Helical Coil Spring Patents (Class 267/221)
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Publication number: 20040119217Abstract: This invention provides a mono-tube type shock absorber comprising: a spring receiver that holds a lower end of a suspension spring, the suspension spring urging the mono-tube type shock absorber in a direction of extending the mono-tube type shock absorber; a cylinder constituting the mono-tube type shock absorber; and a guide member to which the spring receiver is fixed, the guide member being fixed to an outer circumferential surface of the cylinder, wherein: the guide member is disposed with a predetermined gap being provided between the guide member and the cylinder; an upper end portion of the guide member is fixed to an upper end portion of the cylinder; a lower end portion of the guide member is open with respect to the cylinder; and the spring receiver is fixed to the lower end portion of the guide member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2003Publication date: June 24, 2004Inventor: Kenkichi Kon
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Publication number: 20040060787Abstract: In a cylinder apparatus such as a hydraulic shock absorber, a piston to which a piston rod is connected slidably is inserted into a cylinder which contains liquid oil. A rebound spring is wound around the piston rod with one end of the piston rod fixed to the piston rod using a spring holder. The rebound spring is slidably guided along the piston rod by means of another spring holder. A rebound stopper is fixed to the piston rod at a position between the spring holders. The rebound spring exerts a spring force opposite to the extension of the piston rod, thereby to moderate shock at the end of the stroke of the piston. Because the spring holder comes into contact with the rebound stopper, contact of adjacent linear portions of the rebound spring with each other due to excessive compression of the rebound spring can be prevented, and also occurrence of strange noise and damage of the rebound spring can be prevented.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2003Publication date: April 1, 2004Applicant: Tokico Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Yoshiaki Totani
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Publication number: 20040036206Abstract: The invention relates to a spring carrier for the chassis of a motor vehicle. Said carrier is used to support a coil spring (1) which is braced between two spring plates (2, 3). At least one of said spring plates (2) can be axially adjusted by means of a drive unit comprising a gearbox and an electric motor. Preferably, at least one part of the piston rod (6) and/or the shock-absorber tube (5) of a shock-absorber or a suspension strut is arranged inside the coil spring (1). The aim of the invention is to develop one such spring carrier in such a way that the distance between the upper spring end and the vehicle body can be kept small in a cost-effective manner. To this end, the electric motor is embodied in the form of a ring motor having an external stator (15) and an internal rotor (16) which comprises a displacement nut on its inner side, said displacement nut axially displacing a spring plate carrier (21) connected to the spring plate (2) and externally embodied as a threaded spindle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2003Publication date: February 26, 2004Inventors: Friedrich Loser, Siegfried Ellmann
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Patent number: 6691840Abstract: A suspension damper including a tube and a damping piston assembly disposed within the tube and slidably mounted therein for reciprocal movement in the tube. The suspension damper also includes a piston rod extending through the tube and connected to the damping piston assembly, a rod guide assembly closing a top end of the tube, and a rebound cut-off disk and spring suspended in the tube between the rod guide assembly and the damping piston assembly and cooperating with the damping piston assembly to provide a rebound cut-off effect between the rebound cut-off disk and the damping piston assembly. The rebound cut-off disk and spring have specific gravities that are less than the specific gravity of the fluid in the tube, such that the disk and the spring are floatable in the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2003Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ilya Lisenker, Saiman Lun
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Publication number: 20040026196Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved shock absorber with guiding system for, for example, racing and Formula cars and such, due to which larger horizontal bend powers F can be taken without considerable wear and further problems, in which the shock absorber consists of a telescopic first or upper tube (15) and second or bottom tube. (16) with a damping, for oil bored piston (17), in which the sliding into each other of the mentioned tube parts is executed by means of roller bearings (22, 23), which are adjusted to the radius of the concerned tube, through which in a surprisingly inventive way a very high-quality spring and shock absorber is created for the Formula cars.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventor: Marius Jacobus Huisman
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Patent number: 6626274Abstract: A vibration damper includes a rebound, in particular a rebound spring. The vibration damper includes a piston which is formed on an axially movable piston rod and which separates two working chambers in a cylinder, the working chamber penetrated by the piston rod being closed off with a lid and containing the rebound. An out-stroke of the piston rod relative to the cylinder includes an idle-stroke which starts at a minimum out-stroke and in which the rebound does not counteract the piston rod movement, a working-stroke which ends at a maximum out-stroke and in which the rebound counteracts the piston rod movement, and a point of application at which the idle-stroke ends and the working-stroke begins. The vibration damper further includes an arrangement configured to adjust the point of application.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: DaimlerChryslerInventors: Wolfgang Pfundstein, Ralph Samietz, Reiner Scheu
