Side Mounted Patents (Class 188/266.6)
  • Patent number: 11892055
    Abstract: Provided is a shock absorber capable of improving the dimensional quality and ensuring the sealing performance of a seal ring. The shock absorber includes a cylinder, an outer tube, an intermediate tube, and a discharge passage defined between the intermediate tube and the cylinder, a reservoir defined between the intermediate tube and the outer tube. The intermediate tube includes, on its inner circumferential surface, a groove having a concave shape in cross section to be capable of accommodating a seal ring that closes the discharge passage. A relationship of ?1<?2 is satisfied, where ?1 represents an angle formed between one side surface, out of both side surfaces of the groove of the intermediate tube, that is located on an axial end side of the intermediate tube, and a plane orthogonal to an axial direction of the intermediate tube, and ?2 represents an angle formed between the other side surface that is located on an axial center side of the intermediate tube and the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: KYB CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomomi Hayase, Tetsuo Arahata, Seiji Iwahara, Kouhei Tomita
  • Patent number: 11761509
    Abstract: A damping force generating mechanism includes: a flow passage formation part that forms a flow passage through which a liquid flows; and a valve that is configured to control a flow of the liquid in the flow passage. The flow passage formation part includes a first seat part that is provided radially outward of a flow passage port of the flow passage, protrudes from the flow passage port and contacts the valve, a second seat part that is provided radially outward of the first seat part, protrudes from the flow passage port and contacts the valve, and a circulation part having an orifice that allows the liquid to flow from the flow passage port toward the second seat part in a state in which the valve is in contact with the first seat part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gota Nakano, Chikara Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 11603900
    Abstract: A damping force generating mechanism includes: a flow passage formation part that forms a flow passage through which a liquid flows; a valve configured to control a flow of the liquid in the flow passage; a back pressure control valve configured to control a pressure in a back pressure chamber that provides a back pressure to the valve by inflow of the liquid; and an accommodation part that is in a tubular shape with one side opening end narrower than another side opening end, forms the back pressure chamber, and accommodates at least the valve and the back pressure control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Gota Nakano, Chikara Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 11466747
    Abstract: A damping force generating mechanism includes: a flow passage formation part that forms a flow passage through which a liquid flows; and a valve that is configured to control a flow of the liquid in the flow passage. The flow passage formation part includes a first seat part that is provided radially outward of a flow passage port of the flow passage, protrudes from the flow passage port and contacts the valve, a second seat part that is provided radially outward of the first seat part, protrudes from the flow passage port and contacts the valve, and a circulation part having an orifice that allows the liquid to flow from the flow passage port toward the second seat part in a state in which the valve is in contact with the first seat part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Gota Nakano, Chikara Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 11454292
    Abstract: A damper assembly includes a damper, an accumulator, and a tube mount. The damper includes a tube having an outer surface. The tube defines a central axis and a first cavity in the outer surface. The accumulator has an end defining a second cavity. The accumulator defines a longitudinal axis. The tube mount is attached to the outer surface of the tube around the first cavity. The tube includes a damper fluid. The end of the accumulator is supported by the tube mount to allow the damper fluid to flow from the tube through the first cavity and into the accumulator through the second cavity. The longitudinal axis of the accumulator is transverse to the central axis of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: DRiV Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan Deferme
  • Patent number: 11454291
    Abstract: A damper includes an inner tube. The damper includes a piston slidably disposed within the inner tube. The piston defines a first working chamber and a second working chamber within the inner tube. The damper also includes an outer tube disposed around the inner tube. The outer tube defines an outer chamber between the inner tube and the outer tube. The damper further includes a cover member mounted on an outer surface of the outer tube. The cover member defines a collector chamber between the outer tube and the cover member. The damper includes a first control valve mounted on the cover member. The damper also includes a second control valve mounted on the cover member and spaced apart from the first control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan Deferme
  • Patent number: 11391337
