Patents Assigned to Koni
  • Patent number: 10995814
    Abstract: A damper valve (100) comprises a controlled flow channel (115) between a valve inlet side (100.1) and a valve outlet side (100.2); a controlled valve (130) provided in the controlled flow channel; a movable valve body (120) acting on the controlled valve so as to change a closing force of the controlled valve; and a control chamber (126). The control chamber comprises a control chamber inlet (125) in fluid connection with the valve inlet side (100.1) upstream of the controlled valve (130); a configuration providing a variable volume of the control chamber, a change in volume of the control chamber acting to cause a movement of the movable valve body (120); and a pressure relief valve (160) to allow a relief fluid flow from the control chamber (126) to the valve inlet side (100.1) bypassing the flow restriction (160.1) of the control chamber inlet (125).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Patent number: 10830304
    Abstract: A frequency-selective damper valve includes a controlled flow channel providing a fluid connection between a first and second valve sides; a controlled valve assembly in a controlled flow channel; a movable valve body acting on the controlled valve assembly; and a variable volume chamber, the movable valve body interacting with the variable volume chamber such that movement of the movable valve body and a change in volume of the variable volume chamber are interrelated. The variable volume chamber includes an outlet opening, in operation, downstream of the controlled valve assembly and does not include an opening upstream of the controlled valve assembly with respect to a controlled fluid flow in the controlled flow channel, the outlet opening providing a flow resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Koni B.V
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Patent number: 10760639
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a cylinder; a piston dividing the cylinder into first and second chambers, the piston being movable within the cylinder in inward and outward directions; a first main channel and a first main non-return valve allowing a first main fluid flow from the second to the first cylinder chamber; a second main channel and a second main non-return valve allowing a second main fluid flow from the first to the second cylinder chamber; a comfort channel allowing an auxiliary fluid flow between the first and second cylinder chambers; and a comfort valve providing an open connection for the auxiliary fluid flow through the comfort channel in a rest position of the comfort valve and closing off the auxiliary fluid flow at increasing pressure difference across the comfort valve at either inward or outward movement to influence an auxiliary fluid flow between first and second piston sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Koni B.V
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Publication number: 20200208709
    Abstract: A damper valve (100) comprises a controlled flow channel (115) between a valve inlet side (100.1) and a valve outlet side (100.2); a controlled valve (130) provided in the controlled flow channel; a movable valve body (120) acting on the controlled valve so as to change a closing force of the controlled valve; and a control chamber (126). The control chamber comprises a control chamber inlet (125) in fluid connection with the valve inlet side (100.1) upstream of the controlled valve (130); a configuration providing a variable volume of the control chamber, a change in volume of the control chamber acting to cause a movement of the movable valve body (120); and a pressure relief valve (160) to allow a relief fluid flow from the control chamber (126) to the valve inlet side (100.1) bypassing the flow restriction (160.1) of the control chamber inlet (125).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul DE KOCK
  • Patent number: 10690211
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a cylinder and a piston dividing the cylinder in first and second cylinder chambers. The piston includes a first main channel and a first main non-return valve allowing a first main fluid flow from the second to the first chamber; and a second main channel and a second main non-return valve allowing a second main fluid flow from the first to the second chamber. The piston includes a connecting member; a first central member received into the connecting member such that the parts of the first main channel in the connecting member and the first central member are in line; and a second central member including another part of the second main channel and received into the connecting member such that the parts of the second main channel in the connecting member and the second central member are in line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Patent number: 10670105
    Abstract: A damper valve includes a controlled flow channel between inlet and outlet sides; a controlled valve in the controlled flow channel; a movable valve body acting on the controlled valve to change a closing force of the controlled valve; and a control chamber. The control chamber includes a control chamber inlet in fluid connection with the valve inlet side upstream of the controlled valve; a configuration providing a variable volume of the control chamber, a change in volume of the control chamber moving the movable valve body; and a first flexible wall allowing movement of the movable valve body. The first flexible wall provides an effective surface area against which the fluid pressure in the control chamber acts, the effective surface area decreasing upon movement of the movable valve body outward of the control chamber, the first flexible wall including a flex plate bearing against a curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Patent number: 10612619
    Abstract: A damper valve includes a controlled flow channel between a valve inlet side and a valve outlet side; a controlled valve provided in the controlled flow channel; a movable valve body acting on the controlled valve so as to change a closing force of the controlled valve; and a control chamber. The control chamber includes a control chamber inlet in fluid connection with the valve inlet side upstream of the controlled valve; a configuration providing a variable volume of the control chamber, a change in volume of the control chamber acting to cause a movement of the movable valve body; and a pressure relief valve to allow a relief fluid flow from the control chamber to the valve inlet side bypassing the flow restriction of the control chamber inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Publication number: 20180156301