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Publication number: 20030107028Abstract: A shock-absorbing carpet kicker for positioning and stretching carpet is disclosed. The carpet kicker includes an engaging head with forwardly-inclined pins for engaging carpet materials on a floor, a shaft connected to the engaging head and extending therefrom, a cushioned pad facing away from the engaging head and connected to the shaft a distance away from the engaging head, and a shock-absorbing device connected to the shaft and interposed between the engaging head and the cushioned pad. The shock-absorbing device comprises a resilient member preloaded against a collapsible tension member, whereby kicks to the cushioned pad are transmitted through the shock-absorbing device to the engaging head. The preloaded tension member permits a portion of the energy of each kick to be transmitted directly to the engaging head, while the resilient member absorbs excess energy of the kick.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2001Publication date: June 12, 2003Inventor: John H. Martin
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Patent number: 6561531Abstract: A strut mount structure for a vehicle for supporting a strut of a strut-type suspension is disclosed. Since the strut mount structure does not have any protruded portions with respect to a front hood while maintaining equal distance between the strut mount unit and the front hood, it is possible to freely choose the design of the front hood. Furthermore, the strut mount structure with a satisfactory large distance between the strut mount unit and the front hood absorbs impact well when a pedestrian comes into contact with the vehicle on the front hood.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2001Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshimitsu Kobayashi, Toshiyuki Matsuki
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Patent number: 6481701Abstract: A spring includes intermediate coils of larger and smaller diameter so that upon compression of the spring the smaller diameter coil may nest within one of the large diameter coils, thereby reducing the overall length of the spring without causing the coils to come in contact with one another. The spring may be used in automotive vehicle suspension assemblies and other applications. The axis of the smaller coil may be offset from the axes of the other coils, thereby providing a spring in which one side is softer and the other is stiffer, so that upon compression the spring bows or deflects along a curved line. In addition to the small diameter coil being offset from the remaining coils, the wire diameter of one or more of the coils may be changed to affect the local stiffness of the spring.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2001Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Steven Kessen, David John Fanson
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Publication number: 20020158393Abstract: A spring carrier includes a cylinder tube and a spring plate mounted on a sleeve relative to the cylinder tube. The spring plate is mounted so that the spring plate is vertically adjustable relative to the cylinder tube by changing the effective length of the sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2002Publication date: October 31, 2002Applicant: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Gunther Handke, Gerald Fenn
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Patent number: 6460835Abstract: Provided is a wheel suspension system (4) and a spring (6, 16, 26) therefor which can improve the ride comfort of the vehicle by reducing the sliding resistance between the cylinder and the piston of the tubular shock absorber (5) surrounded by the compression coil spring without increasing the size of the suspension system and without complicating the assembly work. The compression coil spring is adapted to produce lateral forces between two ends thereof as the compression coil spring is extended and compressed by forming the coil spring so as to have cyclically varying pitch angle for each turn of the coil wire.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2000Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshio Hamano, Hirotake Kato, Iwao Shigeoka, Takahiro Nakamura, Toshiyuki Kamakura, Masaya Komazaki
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Patent number: 6460839Abstract: An air damper for a movably supported structural part in automobiles comprises a hollow cylinder closed at one end thereof, a closure cap mounted on the other end of the cylinder, a piston slidably guided within the cylinder, an annular recess at the circumference of the piston, and an annular sealing ring in the recess. The block-like sealing ring is made of a thermoplastic elastomer coated with a layer which has the same static and sliding frictions with the inner wall of the cylinder and the bottom of the recess. A coil spring is placed between the closure cap and the piston. A piston rod of the piston has an elongated rib contacting the spring when the spring is in a relieved state.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2001Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Hans-Günther Müller