    Abstract: An adjustable vibration damper for a vehicle may include an outer tube, an intermediate tube, and an inner tube arranged coaxially. A concentric compensation chamber between the outer tube and the intermediate tube may receive a hydraulic fluid and a gas. A piston rod may include a piston disposed movably in the inner tube and dividing an interior of the inner tube into first and second working chambers. The adjustable vibration damper may also include first and second damper valves arranged on an outer wall. The first working chamber may be fluidically connected to the compensation chamber by the first damper valve for adjustment of a pressure stage, and the second working chamber may be fluidically connected to the compensation chamber by the second damper valve for adjustment of a traction stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP BILSTEIN GMBH, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Freddy Woenarta
  • Patent number: 11285775
    Abstract: A controllable shock absorber, in particular for motor vehicles, comprising a valve device comprising a bridge circuit with four non-return valves which are connected crosswise in the forward direction, the connection of a first bridge branch with two non-return valves that are arranged opposite each other form a pressure chamber and the connection of the second bridge branch with two non-return valves arranged opposite each other form a low pressure chamber, a hydraulic main slide arranged between the low pressure chamber and the pressure chamber, a pilot chamber which is connected to the pressurised fluid line which is part of the upper working space (traction area) by means of a fifth non-return valve, and a pilot valve which connects the low pressure chamber to the pilot chamber, the pilot chamber being connected to the high-pressure chamber by means of a diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Kendrion (Villingen) GmbH
    Inventors: Björn Bergfeld, Frank Zelano, Holger Brandenburg
  • Patent number: 11242907
    Abstract: An adjustable vibration damper includes at least one adjustable damping valve, with a piston at a piston rod that divides a cylinder into a work chamber on the piston rod side and a work chamber on the side remote of the piston rod. The cylinder is at least partially enclosed by an intermediate tube that forms a fluid connection between one of the work chambers and the adjustable damping valve. A hydraulic apparatus is connected to the fluid connection of the one work chamber via a first line and to the other work chamber via a second line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Lukas Ruhmann, Thomas Manger, Stefan Schmitt, Bernd Zeissner, Thomas Solf
  • Patent number: 11168758
    Abstract: A system for controlling vehicle motion is described. The system includes: a first set of sensors coupled with a vehicle, the first set of sensors configured for sensing the vehicle motion; and a vehicle suspension damper coupled with the first set of sensors, the vehicle suspension damper configured for adjusting a damping force therein, the vehicle suspension damper comprising: a primary valve; a pilot valve assembly coupled with the primary valve, the pilot valve assembly configured for metering a flow of fluid to the primary valve, in response to at least the sensing; and an orifice block coupled with the primary valve and comprising a control orifice there through, the control orifice configured for operating cooperatively with the pilot valve assembly in the metering the flow of fluid to the primary valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Everet Owen Ericksen, Robert C. Fox, John Marking
  • Patent number: 11143260
    Abstract: A damper with inner and outer tubes and a piston slidably disposed within the inner tube to define first and second working chambers. A collector chamber is positioned outside the outer tube. An external control valve is positioned in fluid communication with the collector chamber. An intake valve assembly, mounted to one end of the inner tube, includes an intake valve body, intake passages, and intake valve. The intake valve body abuts the outer tube to define an accumulation chamber positioned between the intake valve assembly and a closed end of the outer tube. The accumulation chamber is arranged in fluid communication with the collector chamber. The intake valve body forms a fluid-tight partition between the accumulation chamber and a fluid transport chamber is positioned between the inner and outer tubes. The intake valve controls fluid flow between the accumulation chamber and the second working chamber through the intake passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan Deferme
  • Patent number: 10968975
    Abstract: This hydraulic damping device comprises a cylinder for containing oil; a reservoir chamber R which is provided in the outer part of the cylinder and in which liquid accumulates; a piston provided so as to be axially movable within the cylinder and dividing the space within the cylinder into a first oil chamber and a second oil chamber, which contain oil; a baffle member provided as a separate element from the cylinder, the baffle member having a body which is provided in the reservoir chamber R, and also having a protrusion which protrudes from the body, the baffle member preventing the waving of the surface of oil in the reservoir chamber R; and a limiting section (first section to be held) provided to the baffle member and limiting the movement of the baffle member on both one side and the other side in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Muraguchi, Satomi Hojo, Gota Nakano
  • Patent number: 10962080
