Abstract
An adjustable valve for a shock absorber comprises a hollow valve body comprising a plurality of valve apertures. A rotatable sleeve is rotatably arranged around at least part of the hollow valve body. The rotatable sleeve comprises a plurality of sleeve apertures. The adjustable valve further comprises a movable spool slidably arranged within the hollow valve body and configured to move relative to the hollow valve body. The movable spool divides the hollow valve body into a first chamber and second chamber. Rotation of the rotatable sleeve relative to the hollow valve body varies an alignment between at least one sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures and at least one valve aperture of the plurality of valve apertures. Movement of the movable spool relative to the hollow valve body varies an available opening area of at least one valve aperture of the plurality of valve apertures.
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16. An adjustable valve for a shock absorber, the adjustable valve comprises: a hollow valve body wherein the hollow valve body comprises a plurality of valve apertures; a rotatable sleeve rotatably arranged around at least part of the hollow valve body, wherein the rotatable sleeve comprises a plurality of sleeve apertures; a movable spool slidably arranged within the hollow valve body and configured to move relative to the hollow valve body; wherein the movable spool is configured to divide the hollow valve body into a first chamber and second chamber; wherein rotation of the rotatable sleeve relative to the hollow valve body is configured to vary an alignment between at least one sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures and at least one valve aperture of the plurality of valve apertures; and wherein movement of the movable spool relative to the hollow valve body is configured to vary an available opening area of at least one valve aperture of the plurality of valve apertures.
17. The adjustable valve according to claim 16, wherein the movable spool further comprises a hollow body comprising an opened end and a closed end, wherein a volume of the hollow body of the movable spool forms part of the second chamber of the hollow valve body.
18. The adjustable valve according to claim 17, further comprising a spring arranged within the second chamber, wherein the spring comprises a first end abutting the hollow body of the movable spool and a second end abutting the hollow valve body and wherein the spring is configured to exert a force against the hollow body of the movable spool along a central longitudinal axis, A, of the hollow valve body.
19. The adjustable valve according to claim 18, wherein each sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures is configured to be at least partially aligned with at least one valve aperture of the plurality of valve apertures along the central longitudinal axis of the hollow valve body.
20. The adjustable valve according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of valve apertures comprises at least one primary aperture, wherein the at least one primary aperture comprises an area aligned with the first chamber of the hollow valve body along the central longitudinal axis.
21. The adjustable valve according to claim 20, wherein, upon rotation of the sleeve relative to the hollow valve body, the variation of the alignment between at least one sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures and the at least one primary aperture is configured to vary a common area between the at least one sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures and the at least one primary aperture.
22. The adjustable valve according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of valve apertures further comprises at least one secondary aperture, wherein the at least one secondary aperture comprises an area aligned with the second chamber of the hollow valve body along the central longitudinal axis.
23. The adjustable valve according to claim 22, wherein, upon rotation of the sleeve relative to the hollow valve body, the variation of the alignment between at least one sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures and the at least one secondary aperture is configured to vary a common area between the at least one sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures and the at least one secondary aperture.
24. The adjustable valve according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of valve apertures further comprises at least one auxiliary aperture, wherein the at least one auxiliary aperture comprises an available opening area aligned with the first chamber of the hollow valve body along the central longitudinal axis.
25. The adjustable valve according to claim 24, wherein the movable spool further comprises at least one guiding surface configured to engage the at least one auxiliary aperture.
26. The adjustable valve according to claim 25, wherein the at least one guiding surface is configured to guide the movement of the movable spool along the central longitudinal axis of the hollow valve body, and wherein the at least one guiding surface is configured to seal the first chamber from the second chamber.
27. The adjustable valve according to claim 24, wherein the movable spool is configured to gradually transition between a closed position in which the hollow body of the movable spool blocks the available opening area of the at least one auxiliary aperture and an opened position in which the hollow body of the movable spool at least partially unblocks the available opening area of the at least one auxiliary aperture.