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Publication number: 20020125623Abstract: A spring includes intermediate coils of larger and smaller diameter so that upon compression of the spring the smaller diameter coil may nest within one of the large diameter coils, thereby reducing the overall length of the spring without causing the coils to come in contact with one another. The spring may be used in automotive vehicle suspension assemblies and other applications. The axis of the smaller coil may be offset from the axes of the other coils, thereby providing a spring in which one side is softer and the other is stiffer, so that upon compression the spring bows or deflects along a curved line. In addition to the small diameter coil being offset from the remaining coils, the wire diameter of one or more of the coils may be changed to affect the local stiffness of the spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2001Publication date: September 12, 2002Inventors: Jeffrey Steven Kessen, David John Fanson
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Patent number: 6357734Abstract: A monotube damper and suspension spring assembly for a motor vehicle includes a tubular housing defining a chamber filled with damping fluid. A piston and piston rod reciprocate within the chamber. In order to compensate for volumetric changes of the chamber due to extension and retraction of the piston rod within the chamber, either the upper seal cover or lower bottom ring assembly is slidable within the housing. A preload is applied either to the housing or to the seal cover to thereby bias these elements to compensate for volumetric changes in the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2000Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ilya Lisenker, Patrick Neil Hopkins, Richard Edward Longhouse, William Charles Kruckemeyer
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Patent number: 6328291Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydropneumatic shock absorber. This new telescopic system comprises an outer sliding tube, an inner sliding tube and structure for adjusting the braking level of the shock absorber in expansion. Fastened on the base of the outer sliding tube is the bottom of a barrel on which rests an elastic structure, such as a counter-acting spring, which pushes on the inner sliding tube in the expansion stroke. The inner sliding tube carries at its internal end a bell which cooperates with a stop spring when in the expansion stroke. The liquid filled barrel contains an axially movable piston connected to the closure plug assembly with the piston contains a first valve, which opens only in the compression phase, and a second valve, which acts as variable throttle and is controlled by the padded end of a screw axially placed within the support tube. By acting on a screw, the expansion braking level of the shock absorber can be adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Marzocchi, S.p.A.Inventors: Adriano Marzocchi, Loris Vignocchi, Sandro Musiani
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Publication number: 20010038174Abstract: An air damper for a movably supported structural part, in particular in automobiles, comprising the following features:Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2001Publication date: November 8, 2001Applicant: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Hans-Gunther Muller
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Publication number: 20010026057Abstract: An upper support for a wheel suspension system of a vehicle having a shock absorber, which comprises an inner member connected to a piston rod of the shock absorber, an outer sleeve member disposed radially outwardly of the inner member and fixed to the vehicle body, and an elastic body interposed between the inner and outer sleeve members. The outer member has an upper and lower stop portions formed at axially opposite open-end portions thereof, so as to extend radially inwardly. The elastic body is bonded at its inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface of the inner member, and is held in close contact at its outer circumferential surface with the inner circumferential surface of the outer sleeve member, while being held in abutting contact at its axially opposite end faces with the upper and lower stop portions of the outer sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2001Publication date: October 4, 2001Applicant: TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Yukio Hayashi, Kohichi Kobayashi
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Patent number: 6293533Abstract: A dashpot for wheel suspensions, with a preferably sheet-metal spring cup (6). The cup is attached to a shock absorber or its accommodating tube, supports a helical spring that surrounds the shock absorber or tube, and can be advanced along the shock absorber or tube on threads. To allow the dashpot to be raised and lowered in precise increments, the attachment is maintained tight by a cylindrical housing (3). The housing is provided with a slot extending over its total length and with outside threads. Its inner surface of the housing rests directly against the shock absorber or its tube. The housing operates in conjunction with a height-adjustment ring (12) or neck (7) with matching inside threads on the spring cup. The slope of the threads ensure that the force exerted by the spring on the spring cup will squeeze the slotted housing together radially.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2000Date of Patent: September 25, 2001Assignee: Krupp Bilstein GmbHInventor: Thomas Sasse
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Patent number: 6291988Abstract: A sensor device for continuous measurement of the position of a damping piston in a damping cylinder of a vibration damper, used, in particular, in the spring strut of a motor vehicle, is proposed. The corresponding electronic control and evaluation circuit of such a sensor device is to be located in the immediate vicinity of the sensor element and in particular, the problems related to this measure, involving the sealing of the electronic circuit, with respect to the harsh conditions of the corresponding building space, are solved. This is possible in that the sensor element and the electronic control and evaluation circuit are placed within a damping piston, consisting of a basic body and a cover, and are hermetically enclosed, with respect to the outside, by a surrounding seal, lying between the basic body and the cover of the damping piston.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2000Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Frank Hagen, Klaus Hinteresch, Arno Laubrock