    Abstract: The actuator comprises a cylinder and a rod. The cylinder comprises an inner cylindrical tube and an outer cylindrical tube which extend coaxially to each other along a longitudinal axis (z). The inner cylindrical tube accommodates a plunger which is rigidly connected to the rod and separates an inner volume of the inner cylindrical tube into a compression chamber and an extension chamber, wherein at least the compression chamber contains oil. The inner cylindrical tube and the outer cylindrical tube enclose with each other a reservoir chamber which is permanently in fluid communication with the extension chamber via at least one first passage provided in the inner cylindrical tube and contains a pressurized gas in a first portion thereof and oil in a remaining portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: SISTEMI SOSPENSIONI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Walter Bruno, Piero Antonio Conti, Giordano Greco, Massimo Seminara, Matteo Vergani
  • Patent number: 10876589
    Abstract: Provided is a shock absorber capable of smoothly changing a damping force in a low speed range of piston speed and of opening a main valve with a smaller differential pressure. An auxiliary valve (111) is provided on an upstream side of a main valve (27) in series with the main valve (27). Thus, the damping force in the low speed range of the piston speed can be smoothly changed. Further, the main valve (27) has a simply-supported structure in which an inner peripheral side thereof is prevented from being clamped and is supported in a cantilever state. Thus, the main valve (27) can be opened with a smaller differential pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Mikio Yamashita, Fumiyuki Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 10760637
    Abstract: An adjustable damping valve device for a vibration damper, includes a main stage valve which is controlled by a pre-stage valve with a pre-stage valve body, which pre-stage valve can be actuated by an electromagnetic actuator, wherein an emergency operation valve controls the main stage valve during emergency operation, wherein an emergency operation armature is preloaded on the pre-stage valve body of the pre-stage valve by an emergency operation spring so that the pre-stage valve forms the emergency operation valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Manger, Lukas Ruhmann, Stefan Schmitt
  • Patent number: 10655612
    Abstract: A linear energy harvesting device that includes a housing and a piston that moves at least partially through the housing when it is compressed or extended from a rest position. When the piston moves, hydraulic fluid is pressurized and drives a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor drives an electric generator that produces electricity. Both the motor and generator are central to the device housing. Exemplary configurations are disclosed such as monotube, twin-tube, tri-tube and rotary based designs that each incorporates an integrated energy harvesting apparatus. By varying the electrical characteristics on an internal generator, the kinematic characteristics of the energy harvesting apparatus can be dynamically altered. In another mode, the apparatus can be used as an actuator to create linear movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Clive Tucker, Ross J. Wendell, Zackary Martin Anderson, Evan Moen, Johannes Schneider, Zachary J. Jackowski, Sean C. Morton
  • Patent number: 10655701
    Abstract: An adjustable vibration damper comprises at least one adjustable damping valve for each working direction. A fluid connection between a compensation space and a working space is controlled by a check valve which has a check valve body and which is hydraulically connected in parallel with the adjustable damping valve. The check valve is held by an intermediate tube which forms the fluid connection and which has a connection orifice to the connected adjustable damping valve. The check valve body of the check valve is supported at least indirectly in the region of the connection orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Manger, Bernd Zeissner, Stefan Schmitt, Lukas Ruhmann
  • Patent number: 10632813
    Abstract: Adjustable spring support comprising a spring plate which is axially adjustable by an annular actuator, wherein the actuator is supplied with pressure medium via a pressure medium supply system, wherein the annular actuator has a pressure medium connection to the pressure medium supply system, and the housing of the actuator is connected directly to a housing of the pressure medium supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Väth, Josef Renn, Tom Schneider, Jan Rossberg
  • Patent number: 10514077
    Abstract: Vibration damper (1) with an external housing (9) includes an outer cylinder (3) with a main axis. The housing (9) having two receiving spaces (13, 15) is arranged on an outer lateral surface of the outer cylinder (3). Each receiving space (13, 15) has a main axis. The main axis of the outer cylinder (3) and the main axes of the receiving spaces (13, 15) are arranged so as to be skew with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Bernd Zeissner, Stefan Schmitt
  • Patent number: 10508705
