Abstract: An acceleration sensitive shock absorber has a tubular housing and a piston assembly in the housing dividing the housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The piston is connected to the wheel of a vehicle and the housing is connected to the chassis of the vehicle. Fluid can pass between the upper and lower chambers with a restricted flow rate during either extension or compression of the shock absorber. There is a first port for providing fluid flow from the lower chamber to the upper chamber during downward acceleration of the wheel. A movable inertia mass in the piston assembly opens the first port during downward acceleration of the wheel of the vehicle for increasing flow between the chambers. A pocket beneath the inertial mass applies sufficient pressure to the inertial mass to retain it in a port-open position during fluid flow after acceleration has decreased.

Abstract: An acceleration sensitive shock absorber has a tubular housing and a piston assembly in the housing dividing the housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The piston is connected to the wheel of a vehicle and the housing is connected to the chassis of the vehicle. Fluid can pass between the upper and lower chambers with a restricted flow rate during either extension or compression of the shock absorber. There is a first port for providing fluid flow from the lower chamber to the upper chamber upon downward acceleration of the wheel. A movable inertia valve in the piston assembly opens the first port when acceleration of the wheel of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined magnitude for increasing flow between the chambers. In addition, there is a first orifice downstream from the first port for creating hydraulic pressure which biases the inertia valve in an open position in response to fluid flow between the chambers.

Abstract: A modified McPherson strut has inner and outer tubes which are connected to the wheel of a vehicle. A piston within the inner tube is connected to a piston rod which is connected to the body of a vehicle. The piston divides the inner tube into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, with the upper chamber being in fluid communication with an annular gallery formed between the inner and outer tubes. Normal damping is provided by fluid passing though metering valves in the piston between the upper and lower chambers. The strut also includes an accumulator gallery inside the bottom of the outer tube with a foot valve for restricted fluid flow from the lower chamber into the accumulator gallery and essentially unrestricted flow from the accumulator gallery back into the lower chamber. An acceleration sensitive inertial mass in a bypass passage is normally closed and opens upon upward acceleration of the tubes during strut compression.