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Patent number: 6273407Abstract: A bearing for a spring strut as well as for a coil spring of the spring strut is provided by way of spring supports which rest against supporting elements and are held in a mutually non-rotatable manner by twist fixations. The spring elements are constructed such that the same stiffnesses are formed over the circumference of the spring winding even though the twist fixation is provided. Furthermore, a spring plate of the lower bearing of the spring is provided. The spring plate is adjustably arranged on the shock absorber tube, and thus springs which have different lengths can be used.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2000Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventor: Francesco Germano
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Patent number: 6260836Abstract: The invention relates to a shock absorber loaded therearound with a compression coil spring so improved that a side force generated by the compression coil spring can be effectively alleviated by making both or any one of an upper sheet 13 mounted to an absorber rod 3 and a lower sheet 16 mounted on an absorber tube 2 so as to be loaded therebetween with the compression coil spring 17 free to rock relatively to each other in a predetermined direction or in any direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1998Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Chuohatsujo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiho Aoyama, Takashi Goto
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Patent number: 6257605Abstract: The invention concerns a suspension strut (1) for automotive vehicles comprising a shock absorber (20) to which a coil spring (21) is associated, the suspension strut (1) being connected to a steering knuckle (5) and a vehicle body (4) at articulation points (2, 3), the upper articulation point (2) comprising a bearing (6) which is associated to carrier elements (10, 11). According to the invention, the bearing (6) comprises bearing rings (7, 8) which are supported directly on carrier elements (10, 11) and centered on radially spaced rims (12, 13), the carrier elements (10, 11) being made of different materials.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1998Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler oHGInventors: Alexander Zernickel, Herbert Erhardt
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Patent number: 6237904Abstract: A motion stabilizer for yieldingly urging a relatively movable load member toward a normal or centered position relative to another load member includes a telescoping body that shortens (retracts) as the load members move toward one another and lengthens (extends) as the load members move apart. A reaction unit is mounted within an axially extending internal chamber defined within the body. The reaction unit has a normal length and a displaced length. The reaction unit may include a spring such as a gas spring or coil spring, and the spring may operate in compression or in expansion. The reaction unit may provide damping. Depending of the characteristics of the reaction unit, the displaced length may be either longer or shorter than the normal length.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1999Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Inventor: John D. Shepherd
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Patent number: 6220406Abstract: A passive damping for a shock absorber is disclosed. The shock absorber includes a working chamber, and a piston disposed in the working chamber. The piston includes a primary bypass valve for defining an upper fluid portion and a lower fluid portion. A piston rod is connected to the piston and extends through the top portion of the working chamber. A variable bypass assembly is disposed between a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. The variable bypass assembly includes at least one bypass aperture for providing communication of damping fluid between the first and second fluid chambers. The variable bypass assembly also includes a passive control member for varying the size of the bypass aperture, and biasing structure for normally retaining the passive control member in a position which maximizes the size of the bypass aperture.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2000Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Inc.Inventors: Simon Anne de Molina, Stefan Deferme
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Patent number: 6217012Abstract: In a spring seat fixing structure of a hydraulic shock absorber (10), a proximal end side of a cap (44) is provided with a small diameter force-fit portion (71) which is fixedly forced into a small outer diameter portion (51) of a damper tube (11), and a distal end side of the cap (44) is provided with a large diameter force-fit portion (73) which is fixedly forced into a large outer diameter portion (52) of the damper tube (11).Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1999Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: Showa CorporationInventor: Kenji Hashirayama