28. The adjustable valve according to claim 27, wherein, upon rotation of the sleeve relative to the hollow valve body, the variation of the alignment between at least one sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures and the at least one auxiliary aperture is configured to vary a common area between the at least one sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures and the available open area of the at least one auxiliary aperture.
29. The adjustable valve according to claim 22, wherein the movable spool is configured to move in response to a pressure difference between the first chamber and the second chamber and upon at least partial alignment between at least one sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures and the at least one secondary aperture.
30. The adjustable valve according to claim 16, wherein the rotatable sleeve is configured to be rotated by means of an electrical actuator.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] This and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing embodiment(s) of the inventive concept.
[0035] FIG. 1 schematically shows an exploded view of an adjustable valve according to an exemplifying embodiment of the present inventive concept,
[0036] FIG. 2a schematically shows a cross-sectional view of an adjustable valve, wherein the movable spool is in a closed position according to an exemplifying embodiment of the present inventive concept,
[0037] FIG. 2b schematically shows a cross-sectional view of an adjustable valve, wherein the movable spool is in an opened position according to an exemplifying embodiment of the present inventive concept,
[0038] FIGS. 3a-3d schematically illustrate various configurations of the rotatable sleeve relative to the hollow valve body corresponding to various adjustments of the damping parameters of a shock absorber comprising the adjustable valve according to an exemplifying embodiment of the present inventive concept,
[0039] FIGS. 4a-4b schematically illustrate an alternative configuration of the adjustable valve wherein the at least one auxiliary aperture is formed of a plurality of protrusions positioned around the valve body according to an exemplifying embodiment of the present inventive concept,
[0040] FIGS. 4b-4c schematically illustrate cross sectional views of the adjustable valve wherein the at least one auxiliary aperture is formed of a plurality of protrusions positioned around the valve body according to an exemplifying embodiment of the present inventive concept, and
[0041] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an adjustable valve actuated by means of an electrical actuator according to an exemplifying embodiment of the present inventive concept.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] FIG. 1 schematically shows an exploded view of an adjustable valve 100 according to an exemplifying embodiment of the present inventive concept. The adjustable valve 100 is shown formed of a hollow valve body 110 comprising a plurality of valve apertures of which the primary valve aperture 160, the secondary valve aperture 170 and the auxiliary valve aperture 180 are visible. It will be appreciated that the hollow valve body 110 comprises symmetrically positioned valve apertures its opposite side which is not visible in FIG. 1. The primary valve aperture 160 and the secondary valve aperture 170 are shown having circular dimensions with the primary valve aperture 160 having a larger area than the secondary valve aperture 170. Moreover, FIG. 1 illustrates the auxiliary aperture 180 corresponding to an available opening area varied by the movement of the movable spool 130 when the adjustable valve 100 is assembled. It will be appreciated that the primary valve aperture 160, the secondary valve aperture 170 and the auxiliary aperture 180 may embody different dimensions and shapes from what is shown in FIG. 1, preferably conserving a similar dimension ratio relative to one another as shown in FIG. 1. The adjustable valve 100 is further shown formed of a rotatable sleeve 140 comprising a plurality of sleeve apertures 165, 175, 185 which are configured to be aligned with the primary aperture 160, the secondary aperture 170 and the auxiliary aperture 180 of the hollow valve body 110 respectively, along the central longitudinal axis, A, when the adjustable valve 100 is assembled. FIG. 1 further illustrates the sleeve apertures 165 (visible on either side of the rotatable sleeve 140 in FIG. 1) having a substantially rectangular shape and having an area slightly larger than the