ports communicate with a chamber between the axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member and a bottom end of the single piece, stepped spool valve member.
12 . The electrohydraulic damper control valve of claim 11 , wherein the pressure balancing ports are equally spaced around the circumference of the single piece, stepped spool valve member to balance the pressure between the axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member and the bottom end of the single piece, stepped spool valve member.
13 . The electrohydraulic damper control valve of claim 12 , wherein the pressure balancing ports are equally spaced around the circumference of the single piece, stepped spool valve member to ensure axial movement of the single piece, stepped spool valve member while limited axial misalignment of the single piece, stepped spool valve member.
14 . The electrohydraulic damper control valve of claim 1 , wherein the inner housing member is provided with an upper outer threaded portion and is directly threaded into an upper inner threaded portion provided on the upper end portion of the outer housing member.
15 . The electrohydraulic damper control valve of claim 1 , wherein a reciprocating armature member is provided within an electromagnetic coil member positioned within the outer housing member, wherein the reciprocating armature member is configured to engage the single piece, stepped spool valve member.
16 . A method of assembling a high-flow and/or high-pressure electrohydraulic damper control valve comprising: providing an inner housing member within an outer housing member; slidably receiving a single piece, stepped spool valve member having a cup shape about an axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member; providing at least one window aperture in an upper portion of the single piece, stepped spool valve member; providing a single, axial inlet opening in the inner housing member and extending axially downward into the axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member; providing a plurality of radially extending inlet openings circumferentially about the axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member; and providing a plurality of outlet openings circumferentially about an upper end portion of the outer housing member and about the single piece, stepped spool valve member slidably received on the axially extending cylindrical portion provided with the plurality of radially extending inlet openings.
17 . The method of assembling according to claim 16 , further comprising providing an annular stepped portion between a first inner spool surface portion and a second inner spool surface portion of the single piece, stepped spool valve member.
18 . The method of assembling according to claim 17 , further comprising providing an annular surface portion on the axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member, wherein the annular stepped portion of the single piece, stepped spool valve member selectively engages the annular surface portion of the inner housing upon movement of the single piece, stepped spool valve member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field This invention relates generally to an electrohydraulic damper control valve and more particularly to an electrohydraulic damper control valve for chassis control systems of a vehicle. State of the Art Many high-flow and/or high-pressure electrohydraulic damper control valves tend to be physically large and feature multistage architectures, which can create undesirable ride performance for chassis control systems that experience varied input frequencies and amplitudes over on-road and off-road terrain. Generally, there is an inverse relationship between pressure capability and flow capability for most conventional electrohydraulic valves in order to prevent electrical power needs from increasing. In addition, many of these valve systems are difficult for engineers or technicians to assemble or disassemble, resulting in expensive and time-consuming development activities for custom vehicle applications. Accordingly, there is a need for an electrohydraulic damper control valve that provides desirable ride performance for chassis control system in a compact, single stage assembly. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An embodiment includes a high-flow and/or high-pressure electrohydraulic damper control valve comprising: an inner housing member received within an outer housing member; a single piece, stepped spool valve member having a cup shape slidably received about an axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member; at least one window aperture provided in an upper portion of the single piece, stepped spool valve member; a single, axial inlet opening provided in the inner housing member and extending axially downward into the axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member; a plurality of radially extending inlet openings provided circumferentially about the axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member; and a plurality of outlet openings provided circumferentially about an upper end portion of the outer housing member and about the single piece, stepped spool valve member slidably received on the axially extending cylindrical portion provided with the plurality of radially extending inlet openings. Another embodiment includes a method of assembling a high-flow and/or high-pressure electrohydraulic damper control valve comprising: providing an inner housing member within an outer housing member; slidably receiving a single piece, stepped spool valve member having a cup shape about an axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member; providing at least one window aperture in an upper portion of the single piece, stepped spool valve member; providing a single, axial inlet opening in the inner housing member and extending axially downward into the axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member; providing a plurality of radially extending inlet openings circumferentially about the axially extending cylindrical portion of the inner housing member; and providing a plurality of outlet openings circumferentially about an upper end portion of the outer housing member and about the single piece, stepped spool valve member slidably received on the axially extending cylindrical portion provided with the plurality of radially extending inlet openings. The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the Figures, and: FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an electrohydraulic damper control valve, according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional, perspective view of an electrohydraulic damper control valve, according to an embodiment; FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view of an electrohydraulic damper control valve, according to an embodiment; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an inner member of an inner member of an electrohydraulic damper control valve, according to an embodiment; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a single piece, stepped spool valve member of an electrohydraulic damper control valve, according to an embodiment; and FIG. 6 is a block diagram of steps of a method of assembling an electrohydraulic damper control valve, according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to an electrohydraulic damper control valve. The present invention allows for independent control of holding pressure and/or flow profile utilizing a stepped spool valve member. The electrohydraulic damper control valve is easily disassembled and reassembled using a limited n