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Patent number: 6213454Abstract: The damper includes a piston assembly which travels within a cylindrical damper housing between an extended position and a retracted position. A transverse channel is formed proximate to the open end of the damper housing. A latching diamond travels within the transverse channel. The piston assembly includes a piston shaft with a camming wall sub-assembly formed thereon which engages the latching diamond so that the piston assembly is latched in a “push-push” configuration in the extended position. In this latched configuration, the latching diamond is detent engaged by a concave detent apex formed on an island which includes a longitudinally chamfered portion. Additionally, the flexibility of the island in which the concave detent apex is formed may be increased by transverse passageways or “cored-out” areas in the piston shaft immediately adjacent to the island.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1999Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Steven L. Bivens, Calvin Derr, Joseph Wach
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Patent number: 6199845Abstract: In a spring support for a suspension strut of a motor vehicle, a spring collar is provided for supporting a coil spring. The spring support is connected in use with an outer tube of the spring strut. The spring collar comprises a pot-shaped receptacle for the outer tube of the spring strut. The collar is located eccentrically with respect to the outer tube and receptacle and has an annular spring coil support section located at an edge of the collar. This spring support section is connected with the pot-shaped receptacle by ribs that extend like the arms of a star toward the receptacle and have spaces between them. The spring support, including pot-shaped receptacle, ribs and annular spring coil support section, are formed as an integral cast part.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1999Date of Patent: March 13, 2001Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AGInventors: Siegfried Rispeter, Juergen Lauer
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Patent number: 6199844Abstract: Contact noise generated between a striker cap mounted on a strut and a jounce bumper connected to a shock tower is reduced by providing an axial projection on the roof of the striker cap. The projection progressively displaces and compresses the elastomeric jounce bumper material and thereby avoids large compressive impulse forces and associated noise generation.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 1998Date of Patent: March 13, 2001Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventors: Paul B. McCormick, Mark C. Smith, Richard R. Churay
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Patent number: 6155545Abstract: The shock absorber includes an oil pressure damper (1), a piston rod (2) and a cushion spring (3), wherein the cushion spring (3) contacts to the piston rod side with an end thereof and another end (6) thereof contacts to a spring receiving face (8) of a spring seat (7). Since the spring seat (7) is integrated with an adjuster (10) by engaging claws (9) with the adjuster (10) and is also integrated with a movable cover (20), the spring seat (7), the adjuster (10) and the movable cover (20) rotate and move to an axial direction as one body.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 1998Date of Patent: December 5, 2000Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirofumi Noro, Osamu Sato, Shigeo Iijima, Terunari Saiki, Mitsuru Minami, Masakazu Kuwahara
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Patent number: 6142268Abstract: A bicycle shock-absorber is composed of an oil cylinder, a nut, a spring, a cover, and a radiator. The outer thread of the oil cylinder is engaged with the nut and the spring. The radiator is constructed of two corresponding half ring which are united by two bolts passing through at the sides to make the half rings to be affixed firmly around the oil cylinder. The radiator is mounted under the nut so as to cause the nut to resist the pressure of the spring. The radiator has a plurality of blades at intervals which can heat exchange with the air and dissipate heat while the bicycle is moving.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1999Date of Patent: November 7, 2000Assignee: Acecast Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Pai Kuo-An
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Patent number: 6126154Abstract: A system for centering a relatively movable member relative to a relatively fixed member includes telescoped inner and outer cap tubes with opposed closed ends adapted to be connected to the fixed and movable members. A strut tube assembly within the cap tubes includes a gas spring unit that is compressed by a force transfer tube assembly when the system is compressed or extended. Resilient bumpers smooth the force transition near the centered position. A set screw permits adjustment of the system to have preload or no preload or to have free play at the centered position. The system is easily adapted to specific requirements by selection of the gas spring unit and the material of the bumpers and by adjustment of the set screw.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1999Date of Patent: October 3, 2000Inventor: John D. Shepherd
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Patent number: 6098966Abstract: Apparatus for both attenuating vibrations below a given load and absorbing shock above the given load. A hydraulic damper unit is equipped with a spring that preloads the device and positions the damper in a neutral or centered position. The spring holds the damper unit centered until the preload force is exceeded in either tension or compression. Elastomeric rod ends connect the damper unit to a mass to be protected and a supporting structure. The elastomeric rod ends have a response such that they attenuate vibrations up to the preloading force of the spring whereupon the elastomer is fully compressed thus permitting the damper to be displaced to absorb shock loads that are greater than the preload break-away force.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 1999Date of Patent: August 8, 2000Assignee: Enidine IncorporatedInventors: Michael Paul Latvis, Jr., Daniel Charles Radice, Gerald John Spyche, Jr.
