Solenoid, damping force adjustment mechanism, and damping force adjustable shock absorber

A solenoid comprising:

• a coil wound into an annular shape and configured to generate magnetic force by being energized;
• a mover comprising a magnetic element provided to be movable in a winding axis direction of the coil;
• and
• a stator arranged to face the mover,
• the stator in which an outer peripheral convex portion, an inner peripheral convex portion, and a middle convex portion located between the outer peripheral convex portion and the inner peripheral convex portion are formed,
• the mover and the stator being so configured that, when no current is being applied, axial distance between the outer peripheral convex portion of the stator and an outer peripheral portion of the mover which is radially closest to the outer peripheral convex portion is smaller than axial distance between the inner peripheral convex portion of the stator and an inner peripheral portion of the mover which is radially closest to the inner peripheral convex portion.

A solenoid comprising:

• a coil wound into an annular shape and configured to generate magnetic force by being energized;
• a mover comprising a magnetic element provided to be movable in a winding axis direction of the coil;
• and
• a stator arranged to face the mover,
• the stator in which an outer peripheral convex portion, an inner peripheral convex portion, and a concave indent portion located between the outer peripheral convex portion and the inner peripheral convex portion, the concave indent portion to which an opposed surface of the mover is substantially parallel are formed;
• the solenoid being so configured that a peak of attractive force with respect to approach distance between the outer peripheral convex portion and the mover differs from a peak of attractive force with respect to approach distance between the inner peripheral convex portion and the mover.

A solenoid comprising:

• a coil wound into an annular shape and configured to generate magnetic force by being energized;
• a mover comprising a magnetic element provided to be movable in a winding axis direction of the coil;
• and
• a stator arranged to face the mover,
• the stator in which an outer peripheral convex portion, an inner peripheral convex portion, and a concave indent portion located between the outer peripheral convex portion and the inner peripheral convex portion, the concave indent portion to which an opposed surface of the mover is substantially parallel are formed;
• the mover and the stator being so configured that timing at which the outer peripheral convex portion of the stator and an outer peripheral portion of the mover face each other in a radial direction is shifted from timing at which the inner peripheral convex portion of the stator and an inner peripheral portion of the mover face each other in the radial direction.

A damping force adjustment mechanism comprising:

• a coil wound into an annular shape and configured to generate magnetic force by being energized;
• a mover comprising a magnetic element provided to be movable in a winding axis direction of the coil;
• a stator arranged to face the mover;
• and
• a control valve controlled by motion of the mover,
• the stator in which an outer peripheral convex portion, an inner peripheral convex portion, and a concave indent portion located between the outer peripheral convex portion and the inner peripheral convex portion, the concave indent portion to which an opposed surface of the mover is substantially parallel are formed,
• the mover and the stator being so configured that, when no current is being applied, axial distance between the outer peripheral convex portion of the stator and an outer peripheral portion of the mover which is radially closest to the outer peripheral convex portion is smaller than axial distance between the inner peripheral convex portion of the stator and an inner peripheral portion of the mover which is radially closest to the inner peripheral convex portion.

A damping force adjustable shock absorber comprising:

• a cylinder in which hydraulic fluid is sealingly contained;
• a piston that is slidably provided inside the cylinder;
• a piston rod that is coupled to the piston and extends outside the cylinder;
• and
• a damping force adjustment mechanism configured to generate damping force by controlling a hydraulic fluid flow generated by sliding motion of the piston in the cylinder,
• the damping force adjustment mechanism comprising:
• a coil wound into an annular shape and configured to generate magnetic force by being energized;
• a mover comprising a magnetic element provided to be movable in a winding axis direction of the coil;
• a stator arranged to face the mover;
• and
• a control valve controlled by motion of the mover,
• the stator in which an outer peripheral convex portion, an inner peripheral convex portion, and a concave indent portion located between the outer peripheral convex portion and the inner peripheral convex portion, the concave indent portion to which an opposed surface of the mover is substantially parallel are formed,
• the mover and the stator being so configured that, when no current is being applied, axial distance between the outer peripheral convex portion of the stator and an outer peripheral portion of the mover which is radially closest to the outer peripheral convex portion is smaller than axial distance between the inner peripheral convex portion of the stator and an inner peripheral portion of the mover which is radially closest to the inner peripheral convex portion.