area of the primary aperture 160 of the hollow valve body 110. The sleeve aperture 175 is shown in FIG. 1 having a substantially rectangular shape and having an area varying along its elongation such that the area of at least a portion of the sleeve aperture 175 is slightly larger than the area of the secondary aperture 170 and the area of at least a portion of the sleeve aperture 175 is slightly smaller than the area of the secondary aperture 170. The sleeve apertures 185 are illustrated in FIG. 1 as parallel slits elongating along the central longitudinal axis, A, with a length similar to the length of the length of the auxiliary aperture 180 of the hollow valve body 110 but comprising an area substantially smaller than the opening area of the auxiliary aperture 180. It will be appreciated that the rotatable sleeve 140 comprises sleeve apertures which are not visible in FIG. 1, but which are positioned on the opposite side of the rotatable sleeve 140 symmetrically to the sleeve apertures 175 and 185. It will further be appreciated that the plurality of sleeve apertures 165, 175, 185 may embody different dimensions and shapes from what is shown in FIG. 1 but preferably conserve a similar dimension ratio relative to one another and relative to the primary aperture 160, secondary aperture 170 and auxiliary aperture 180 with which they are configured to be aligned once the valve 100 is assembled. Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows the adjustable valve 100 formed of the movable spool 130 and of a spring 120 wherein the movable spool 130 comprises guiding surfaces 190 on either side of its closed end 135. The adjustable valve 100 is further shown formed of a housing 150 comprising a plurality of housing apertures 155 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1) which fluidly connects the adjustable valve 100 to the rest of the shock absorber. The components forming the adjustable valve 100 are further shown aligned and elongated along the central longitudinal axis, A, and upon assembly of the adjustable valve 100 the spring 120 is at least partially inserted into the hollow body of the movable spool 130 via its opened end 136. The spring 120 and the movable spool 130 are both configured to be inserted within the hollow valve body 110 such that the guiding surfaces 190 of the movable spool 130 engage with the auxiliary aperture 180 and guide and limit the movement of the movable spool 130 within the hollow valve body 110. Upon assembly of the adjustable valve 100, the rotatable sleeve 140 is further arranged at least partially around the hollow valve body 110 and all the above assembled components are then arranged within the housing 150 such that shaft 195 extends out of the end portion of the housing 150 for a user to actuate the rotation of the sleeve 140.
[0043] FIG. 2a schematically shows a cross-sectional view of an adjustable valve 200, wherein the movable spool 130 is in a closed position and wherein the cross-sectional view is taken along the central longitudinal axis, A. FIG. 2a illustrates the adjustable valve 200, representing an assembled version of the adjustable valve 100 of FIG. 1, wherein the hollow valve body 110 is shown inserted within the housing 150 and screwed to said housing 150 at one end by means of threading comprised on both the hollow valve body 110 and on the housing 150. FIG. 2a further illustrates the rotatable sleeve 140 arranged around at least part of the hollow valve body 110 and the movable spool 130 arranged within the hollow valve body 110. It will be appreciated that the inner wall of the rotatable sleeve 140 is in contact with the outer surface of the hollow valve body 110 such that no damping fluid may get lodged or accumulated between the hollow valve body 110 and the rotatable sleeve 140. It will further be appreciated that the above-described contact does not generate resistance to the rotation of the rotatable sleeve 140 relative to the hollow valve body 110. Additionally, the movable spool 130 is further shown having a hollow body within which the spring 120 is at least partially inserted via the opened end 136 of the movable spool 130. The spring 120 is shown having a first end abutting the hollow body of the movable spool 130 at its closed end 135 and a second end abutting the hollow valve body 110 at its closed end 115, such that the spring 120 exerts a force against the hollow body of the movable spool 130 along a central longitudinal axis, A. Moreover, FIG. 2a illustrates the guiding surfaces 190 of the movable spool 130 engaged in