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Patent number: 6082720Abstract: The strut comprises a ball bearing (42) located below the lower retainer ) of the spring (4). The ball bearing (42) is centered on an eccentric collar (27) in order to shift the center of the ball bearing (42) by a distance e from the axis of the shock absorber. Rotation between the body (2) of the shock absorber and the hub holder (5) displaces the center of the ball bearing (42), which shifts the lower retainer (41) accordingly. Using a suitable measuring bench, the strut is adjusted precisely upon the assembling thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1999Date of Patent: July 4, 2000Assignee: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin - Michelin & CieInventors: Antoine Ducloux, Jack Faure, Jacques Foulquier, Thierry Orsat
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Patent number: 6082749Abstract: Pin and slot structure for rotationally positioning a bearing and spring seat assembly relative to a strut mount of a spring and strut module. The bearing and spring seat assembly includes a spring seat having a slot. The strut mount includes a strut mount plate having a slot registering with the slot in the spring seat. The pin has opposite side walls which taper longitudinally toward one another. The slot in the spring seat has side walls which have a taper corresponding to the taper of the side walls of the pin. The pin is insertable into the slots with the tapered side walls of the pin in wedging engagement with the tapered side walls of the slot in the spring seat. One of the side walls of the slot in the spring seat is axially serrated to provide ridges which grip the pin when the pin is inserted. The pin has end walls provided with integral shear strips engageable with the end walls of the slot in the strut mount when the pin is inserted.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1998Date of Patent: July 4, 2000Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventors: Mark C. Smith, Slawomir J. Herman
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Patent number: 6079700Abstract: The coil spring of a vehicle shock absorber is seated on an annular elastomeric pad that is equipped with a reinforced peripheral flange adapted to maintain the lowermost convolution of the spring on the elastomeric pad should the spring break during service. An annular steel band is incorporated into the elastomeric band to provide a reinforced flange structure resistant to deformation.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 1998Date of Patent: June 27, 2000Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventors: Jonathan P. Solomond, Michael S. Weaver, James J. Johnson
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Patent number: 6079725Abstract: A wheelchair includes an independent suspension system having a spring and a shock absorber located between the chair and the wheel. The load exerted by the spring and the damping provided by the shock absorber are both variable in order to tune the independent suspension to various conditions.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 1997Date of Patent: June 27, 2000Assignee: Iron Horse Productions, Inc.Inventor: Paul Lazaros
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Patent number: 6076814Abstract: The invention is directed to a spring strut for motor vehicles comprising a hydropneumatic vibration damper and a supporting spring. The vibration damper has a piston rod connected with a piston and is axially guided in a piston rod guide at the end of a container. The piston rod is outwardly sealed by a piston rod seal. The piston rod guide comprises a damping valve acted upon by external forces, such as the force of the supporting spring arranged between a structural component part connected with the vehicle and a spring carrier surrounding the container of the spring strut. The spring carrier acts on the damping valve with a contact surface. The supporting spring and/or the spring carrier cooperates with at least one auxiliary device exerting a force. The auxiliary device is supported at the container by a structural component part that is fixed with respect to the container or at a vehicle part which is connected with the container.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1998Date of Patent: June 20, 2000Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AGInventor: Manfred Grundei
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Patent number: 6070863Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit includes a cylinder in which a piston rod is located so that the piston rod can move axially. A first connection mechanism is connected to the cylinder, and a second connection mechanism is connected to the piston rod. A positioning cylinder, with a pressure medium connection, is effectively connected to one of the first and second connection mechanisms. The distance between the first and second connection mechanisms can be set by the addition or discharge of pressure medium to or from the positioning cylinder. The positioning cylinder is located in series with the cylinder, and the piston rod forms a guide path or track for the positioning cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 1999Date of Patent: June 6, 2000Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AGInventor: Robert Pradel