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vibration damper arrangement, in particular for damping compression and rebound forces on motor vehicles, which comprises a pressure medium cylinder (1), in which a piston (2) with a piston rod (3) is guided axially displaceably, which piston (2) divides the pressure medium cylinder (1) into a compression chamber (4) and a rebound chamber (5), a gas pressure accumulator (8) also being provided for volume compensation of the piston rod (3), which gas pressure accumulator (8) is connected to the compression chamber (4) by way of at least one first check valve (6) which can open toward the compression chamber (4), and a second check valve (7) which can open toward the rebound chamber (5) and, parallel thereto, at least one first controllable operating valve (12) being provided between the compression chamber (4) and the rebound chamber (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Joachim Funke
  • Patent number: 10495073
    Abstract: A linear energy harvesting device that includes a housing and a piston that moves at least partially through the housing when it is compressed or extended from a rest position. When the piston moves, hydraulic fluid is pressurized and drives a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor drives an electric generator that produces electricity. Both the motor and generator are central to the device housing. Exemplary configurations are disclosed such as monotube, twin-tube, tri-tube and rotary based designs that each incorporates an integrated energy harvesting apparatus. By varying the electrical characteristics on an internal generator, the kinematic characteristics of the energy harvesting apparatus can be dynamically altered. In another mode, the apparatus can be used as an actuator to create linear movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Clive Tucker, Ross J. Wendell, Zackary Martin Anderson, Evan Moen, Johannes Schneider, Zachary J. Jackowski, Sean C. Morton
  • Patent number: 10487902
    Abstract: A vibration damper for a motor vehicle may include a damper tube, a piston rod that moves in the damper tube, a working piston attached to the piston rod that divides the damper tube into two working spaces, and first and second damping valves each with an adjustable damping force. Damping liquid may pass through the first damping valve as the piston rod retracts and through the second damping valve as the piston rod extends. Each damping valve may include a valve body that can be moved by a separate, controllable drive device between a closed position and an open position to set a throughflow cross section of each respective damping valve. The valve bodies may be loaded by restoring means counter to an actuating force of the drive device. A first of the restoring means may load a first of the valve bodies into its open position, and a second of the restoring means may load a second of the valve bodies into its closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP BILSTEIN GMBH, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Klaus Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10400844
    Abstract: A shock absorber having a shock absorber tube (10) is disclosed and has an external module tube (11) which is arranged retentively on the outside of the shock absorber tube (10) by a flange (12), wherein the flange (12) has one or more fluid ducts (13, 14) which fluidically couple the module tube (11) to the shock absorber tube (10). The flange (12) has a plastics body (15) in which the fluid ducts (13, 14) are formed, and the flange (12) furthermore has metallic connecting elements (16, 17) which extend between the shock absorber tube (10) and the module tube (11) and by which the mechanically retentive connection between the shock absorber tube (10) and the module tube (11) is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Bilstein GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Schmidt, Ole Götz, Bastian Schnerch
  • Patent number: 10132378
    Abstract: A damping valve includes a valve seat member provided with a port, a valve body that opens or closes the port, a tubular spool that abuts on a side of the valve body opposite to the valve seat member, a spool holding member that has an outer circumference where the spool is mounted movably along an axial direction, a ring mounted to the outer circumference of the spool holding member, the ring contacting slidably with an inner circumference of the spool, and a back-pressure chamber partitioned by the spool and the spool holding member, the back-pressure chamber being configured to bias the spool such that the valve body is pressed toward the valve seat member using an internal pressure, wherein the internal pressure of the back-pressure chamber is applied to an inner circumferential side of the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Abe, Ryosuke Kamakura, Toshihiro Mori
  • Patent number: 10047816
    Abstract: A damping strut with a hydraulic shock absorber has a damping volume filled with an incompressible damping fluid, a retract detection device, and a compression stage throttle having a disk valve with a valve disk. The damping fluid flows through the compression stage throttle during a retraction of the shock absorber and generates a damping strut resistance force. A biasing means for biasing the valve disk against a through flow direction of the disk valve has a force-distance-characteristic curve in a range of the valve stroke of the valve disk, a first derivative of which is substantially zero and has a value (K). A bias regulator couples the biasing means with the valve disk and is interconnected with the retract detection device. When the retraction of the shock absorber starts, the value (K) is raised during a first period of time starting at a single start value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas Ripa
  • Patent number: 10030786