    Abstract: A damper valve includes a controlled flow channel between inlet and outlet sides; a controlled valve in the controlled flow channel; a movable valve body acting on the controlled valve to change a closing force of the controlled valve; and a control chamber. The control chamber includes a control chamber inlet in fluid connection with the valve inlet side upstream of the controlled valve; a configuration providing a variable volume of the control chamber, a change in volume of the control chamber moving the movable valve body; and a first flexible wall allowing movement of the movable valve body. The first flexible wall provides an effective surface area against which the fluid pressure in the control chamber acts, the effective surface area decreasing upon movement of the movable valve body outward of the control chamber, the first flexible wall including a flex plate bearing against a curved surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul DE KOCK
  • Patent number: 9982739
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a cylinder; a piston movable therein and dividing the cylinder in first and second cylinder chambers; a cylinder attachment for attachment to a first part of a vehicle and connected to the cylinder; and a piston attachment for attachment to a second part of a vehicle and connected to the piston. The piston attachment and cylinder attachment move towards one another on an inward movement and away from one another on an outward movement. The piston includes a first inward channel; a first inward valve to open the first inward channel on inward movement; a first outward channel; a first outward valve to open the first outward channel on outward movement; a second inward channel; a second inward valve to open the second inward channel on inward movement; a second outward channel; and a second outward valve to open the second outward channel on outward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Patent number: 9982740
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a cylinder and a piston movable within the cylinder along a cylinder wall, the piston dividing the cylinder in a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber, which are filled with fluid. The shock absorber also includes cylinder and piston attachments for attachment to parts of a vehicle, the piston attachment and cylinder attachment moving towards one another in an inward movement and away from one another in an outward movement. Primary and auxiliary flow and valve arrangements allow fluid flow in between the first and second cylinder chambers to provide primary and auxiliary damping behavior of the shock absorber, respectively. The auxiliary flow and valve arrangement includes a first auxiliary flow and valve arrangement providing on outward movement a damping behavior showing a frequency dependency, and a second auxiliary flow and valve arrangement providing on inward movement a damping behavior showing a linear dependency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul de Kock
  • Patent number: 9856940
    Abstract: A fluid-filled, frequency-dependent damper includes a cylinder connected to a cylinder attachment portion; a piston connected to a piston attachment portion, the piston being displaceable in the cylinder; first and second main chambers; and a throttling member for allowing and influencing a fluid flow between the first and second main chambers within the damper when the cylinder attachment portion and the piston attachment portion move relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Patent number: 9631695
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a cylinder; a piston movable therein and dividing the cylinder in first and second cylinder chambers; a cylinder attachment for attachment to a first part of a vehicle and connected to the cylinder; and a piston attachment for attachment to a second part of a vehicle and connected to the piston. The piston attachment and cylinder attachment move towards one another on an inward movement and away from one another on an outward movement. The piston includes a first inward channel; a first inward valve to open the first inward channel on inward movement; a first outward channel; a first outward valve to open the first outward channel on outward movement; a second inward channel; a second inward valve to open the second inward channel on inward movement; a second outward channel; and a second outward valve to open the second outward channel on outward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Publication number: 20150345586
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a cylinder and a piston movable within the cylinder along a cylinder wall, the piston dividing the cylinder in a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber, which are filled with fluid. The shock absorber also includes cylinder and piston attachments for attachment to parts of a vehicle, the piston attachment and cylinder attachment moving towards one another in an inward movement and away from one another in an outward movement. Primary and auxiliary flow and valve arrangements allow fluid flow in between the first and second cylinder chambers to provide primary and auxiliary damping behavior of the shock absorber, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul de Kock
  • Patent number: 8950559
    Abstract: Shock absorber comprising a piston inside which a sleeve is present which can be operated separately from the piston. This sleeve is provided with through-flow conduits which can cooperate with apertures, which are fitted at a vertical distance, of a part of the piston in order to provide an auxiliary flow when the piston is displaced in the cylinder. Such auxiliary flow enters into a chamber which is delimited by one or more spring plates which act on a sleeve which loads the main valve against opening when it is pressed down by the spring plate. By filling the chamber with fluid, the load applied on the sleeve by the spring plate is reduced and the load on the main valve decreases, as a result of which the latter opens more readily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Koni B.V.