the auxiliary aperture 180. FIG. 2a further shows the movable spool 130 dividing the hollow valve body 110 into a first chamber 210 and a second chamber 215 wherein the volume of the hollow body of the movable spool 130 forms part of the second chamber 215 and wherein the guiding surfaces 190 seal the first chamber 210 from the second chamber 215. Additionally, FIG. 2a depicts the primary apertures 160 aligned with the first chamber 210 and the secondary apertures 170 aligned with the second chamber 215 along the central longitudinal axis, A. FIG. 2a further shows the rotatable sleeve 140 positioned relative to the hollow valve body 110 such that the primary apertures 160, i.e. the bleed apertures, are misaligned with any sleeve apertures and no common area between the primary apertures 160 and any sleeve apertures is available for bleeding damping fluid from the first chamber 210. Moreover, FIG. 2a shows the sleeve aperture 175 aligned with one of the secondary apertures 170 such that they share a common area enabling damping fluid to exit the second chamber 215 upon movement of the movable spool 130. FIG. 2a further depicts the movable spool 130 in its closed position in which the hollow body of the movable spool 130 completely blocks the auxiliary apertures 180 and its available opening area. The configuration of the adjustable valve 200 shown in FIG. 2a is such that upon damping fluid pressure in the first chamber 210 being superior to the damping fluid pressure and to the resilience of the spring 120 in the second chamber 215, the movable spool 130 will move along the central longitudinal axis, A, such that the volume of the first chamber 210 becomes larger than the volume of the second chamber 215 as shown in FIG. 2b.
[0044] FIG. 2b schematically shows a cross-sectional view of the adjustable valve 200, wherein the movable spool 130 is in an opened position and wherein the cross-sectional view is taken along the central longitudinal axis, A. FIG. 2b illustrates the movable spool 130 completely unblocking the auxiliary apertures 180 such that the available opening areas of the auxiliary apertures 180 are fully uncovered. It will be appreciated that, in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, the rotatable sleeve 140 is rotated relative to the hollow valve body 110 such that at least one sleeve aperture is aligned with the auxiliary apertures 180 along the central longitudinal axis, A, and shares a common area with the auxiliary apertures 180. It is to be noted that such common area between the at least one sleeve aperture and the auxiliary apertures 180 is not clearly visible in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b due to the cross-sectional view. Moreover, in its opened position the movable spool 130 is shown compressing the spring 120 such that the volume of the first chamber 210 of the hollow valve body 110 is superior to the volume of the second chamber 215 of the hollow valve body 110. FIG. 2b further illustrates the damping fluid connectivity between the first chamber 210 of the hollow valve body 110 and the outside of the adjustable valve 200 by the directional arrow B. The directional arrow, B, illustrates the damping fluid entering the hollow valve body 110 at the opened end of the adjustable valve 200, i.e. during the compression stroke and/or the rebound stroke of the shock absorber, and generating sufficient pressure in the first chamber 210 such that the movable spool 130 transitions from the closed position (illustrated in FIG. 2a) to the opened positioned (illustrated here in FIG. 2b). The directional arrow B further shows the damping fluid connectivity between the first chamber 210 and the outside of the adjustable valve 200 being enabled via the available opening of the auxiliary apertures 180 and via the housing apertures 155. Furthermore, the damping fluid connectivity between the second chamber 215 of the hollow valve body 110 and the outside of the adjustable valve 200 is depicted by the directional arrow, C. The fluid connectivity depicted by the directional arrow, C, is enabled by the common area between of the sleeve aperture 175 and the secondary aperture 170 and by the housing aperture 155. In the exemplifying embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2b, the bleed function of the primary apertures 160 is disabled due to the misalignment between the primary apertures 160 and any of the sleeve apertures and the opened position of the movable spool 130 depicts a high-speed damping adjustment of the damping parameters of the shock absorber.