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Patent number: 6053488Abstract: A spring damper device is arranged between a wheel and a body of a motor vehicle. A damper cylinder and a piston rod co-operates with the latter. The damper device is directly articulatable between the body of the motor vehicle and a guide element of the wheel. A spring is tensioned between a body-side and a wheel-side abutment, and the clearance between the abutments is variable by a hydraulic adjusting device and measuring devices operable without contact therebetween to determine an installed length of the damper and clearance of the abutment for the spring. The damper and the spring extend coaxially, with the hydraulic adjusting device comprising a cylindrical housing configured to engage with an annular clearance around the piston rod and is sealed and guided radially at axial ends relative to this piston rod. The cylindrical housing is displaceable relative to the piston rod by hydraulic pressure acting on the annular space.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 1999Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Michael Forsbach, Helmut Luncz, Joachim Wirtz, Peter Fritz
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Patent number: 6042091Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydropneumatic shock absorber. This new telescopic system comprises an outer sliding tube, an inner sliding tube having an adjustable braking level of the shock absorber in expansion. Fastened on the base of the outer sliding tube is the bottom of a barrel on which rests counter-acting spring, or other elastic device, which pushes on the inner sliding tube in the expansion stroke. The inner sliding tube carries at its internal end a bell which cooperates with a stop spring when in the expansion stroke. The liquid filled barrel contains an axially movable piston connected to the closure plug assembly of the inner sliding tube by a support tube. The piston contains a first valve, which opens only in the compression phase, and a second valve, which acts as variable throttle and is controlled by the padded end of a screw axially placed within the support tube.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1997Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: Marzocchi S.P.A.Inventors: Adriano Marzocchi, Loris Vignocchi, Sandro Musiani
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Patent number: 5996747Abstract: The device comprises a cylinder (1) which is divided in two variable volume chambers (3,4) by a piston (2,2'), which has conduits (5,5') for the passage of a fluid from one chamber to the other, and spring means (15) for pushing the piston in a predetermined direction, tending to cause a pressure increase in one of the chambers; the piston is mounted on a rod formed of two aligned rod elements (7,8), with means (9) for bringing closer and separating their adjacent extremities; it comprises means for providing a controlled fluid leak through the conduits (5,5') of the piston, said means consisting of a groove (25) provided in the piston (2') or washers (12,13) which can be deformed due to the existence of an undercut (33) in one of the rod elements. It provides for the automatic return of the seat and/or the back of the seat to a predetermined position when the passenger leaves the seat.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1996Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Inventor: Juan Singla Casayas
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Patent number: 5996978Abstract: In a first type, there is provided, inside an inner tube of a twin-tube type of damper, a pressurizing chamber to be defined by a free piston which is slidably fit onto an outer surface of a rod. A fluid pressure from an outside pressure source is supplied to the pressurizing chamber to push down a damper piston via the free piston to thereby forcibly contract the damper. In a second type, there is provided inside an inner tube a cylinder which is slidably fit onto an outer surface of a rod, and a piston mounted on the rod is inserted into the cylinder. A fluid pressure from the pressure source is supplied to the pressurizing chamber inside the cylinder to push down the rod via the piston to thereby forcibly contract the damper. In a third type, a rod is slidably inserted into a partition wall in an intermediate portion of a damper main body of a mono-tube type of damper.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1997Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Nobuyoshi Asanuma, Yukio Hayakawa, Satoshi Kondo
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Patent number: 5996982Abstract: An annular nut cooperates with threaded sectors, which are formed on the reservoir tube of a shock absorber having a coil over spring preload, to provide for adjustment of the preload. The threaded sectors are equispaced angularly about the longitudinal axis of the reservoir tube of the shock absorber, and the threads of the threaded sectors are disposed in the planes that are substantially traverse to the longitudinal axis of the reservoir tube. The annular nut abuts the adjacent end of the coil over spring and the spring end is attached to the nut so that the spring and annular nut rotate together.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1997Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: Gabriel Ride Control Products, Inc.Inventor: Stephen H. Bell
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Patent number: 5979882Abstract: Disclosed is a vibration damping and isolation apparatus having a passive damping mechanism. The passive damping mechanism includes an outer tubular member and an inner member. The inner and outer members are linearly movable relative to one another upon application of forces to the damping apparatus. The inner member is spaced from the outer member by a fluid shear gap that is filled with a viscous fluid. Fluid pressure of the viscous fluid remains constant while the viscous fluid dissipates the forces by direct fluid shear upon relative linear movement of the outer and inner members.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1997Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Assignee: Honeywell Inc.Inventor: David A. Osterberg