    Inventor: Paul de Kock
  • Publication number: 20140238798
    Abstract: A fluid-filled, frequency-dependent damper includes a cylinder connected to a cylinder attachment portion; a piston connected to a piston attachment portion, the piston being displaceable in the cylinder; first and second main chambers; and a throttling member for allowing and influencing a fluid flow between the first and second main chambers within the damper when the cylinder attachment portion and the piston attachment portion move relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Patent number: 8794406
    Abstract: Damper which is, in particular, stiff during the inward stroke thereof and can be used, for example, as a railway damper. The piston which divides the cylinder into two chambers is provided with non-return valves which operate in both directions and are configured as characteristic. A sleeve extends from the bottom of the cylinder which is displaceable in the interior of the piston/piston rod and one end of which is connected to a reservoir and the other end of which may be connected to one of the chambers. In addition, a bottom valve is present in the cylinder. The combination of sleeve/bottom valve is fitted in such a manner that when the piston moves inwards in the cylinder, the liquid volume which has to be displaced is moved by additional rod volume which enters the cylinder via the sleeve in the reservoir. During the outward movement, the liquid is replenished from the reservoir via the bottom valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Koni B.V.
    Inventors: Paul de Kock, Antonius Arnoldus Franciscus van Dongen, Samuel Jager
  • Patent number: 8523146
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a system includes a lifting device for lifting a motor vehicle, a support structure for mounting the lifting device in a pit, and a carriage for supporting the lifting device from the support structure and being movable within the support structure. The system also includes a cover coupled to opposite sides of the carriage so that the cover extends away from the carriage and continuously between the opposite sides of the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Stertil Koni USA
    Inventors: Kurt E. Polins, Glenn D. Felpel, Allan Pavlick
  • Patent number: 8371424
    Abstract: Yaw damper for damping yaw motions between two vehicle parts. This includes in the customary manner a piston part and a cylinder part, wherein that piston part is provided with a piston which divides that cylinder part into two chambers. Between these two chambers, connecting lines are present. The embodiment of these connecting lines determines the damping characteristic which governs the motion between the piston and the cylinder part. Especially for vehicle parts which move at higher speeds and/or high frequencies, such as train sets, it is desirable to provide a damper which is as stiff as possible. For this purpose, the present invention proposes the installation of pumping elements which, as far as possible, increase the pressure in the chambers which are formed by the piston in the cylinder part. Preferably, this construction is realized such that this pressure automatically decreases at lower speeds and/or low frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Koni B.V.
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Patent number: 8307964
    Abstract: Shock absorber provided with a piston having a number of constantly open connecting channels which connect the two sides of the piston, and having a number of connecting channels to be opened and closed by element of a valve. The valve includes a plate valve which under the influence of flow therethrough, i.e. the pressure difference over the piston, on the outward movement of the shock absorber can be closed to a greater or lesser extent. On the inward movement, unimpeded flow of fluid through the piston can occur. A flow-through path is bounded by the corresponding connecting channels and the valve together with the upper side of the piston. In the rest position there is a flow-through possibility for fluid when the shock absorber fixings move away from each other, and when the shock absorber fixings move away from each other more quickly the flow-through cross section gradually decreases until the valve closes completely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Koni B.V.
    Inventor: Paul de Kock
  • Publication number: 20120181126
    Abstract: Shock absorber comprising a piston inside which a sleeve is present which can be operated separately from the piston. This sleeve is provided with through-flow conduits which can cooperate with apertures, which are fitted at a vertical distance, of a part of the piston in order to provide an auxiliary flow when the piston is displaced in the cylinder. Such auxiliary flow enters into a chamber which is delimited by one or more spring plates which act on a sleeve which loads the main valve against opening when it is pressed down by the spring plate. By filling the chamber with fluid, the load applied on the sleeve by the spring plate is reduced and the load on the main valve decreases, as a result of which the latter opens more readily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul de Kock