[0045] FIG. 3a to FIG. 3d schematically illustrate various configurations of the rotatable sleeve relative to the hollow valve body corresponding to various adjustments of the damping parameters of a shock absorber comprising the adjustable valve 300. FIG. 3a shows the rotatable sleeve 140 rotated relative to the hollow valve body 110 to form a possible configuration wherein the alignment the sleeve aperture 165 and the primary aperture 160 form the common area 161. The common area 161 enables the bleed function of the first chamber of the hollow valve body. FIG. 3a further illustrate a configuration in which the alignment the sleeve aperture 175 and the secondary aperture 170 form the common area 171. The common area 171 enables fluid connectivity between the second chamber of the hollow valve body and the outside of the adjustable valve 300. Additionally, the configuration shown in FIG. 3a depicts a complete alignment of the auxiliary apertures 180 of the hollow valve body 110 and the sleeve apertures 185 of the rotatable sleeve 140 thus forming the common area 181. FIG. 3a further shows the movable spool 130 in the closed position therefore fully blocking the available opening area of the auxiliary apertures 180. Furthermore, in the configuration shown in FIG. 3a only a small common area 161 between the primary aperture 160 and the sleeve aperture 165 is enabled, i.e. only a small bleed rate is enabled for the first chamber of the hollow valve body 110, which results in higher damping rate. The configuration of FIG. 3a therefore adjusts the damping parameters of the shock absorber for applications requiring low velocity of movement of the piston of the shock absorber and provides low-speed damping adjustment.
[0046] FIG. 3b illustrates the adjustable valve 300 having the same configuration as shown in FIG. 3a regarding the alignments and common areas between the valve apertures, 160, 170, 180 and the sleeve apertures 165, 175, 185. However, FIG. 3b shows the movable spool 130 moved along the hollow valve body 110 to a position between its closed position and its opened position. The position of the movable spool 130 shown in FIG. 3b partially unblocks the available opening area of the auxiliary apertures 180 thus enabling fluid connectivity between the first chamber of the hollow valve body 110 and the outside of the adjustable valve 300 in addition the common area/bleed 161. The movement of the movable spool 130 shown in FIG. 3b is observed when a higher flow of damping fluid enters the adjustable valve 300, for example due to faster compression of the shock absorber, and enables high-speed damping adjustment of the shock absorber. Furthermore, the full alignment between the secondary aperture 170 and the sleeve aperture 175 enables the largest possible common area for fluid connectivity between the second chamber of the hollow valve body and the outside of the adjustable valve 300, which results in low damping of the movement of the movable spool 130, i.e. the lowest possible resistance to the movement of the movable spool 130.
[0047] FIG. 3c illustrates a configuration of the adjustable valve 300, obtained from the configurations shown in FIGS. 3a-3b, by the clockwise rotation of the rotatable sleeve 140 relative to the hollow valve body 110 around the central longitudinal axis, A. The configuration of FIG. 3c therefore illustrates a larger common area 161 between the primary aperture 160 and the sleeve aperture 165 in comparison to the configuration of FIGS. 3a-3b, which enables a greater flow of damping fluid, or greater bleed rate, to exit the first chamber of the hollow valve body 110. This greater bleed rate decreases the damping rate of the shock absorber. The configuration shown in FIG. 3c also depicts a reduction of the common area 171 between the secondary aperture 170 and the sleeve aperture 175 in comparison to the configuration of FIGS. 3a-3b, which increases the damping of the movement of the movable spool 130. The configuration of FIG. 3c thus reduces the slope of the damping curve of the high-speed damping curve.
[0048] FIG. 3d, illustrates a configuration of the adjustable valve 300, obtained from the configurations shown in FIG. 3c, by the clockwise rotation of the rotatable sleeve 140 relative to the hollow valve body 110 about the central longitudinal axis, A. The configuration of FIG. 3d shows a decreased common area 161 between the primary aperture 160 and the sleeve aperture 165 in comparison to the configuration of FIG. 3c, which reduces the bleed rate and therefore increases the damping rate of the shock absorber. Furthermore, the configuration of FIG. 3d shows only one of the sleeve apertures 185 aligned with the auxiliary aperture 180 therefore reducing the available opening area of the auxiliary aperture 180 unblocked by the movable spool 130. The common area 171 between the secondary aperture 170 and the sleeve aperture 175 is further shown decreased in comparison to the configuration of FIG. 3c, which increases the damping of the movement of the movable spool 130. The configuration shown in FIG. 3d therefore provides high-speed damping adjustments of the shock absorber with a higher slope of the damping curve compared to the configuration shown in FIG. 3c. In addition, it will be appreciated that each of FIGS. 3a-3d illustrate the threading 310 of the hollow valve body permitting said hollow valve body to be removable attached to the housing of the adjustable valve. Moreover, each of FIGS. 3a-3d further illustrate the shaft 195 of the rotatable sleeve 140 permitting the user to rotate the rotatable sleeve 140 and operate the adjustable valve 300.