    Abstract: An adjustable damping valve arrangement for a vibration damper includes a main stage valve with a main stage valve body which is guided in a damping valve housing so as to be axially movable. The damping valve housing has a housing insert which is separate from the damping valve housing and in which the main stage valve body is guided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Manger, Stefan Schmitt, Lukas Ruhmann
  • Patent number: 9982741
    Abstract: A damping valve device (27), includes a damping valve housing (31) with a tube part (33) and an outer top housing part (35), wherein an intermediate housing wall (39) which is fixed with respect to the tube part (33) spatially separates a coil assembly (37) from a valve region (73), and the outer top housing part (35) forms a back iron body for the coil assembly (37), wherein an inner sleeve (69) together with a base (71) closes the valve region (73), wherein the outer top housing part (35) is a component part which is separate from the intermediate housing wall (39), and the inner sleeve (69) is connected to the intermediate housing wall (39) in a pressure-tight manner independent from the outer housing part (35), and wherein a protective cap (93) which is separate from the outer top housing part (35) covers the outer top housing part (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Manger, Stefan Schmitt, Lukas Ruhmann
  • Patent number: 9863494
    Abstract: A suspension damper including an actuator and a static fluid damper is provided. The actuator includes a first housing and a second housing positioned within the first housing and coaxially aligned with the first housing along an axis of the actuator. The second housing defines a passage. A piston is slidably positioned within the passage of the second housing to define a first chamber and a second chamber. A divider is positioned between an inner surface of the first housing and an outer surface of the second housing to define a third chamber and a fourth chamber. The static fluid damper includes a first damping chamber, a second damping chamber, and a third damping chamber. A separating member is positioned within the third damping chamber to define a gas chamber. First and second flow passages provide fluid communication between the actuator and the static fluid damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinghong Yu, Kirk Rhoades, Kazutaka Otsu
  • Patent number: 9856939
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a reservoir between a cylinder and an outer tube, in which hydraulic liquid and gas are sealed; a middle tube between the cylinder and the outer tube; a connecting pipe in the lateral wall of the middle tube, which includes a tip end extending toward the outside of the outer tube; an opening in the outer tube, allowing hydraulic liquid to flow from the outside of the outer tube into the reservoir through the outer side of the connecting pipe; and a partition member in the reservoir, which includes a partition wall that configured to regulate hydraulic liquid's upward flow from the opening in the reservoir. The partition member is made of flexible resin or rubber, provided with a fitting hole, and fitted to the connecting pipe with interference with the connecting pipe inserted through the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Matsumoto, Shigeo Katayama, Yohei Katayama, Umi Tanabe, Yusei Kimura, Yoshie Midorikawa, Hideki Hata, Osamu Shioume
  • Patent number: 9849934
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a cylinder in which oil is sealed, a piston slidably fitted into the cylinder, a piston rod connected to the piston and extending to the outside of the cylinder, and a damping force generating apparatus controlling a flow of the oil generated by the sliding of the piston inside the cylinder. The damping force generating apparatus includes a valve body generating a damping force by being opened and closed on a flow path in which the oil flows, a valve seat closing the flow path when the valve body is seated, and an actuator generating thrust to the valve body in a valve closing direction. The valve seat has a first elastic body which is elastically deformable in the valve closing direction of the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Miwa, Naoya Kuroiwa
  • Patent number: 9850976
    Abstract: A shock absorber having a shock absorber tube (10) is disclosed and has an external module tube (11) which is connected to the shock absorber tube (10) via a flange (12), wherein the flange (12) has one or more fluid ducts (13, 14) which fluidically couple the module tube (11) to the shock absorber tube (10). The flange (12) has at least one metallic support cage (15) which forms a retentive connection between the shock absorber tube (10) and the module tube (11), and the flange (12) has a plastics body (16) in which the fluid duct (13, 14) for the fluidic coupling of the module tube (11) to the shock absorber tube (10) is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Bilstein GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Schmidt, Ole Götz, Freddy Woenarta
  • Patent number: 9827822
    Abstract: A damping force generation device for a vehicle includes a shock absorber including a cylinder and a piston. The shock absorber is coupled to a vehicle body, a wheel carrier, and the like at a rod part of the piston and the cylinder, respectively, and is configured to generate a damping force due to a flow resistance when oil passes through an orifice formed in the piston. Each of self-discharge type charge eliminators is fixed to a surface of a specific member being at least one of a component of the shock absorber or an auxiliary member connected to the component. The charge eliminator reduces positive electric charge that is charged to the specific member, to thereby reduce a charge amount of the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 9810280