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Patent number: 5961106Abstract: A vehicle shock absorber assembly (20) for use with a vehicle suspension system (12) having a lower unsprung mount (14) and an upper sprung mount (16) is constructed to provide height adjustment by introduction or removal of hydraulic fluid from an enclosed chamber (44) defined between a cylinder housing (22) of a shock absorber (20) and a height adjustment cylinder (36). A spring seat (56) connected to the shock absorber cylinder housing (22) seats the lower end of a suspension spring (18) whose upper end is seated with respect to the upper sprung mount (16).Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1998Date of Patent: October 5, 1999Inventor: Theodore E. Shaffer
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Patent number: 5954318Abstract: An adjustable coil over suspension assembly (10) for use in high-performance racing vehicles is provided which includes a central, telescopically intermitted suspension assembly (20) with an elongated coil spring (22) disposed over the assembly (20) and extending along the length thereof. Spring adjusting means (24) is provided for selective adjustment of the compression of spring (22) and includes a threadably mounted body (46) bearing against one end of the spring (22) and carrying a detent device (36, 56) for permitting rotation of the body (46) through a predetermined arc with seating of the body (46) after each such rotation. Accurate adjustment of the assembly (10) is assured because the operator can readily determine through perceptible "clicks" the degree of spring compression change during rotation of the body (46).Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1997Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Assignee: Kluhsman Machine, Inc.Inventor: Melvin L. Kluhsman
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Patent number: 5950996Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit includes a cylinder in which a piston rod is located so that the piston rod can move axially. A first connection mechanism is connected to the cylinder, and a second connection mechanism is connected to the piston rod. A positioning cylinder, with a pressure medium connection, is effectively connected to one of the first and second connection mechanisms. The distance between the first and second connection mechanisms can be set by the addition or discharge of pressure medium to or from the positioning cylinder. The positioning cylinder is located in series with the cylinder, and the piston rod forms a guide path or track for the positioning cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 1997Date of Patent: September 14, 1999Assignee: Fitchel & Sachs AGInventor: Robert Pradel
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Patent number: 5947459Abstract: The strut comprises a ball bearing (42) located below the lower retainer ) of the spring (4). The ball bearing (42) is centered on an eccentric collar (27) in order to shift the center of the ball bearing (42) by a distance e from the axis of the shock absorber. Rotation between the body (2) of the shock absorber and the hub holder (5) displaces the center of the ball bearing (42), which shifts the lower retainer (41) accordingly. Using a suitable measuring bench, the strut is adjusted precisely upon the assembling thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1996Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin--Michelin & CieInventors: Antoine Ducloux, Jack Faure, Jacques Foulquier, Thierry Orsat
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Patent number: 5947240Abstract: A damping mounting structure for use between two members for isolating motion changes which incorporates a plurality of dampers connected between the two members in a closed geometric shape and which uses cross connections between the dampers located on opposite sides of the geometric shape so that translation motion between the two members is damped less than rotational motion between the two members and an accumulator to provide pressurization of the system but to prevent loss of pressure due to slow rotational vibrations, one-way valves are connected between the system and the accumulator to allow fluid flow only from the accumulator to the system and not from the system to the accumulator and pressure relief or burp valves are used to allow short duration fluid flow from system back to the accumulator when a predetermined system over-pressure is exceeded.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1997Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: Honeywell, Inc.Inventors: Toren S. Davis, David A. Osterberg
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Patent number: 5918865Abstract: A damping mounting structure for use between two members for isolating motion changes which incorporates a plurality of dampers connected between the two members in a closed geometric shape and which uses cross connections between the dampers located on opposite sides of the geometric shape so that translation motion between the two members is less stiff than rotational motion between the two members.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1997Date of Patent: July 6, 1999Assignee: Honeywell Inc.Inventor: David A. Osterberg