[0049] FIGS. 4a and 4b schematically illustrate an alternative configuration of the adjustable valve wherein the at least one auxiliary aperture is formed of a plurality of protrusions 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498 positioned on around the valve body 410, and wherein the sleeve apertures 485, 486 are positioned on opposite sides of the rotatable sleeve 440 according to an exemplifying embodiment of the present inventive concept. FIG. 4a shows the rotatable sleeve 440 rotated relative to the hollow valve body 410 to form a possible configuration wherein the alignment the sleeve aperture 465 and the primary aperture 460 form the common area 461. The common area 461 enables the bleed function of the first chamber of the hollow valve body. FIG. 4a further illustrate a configuration in which the alignment the sleeve aperture 475 and the secondary aperture 470 form the common area 471. The common area 471 enables fluid connectivity between the second chamber of the hollow valve body 410 and the outside of the adjustable valve 400. It will be appreciated that the sleeve apertures 465, 475, 485 have different dimensions than the sleeve aperture depicted in FIG. 3a-3d. FIG. 4a further illustrates a complete alignment of the protrusions 491, 492, 493 of the valve body 410 with the sleeve aperture 485 of the rotatable sleeve 440 thus forming the common area 481. That is, the movable spool 430 is shown moved along the hollow valve body 410 to a position between its closed position and open position. It will be appreciated that the movable spool 430 of FIG. 4a-4d may also comprise at least one guiding surface configured to guide the movement of the movable spool 430 along the central longitudinal axis A of the hollow valve body 410. The position of the movable spool 430 therefore partially unblocks the available opening area of protrusion 491, fully unblocks the available opening area of protrusion 492 and fully blocks the available opening area of aperture 493 thus enabling fluid connectivity between the first chamber of the hollow valve body 410 and the outside of the adjustable valve 400 through aperture 492 and partly through aperture 491. The movement of the movable spool 430 shown in FIG. 4a enables high-speed damping adjustment of the shock absorber.
[0050] FIG. 4b illustrates a configuration of the adjustable valve 400, obtained from a 180? rotation of the valve 400 about an axis normal to the central longitudinal axis A. FIG. 4b therefore depicts the opposite side of the valve 400 shown in FIG. 4a, wherein the position of the rotatable sleeve 440 around the valve body 410 is the same as in FIG. 4a. FIG. 4b shows a complete alignment of the protrusions 494, 495, 496, 497, 498 of the valve body 410 with the sleeve aperture 486 of the rotatable sleeve 440 also forming the common area 481. Similarly as for FIG. 4b, the movable spool 430 is shown between its closed and open positions therefore partially unblocking protrusion 495, completely unblocking protrusions 494, 497 and fully blocking protrusion 496, 498.
[0051] FIGS. 4c-4d schematically illustrate cross-sectional views of the adjustable valve 400 of FIG. 4a. The cross-sectional view of FIG. 4c shows the valve body 410 positioned such that the protrusions 491, 497, 498 are perpendicular to the cross-section of the valve 400. Protrusion 491 is further shown aligned with the portion 411 of the valve body 410 separating protrusions 497 and protrusion 498 arranged on the opposite side of the valve body 410 from the protrusion 491. That is, the protrusion 491 is offset from the protrusions 497, 498 such that the available opening area of protrusions 497, 491, 498 is substantially equivalent to a single cut-out arranged on one side of the valve body 410.