    Abstract: A damping valve includes a valve seat member that includes a port and a first valve seat, a shaft member disposed on the valve seat member, an annular main valve element that is mounted on the shaft member, seats on and separates from the first valve seat, and includes a second valve seat on an opposite side of the valve seat member, a sub valve element that is mounted on the shaft member, and seats on and separates from the second valve seat, a valve-element-between chamber that is disposed between the main valve element and the sub valve element, and on an inner peripheral side of the second valve seat, a restrictive passage that causes the port to be communicated with the valve-element-between chamber to provide a resistance to a flow of a passing fluid, a main valve element biasing part biasing the main valve element to the valve seat member side, and a sub valve element biasing part biasing the sub valve element to the main valve element side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Hagidaira
  • Patent number: 9803713
    Abstract: A shock absorber having a shock absorber tube (10) is disclosed and has an external module tube (11) which is arranged retentively on the outside of the shock absorber tube (10) by a flange (12), wherein the flange (12) has one or more fluid ducts (13, 14) which fluidically couple the module tube (11) to the shock absorber tube (10). The flange (12) has a plastics body (15) in which the fluid ducts (13, 14) are formed, and the flange (12) furthermore has metallic connecting elements (16, 17) which extend between the shock absorber tube (10) and the module tube (11) and by which the mechanically retentive connection between the shock absorber tube (10) and the module tube (11) is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Bilstein GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Schmidt, Ole Götz, Bastian Schnerch
  • Patent number: 9694871
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes: a cylinder; a piston; a piston rod; and a damping-force generating device that controls a flow of oil, caused by sliding of the piston in the cylinder, wherein the damping-force generating device includes: a valve body that generates a damping force according to opening and closing of the valve body on a channel in which the oil flows; a valve seat on which the valve body seats to close the channel; and an actuator that includes a plunger generating thrust to the valve body in a valve closing direction and a plunger chamber in which the oil is filled in order to actuate the plunger, and the plunger chamber communicates with a downstream side in a flowing direction of the oil with reference to a place where the valve body seats on the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yosuke Murakami
  • Patent number: 9669679
    Abstract: A damper assembly for a vehicle suspension system includes a damper and a manifold. The damper includes a tubular sidewall that defines an inner damper volume and a plunger separating the inner damper volume into a first chamber and a second chamber. The damper defines a first opening in fluid communication with the first chamber and a second opening in fluid communication with the second chamber. The manifold includes a housing having a pilot and defining a flow path between an inlet port and an outlet port, a flow controller coupled to the housing and positioned along the flow path, and a piston including a pilot end coupled to the pilot and an interface end that engages the flow controller with a pilot force. The inlet port is in fluid communication with at least one of the first opening and the second opening of the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Jason J. Zuleger, Robert K. Sollenskog
  • Patent number: 9664247
    Abstract: A damping force is generated by controlling a flow of oil caused by a sliding displacement of a piston in a cylinder with the aid of a disk valve, against extension and compression of a piston rod. An elastic seal member, fixedly attached to a back surface side of the disk valve, is fitted in a recessed portion of a pilot body, by which a pilot chamber is formed and valve opening of the disk valve is controlled by inner pressure in the pilot chamber. The elastic seal member is in abutment with a bottom portion of the recessed portion, and the disk valve is urged toward inner and other seat portions by elasticity of the elastic seal member. This configuration ensures that the disk valve can be closed without a set load provided from deflection of the disk valve, thereby generating a stable low damping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Mikio Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9597941
    Abstract: In response to extension and compression of a piston rod, a piston slidingly moves in a cylinder, causing a flow of hydraulic oil. The hydraulic oil flow is controlled by a disk valve to generate a damping force. An elastic seal member fixed to the rear side of the disk valve is fitted to a recess in a pilot body to form a pilot chamber. The valve-opening operation of the disk valve is controlled by the pressure in the pilot chamber. The elastic seal member has an extension extended and fixed to the front side of the disk valve. Thus, forces acting on the rear and front sides of the disk valve due to shrinkage of the elastic seal member during fixing process balance and cancel each other out. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent warping of the disk valve and to obtain stable damping force characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Mikio Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9550545
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes: a valve body; a valve seat; an actuator; and a fail-safe valve that is urged by a first elastic body. When fluid does not flow, the fail-safe valve is urged by the first elastic body to come into contact with the valve body and close a channel. When the fluid flows, the fail-safe valve is spaced from the valve body by a fluid pressure to open the channel. When the valve body moves most in a valve opening direction, the fail-safe valve is brought into contact with the valve body and the channel is closed, and a supporting portion supports a part of the fail-safe valve. When the fluid flows in this state, at least a part of the fail-safe valve, which is in contact with a non-supporting portion, is spaced from the valve body by the fluid pressure to open the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Murakami, Kazuhiro Miwa
  • Patent number: 9506520
    Abstract: A damping force variable valve assembly includes a spool (144) which is moved by a magnetic force, a spool guide (145) which surrounds the spool (144), valve bodies (151, 152), a main valve (150), a back pressure chamber (160) which is formed at the back of the main valve (150), and an elastic opening/closing portion which is installed in the valve body to open and close a pressure adjustment passage (180) communicating the inside of the back pressure chamber (160) with the outside of the back pressure chamber (160). Due to the interaction between the spool (144) and the spool guide (145), the damping force of the shock absorber is variable between a hard mode in which the back pressure of the back pressure chamber (160) is increased and a soft mode in which the back pressure of the back pressure chamber (160) is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eun Joong Kim
  • Patent number: 9500252
    Abstract: An elastic seal member fixedly attached to a back surface side of a disk valve is fitted in a recessed portion of a pilot body, by which a pilot chamber is formed. A valve opening of the disk valve is controlled by an inner pressure in the pilot chamber. The elastic seal member includes a thick proximal portion and a thin lip portion. A seal portion protruding on an outer circumferential portion of the lip portion is in sliding contact with an inner circumferential portion of an outer cylindrical portion of the pilot body. Deflection of the thin lip portion can reduce sliding resistance while ensuring a sealing performance of the seal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Mikio Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9388877
    Abstract: A pressure shock absorbing apparatus includes: a first cylinder; a second cylinder that is placed outside the first cylinder to form a liquid storage unit; a partitioning member that is disposed in such a manner as to be movable in an axial direction inside the first cylinder to partition a space inside the first cylinder; a throttle mechanism that is disposed in a side portion of the second cylinder, and includes a throttle unit that throttles a flow path cross section of a liquid to discharge the liquid taken in from the first cylinder toward the liquid storage unit while passing the liquid through the throttle unit; and a suppression unit that is held by the throttle mechanism at a liquid discharge point between the throttle mechanism and the liquid storage unit to suppress air bubbles in the liquid in the liquid storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiryo Konakai, Kunio Shibasaki, Takahiro Miura, Tetsuya Shirotsuka
  • Patent number: 9188186
    Abstract: A pressure regulator is provided for adjusting a pressure in a hydraulic flow, which pressure can be at least partially regulated using a solenoid. The solenoid can adjust a position of a driver that comprises a solenoid armature, a solenoid armature rod, and a delimiting part. The solenoid armature can be arranged around a solenoid armature rod and can be axially displaceable inside a solenoid chamber in a housing. The solenoid armature rod can have one or more holes that fluidly interconnect a first chamber to a solenoid chamber of the regulator. The delimiting part can be arranged around the solenoid armature rod adjacent to the housing and be configured such that clearances between the delimiting part, the solenoid armature rod, and the housing enable a certain radial movement between the driver and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: ÖHLINS RACING AB
    Inventors: Arnold Hovén, Sonsterod Lars
  • Patent number: 9046145
    Abstract: A shock absorber in which a flow of hydraulic oil caused by sliding movement of a piston in a cylinder is controlled by a pilot type main valve and a pilot valve to generate damping force. The valve-opening operation of the main valve is controlled by adjusting the pressure in a pilot chamber with the pilot valve. A valve block and a solenoid block are connected together into one unit and inserted into a casing before being secured with a nut. At this time, an actuating rod of the solenoid block is engaged with a pilot valve member retained by a pilot spring and a fail-safe spring in a cylindrical portion of a pilot body of the valve block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Murakami, Osamu Yuno, Tomohiko Fujioka, Takashi Nezu, Shunsuke Mori