[0052] FIG. 4d shows the valve body 410 positioned such that the protrusions 492, 493, 494, 495, 496 are perpendicular to the cross-section of the valve 400. Similarly as for FIG. 4c, FIG. 4d shows protrusions 494, 495, 496 aligned with the portion 412 of the valve body 410 separating protrusions 492 and protrusion 493 arranged on the opposite side of the valve body 410 from protrusions 494, 495, 496. That is, the protrusion 494, 495, 496 are offset from the protrusions 492, 493 such that the available opening area of protrusions 492, 493, 494, 495, 496 is substantially equivalent to a single cut-out arranged on one side of the valve body 410.
[0053] It will therefore be appreciated that effect of the protrusions 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498 on the adjustment of the damping parameters of the valve 400 is substantially the same as the effect of the auxiliary apertures 180 shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3a-3d. That, is, the available opening area of protrusions 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498 of valve 400 illustrated in FIGS. 4a-4d is substantially similar to the available opening area of the auxiliary apertures 180 of valve 300 shown in FIGS. 3a-3d.
[0054] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an adjustable valve 500 actuated by means of an electrical actuator 501. FIG. 4 shows the adjustable valve 500 without its housing, wherein the shaft 195 of the rotatable sleeve 140 is being rotated relative to the hollow valve body 110 by an electrical actuator 501, in this case a stepper motor 501.
[0055] The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the shape, dimensions and orientation of any of the valve aperture and/or sleeve apertures may differ from the ones described in relation to the above embodiments.
ITEMIZED LIST OF EMBODIMENTS
[0056] 1. An adjustable valve (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) for a shock absorber, the adjustable valve comprises: [0057] a hollow valve body (110, 410) wherein the hollow valve body comprises a plurality of valve apertures (160, 170, 180, 460, 470, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498); [0058] a rotatable sleeve (140, 440) rotatably arranged around at least part of the hollow valve body, wherein the rotatable sleeve comprises a plurality of sleeve apertures (165, 175, 185, 465, 475, 485); [0059] a movable spool (130, 430) slidably arranged within the hollow valve body and configured to move relative to the hollow valve body; [0060] wherein the movable spool is configured to divide the hollow valve body into a first chamber (210) and second chamber (215); [0061] wherein rotation of the rotatable sleeve relative to the hollow valve body is configured to vary an alignment between at least one sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures and at least one valve aperture of the plurality of valve apertures; and [0062] wherein movement of the movable spool relative to the hollow valve body is configured to vary an available opening area of at least one valve aperture of the plurality of valve apertures.
[0063] 2. The adjustable valve according to embodiment 1, wherein the movable spool further comprises a hollow body comprising an opened end (136) and a closed end (135), wherein a volume of the hollow body of the movable spool forms part of the second chamber of the hollow valve body.
[0064] 3. The adjustable valve according to embodiment 2, further comprising a spring (120) arranged within the second chamber, wherein the spring comprises a first end abutting the hollow body of the movable spool and a second end abutting the hollow valve body and wherein the spring is configured to exert a force against the hollow body of the movable spool along a central longitudinal axis, A, of the hollow valve body.
[0065] 4. The adjustable valve according to embodiment 3, wherein each sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures is configured to be at least partially aligned with at least one valve aperture of the plurality of valve apertures along the central longitudinal axis of the hollow valve body.
[0066] 5. The adjustable valve according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the plurality of valve apertures comprises at least one primary aperture (160, 460), wherein the at least one primary aperture comprises an area aligned with the first chamber of the hollow valve body along the central longitudinal axis.