  • Patent number: 8800729
    Abstract: During either of the extension and compression strokes, hydraulic liquid flows from a cylinder upper chamber into a reservoir through an annular passage and a damping force control mechanism, and a damping force is generated by the damping force control mechanism. The check valve is provided with a sub-check valve in parallel thereto, which opens in a very low piston speed region to allow the hydraulic liquid to flow through an orifice passage. These check valves are opened successively as the piston speed increases, thereby generating a sufficiently small damping force in the very low piston speed region during the compression stroke of the piston rod, and obtaining a moderate damping force when the piston speed increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yabe, Yohei Katayama, Takashi Nezu
  • Patent number: 8794400
    Abstract: A damping force adjustable hydraulic shock absorber, in which response delay of a pressure control valve and self-excited vibration of a valve body can be prevented. A damping force is generated by controlling an oil flow between an annular oil passage (21) and a reservoir (4) generated by sliding movement of a piston in a cylinder with use of a back-pressure type main valve (27) and a pressure control valve (28). The damping force is directly generated by the pressure control valve, and valve-opening pressure of the main valve is adjusted by adjusting an inner pressure of a back-pressure chamber. In the pressure control valve, a valve spring is disposed between a valve body and a plunger. A mass of the valve body is sufficiently less than that of the plunger, and a spring stiffness of the valve spring is higher than that of a plunger spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Nakadate, Takashi Nezu, Yohei Katayama, Shigeo Katayama, Hiroyuki Yabe
  • Patent number: 8733519
    Abstract: A linear impelled module damper includes a hollow cylinder having an inner body, an outer body, and a channel between the inner and outer body. The hollow cylinder has a sealed first end and a sealed second end. A piston movable within the hollow cylinder divides the hollow cylinder into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. The channel communicates with the rebound chamber through at least one hole in the rebound chamber. A compression extension cylinder is rigidly fixed to the hollow cylinder approximate to the sealed second end on one end, and having a compression mount attached to the other end. The compression extension cylinder including an air valve being adapted to allow a piston rod to move in and out of the compression extension cylinder. The piston rod including a rebound mount on one end and extending into the compression extension cylinder on the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: JRI Development Group, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Scott Ryan
  • Patent number: 8672106
    Abstract: A self-regulating suspension includes a first suspension member movable relative to a second suspension member, a fluid reservoir having a volume, the volume variable in response to a relative movement between the first and second suspension members, and a fluid flow circuit having a first end in fluidic communication with the fluid reservoir and a second end in fluidic communication with an isolated suspension location, the fluid flow circuit comprising a first valve, a second valve and a third valve, wherein said first and third valves are in parallel with each other and the second valve is in series with each of the first and third valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Laird, William Becker
  • Patent number: 8627932
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper comprises a cylinder and a piston assembly including a damping piston along with working fluid within the cylinder. A bypass permits fluid to avoid dampening resistance of the damping piston. A fluid path through the bypass is controlled by a valve that is shifted by a piston surface when the contents of at least one predetermined volume is injected against the piston surface which acts upon the valve. In one embodiment, the bypass is remotely operable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John Marking
  • Patent number: 8544619
    Abstract: A fluid pressure shock absorber in which valve opening of the main valve is controlled by an inner pressure of a backpressure chamber. A first piston (3) and a second piston (4) coupled to a piston rod (10) are fitted in a cylinder (2) such that a piston chamber (2C) is defined between the first and second pistons. An extension-side main valve (18) and a compression-side main valve (23) are provided in the piston chamber (2C). Valve opening of the main valves is controlled by an extension-side backpressure chamber (19) and a compression-side backpressure chamber (24). A compression-side check valve (13) and an extension-side check valve (16) are provided at the first piston (3) and the second piston (4). During an extension stroke of the piston rod (10), the compression-side check valve (13) is closed, whereby action of a pressure of a cylinder upper chamber (2A) on the compression-side main valve (23) is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, Yohei Katayama, Hiroyuki Hayama, Takashi Nezu