[0067] 6. The adjustable valve according to embodiment 5, wherein, upon rotation of the sleeve relative to the hollow valve body, the variation of the alignment between at least one sleeve aperture (165, 465) of the plurality of sleeve apertures and the at least one primary aperture is configured to vary a common area (161, 461) between the at least one sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures and the at least one primary aperture.
[0068] 7. The adjustable valve according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the plurality of valve apertures further comprises at least one secondary aperture (170, 470), wherein the at least one secondary aperture comprises an area aligned with the second chamber of the hollow valve body along the central longitudinal axis.
[0069] 8. The adjustable valve according to embodiment 7, wherein, upon rotation of the sleeve relative to the hollow valve body, the variation of the alignment between at least one sleeve aperture (175, 475) of the plurality of sleeve apertures and the at least one secondary aperture is configured to vary a common area (171, 471) between the at least one sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures and the at least one secondary aperture.
[0070] 9. The adjustable valve according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the plurality of valve apertures further comprises at least one auxiliary aperture (180, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498), wherein the at least one auxiliary aperture comprises an available opening area aligned with the first chamber of the hollow valve body along the central longitudinal axis.
[0071] 10. The adjustable valve according to embodiment 9, wherein the movable spool further comprises at least one guiding surface (190) configured to engage the at least one auxiliary aperture.
[0072] 11. The adjustable valve according to embodiment 10, wherein the at least one guiding surface is configured to guide the movement of the movable spool along the central longitudinal axis of the hollow valve body, and wherein the at least one guiding surface is configured to seal the first chamber from the second chamber.
[0073] 12. The adjustable valve according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the movable spool is configured to gradually transition between a closed position in which the hollow body of the movable spool blocks the available opening area of the at least one auxiliary aperture and an opened position in which the hollow body of the movable spool at least partially unblocks the available opening area of the at least one auxiliary aperture.
[0074] 13. The adjustable valve according to embodiment 12, wherein, upon rotation of the sleeve relative to the hollow valve body, the variation of the alignment between at least one sleeve aperture (185, 485) of the plurality of sleeve apertures and the at least one auxiliary aperture is configured to vary a common area (181, 481) between the at least one sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures and the available open area of the at least one auxiliary aperture.
[0075] 14. The adjustable valve according to embodiment 1, wherein the movable spool is configured to move in response to a pressure difference between the first chamber and the second chamber and upon at least partial alignment between at least one sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures and the at least one secondary aperture.
[0076] 15. The adjustable valve according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the rotatable sleeve is configured to be rotated by means of an electrical actuator (501).
[0077] 16. A shock absorber for a suspension of a vehicle, wherein the shock absorber comprises at least one adjustable valve configured to adjust the damping of the shock absorber, the adjustable valve comprising: [0078] a hollow valve body wherein the hollow valve body comprises a plurality of valve apertures; [0079] a rotatable sleeve rotatably arranged around at least part of the hollow valve body, wherein the rotatable sleeve comprises a plurality of sleeve apertures; [0080] a movable spool slidably arranged within the hollow valve body and configured to move relative to the hollow valve body; [0081] wherein the movable spool is configured to divide the hollow valve body into a first chamber and second chamber; [0082] wherein rotation of the rotatable sleeve relative to the hollow valve body is configured to vary an alignment between at least one sleeve aperture of the plurality of sleeve apertures and at least one valve aperture of the plurality of valve apertures; [0083] wherein movement of the movable spool relative to the hollow valve body is configured to vary an available opening area of at least one valve aperture of the plurality of valve apertures.
[0084] 17. The shock absorber according to embodiment 16, wherein at least one adjustable valve is configured to adjust the damping of the shock absorber in a compression stroke.
[0085] 18. The shock absorber according to embodiment 16, wherein at least one adjustable valve is configured to adjust the damping of the shock absorber in a rebound stroke.
[0086] 19. The shock absorber according to embodiment 16, wherein said shock absorber is a front shock absorber.
[0087] 20. The shock absorber according to embodiment 16, wherein said shock absorber is a rear shock absorber.
