Via Valved Orifice In Thrust Member Patents (Class 188/282.1)
  • Patent number: 12092186
    Abstract: Described herein is a fluid circuit device. The device incorporates at least one pressure balancing valve located between at least two fluid volumes that can be in a pressure differential arrangement wherein the at least one pressure balancing valve acts to address a pressure differential by opening a fluid volume or volumes to a third pressure equalising volume. In use, the fluid circuit device may in one embodiment be used in an energy absorbtion apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Holmes Solutions Limited Partnership
    Inventors: John McCallister, Mark Thomson, Murray Aitken, Stuart Clark
  • Patent number: 12044286
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a damper. The damper comprises a fluid chamber having a piston dividing the chamber into a compression and rebound sides, a reservoir in fluid communication with the compression side of the chamber, and an isolator disposed between the compression side and the reservoir, whereby the isolator obstructs fluid flow between the compression side and the reservoir. In one embodiment, a bypass provides a fluid path between the compression side and the isolator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John Marking
  • Patent number: 11821489
    Abstract: A valve mechanism includes an orifice collar having a hollow portion penetrating in an axial direction, a valve body having a central hole and an opening portion which penetrate in the axial direction and arranged so as to come into contact with an axial end surface of the orifice collar, and a drive valve which is movable in the axial direction and is arranged on an opposite side of the orifice collar with the valve body as a boundary, where the valve body includes spoke valves, each of which includes an outer frame portion, an inner frame portion, and a plurality of spoke portions connecting the outer frame portion 74 and the inner frame portion, and a protective valve which protects the spoke portion when the spoke portion of the spoke valve is deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventor: Yosuke Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 11598389
    Abstract: Disclosed is a frequency sensitive type shock absorber including a piston rod reciprocating an inside of a cylinder and having a connection passage therein; a piston valve mounted on the piston rod and having a plurality of compression and rebound flow paths penetrating up and down thereof, and partitioning the cylinder into compression and rebound chambers; and a valve assembly mounted on the piston rod to generate a damping force that changes with frequency during a rebound stroke; wherein the valve assembly comprises: a housing coupled to the piston rod and having a pilot chamber in communication with the connection passage; a main retainer coupled to the piston rod and having a main chamber formed on an upper portion thereof in communication with the connecting passage; and a pilot valve coupled to the piston rod and disposed between the housing and the main retainer to partition the pilot chamber and the main chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Namho Kim
  • Patent number: 11473642
    Abstract: A vibration damper valve assembly may include a valve main body, first and second main stage flow paths, first and second disc valve packs, and first and second main stage bypass flow paths. The first disc valve pack may include a first outer disc valve pack, a first flow path bypass disc, a first loading element, and a first covering element, with the first loading element being arranged on one side of the first covering element such that a loading force is formed on the first covering element. The second disc valve pack may include a second outer disc valve pack, a second flow path bypass disc, a second loading element, and a second covering element, with the second loading element being arranged on one side of the second covering element such that a loading force is formed on the second covering element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP BILSTEIN GMBH, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Dennis Volkhausen
  • Patent number: 11473644
    Abstract: A damper for a telescopic fork leg for a front fork of a vehicle, wherein the damper comprises a twin-tube cylinder and a piston rod assembly comprising a piston rod, wherein a first piston is attached to the inner end portion of the piston rod, wherein a second piston is attached to the piston rod between the first piston and an outer end portion of the piston rod, wherein the inner tube is provided with at least one outlet hole 19 through the wall of the inner tube, the outlet hole being positioned such that a sealing portion of the second piston at compression of the damper travels past at the at least one outlet hole, and wherein the inner tube is provided with at least one return hole through the wall of the inner tube, the at least one return hole being positioned such that it connects a chamber of the twin-tube cylinder to an outer volume of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: ÖHLINS RACING AB
    Inventor: Erik Hansson
  • Patent number: 11305604
    Abstract: A vibration damper for a motor vehicle having at least one damper tube, which includes at least one damper fluid, a piston rod having a piston, which is guided axially in the damper tube, and at least one valve unit. The valve unit includes at least three flow paths for the damper fluid. The first flow path includes a first valve for a first damper setting. The second flow path includes a second valve for a second damper setting and a variable throttle. The third flow path includes a check valve, wherein the second damper setting is softer than the first damper setting and the cross section of the second flow path is adjustable at least partially by the variable throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP BILSTEIN GMBH, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Freddy Woenarta
  • Patent number: 11040754
    Abstract: Example dampers for bicycle suspension components are described herein. An example damper includes a damper body defining a chamber, a shaft extending into the chamber of the damper body, and an adjustable piston system having a piston body coupled to the shaft. The adjustable piston system controls a flow of fluid between the first and second chambers. The adjustable piston system includes an adjustable rebound orifice forming part of a rebound flow path to control the flow of fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber across the piston body, an adjustable compression orifice forming part of a low flow compression flow path to control the flow of fluid from the second chamber to the first chamber across the piston body, an isolation member to separate the rebound flow path and the low flow compression flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy Lynch
  • Patent number: 11009094
    Abstract: One or more systems are disclosed for controlling dampening forces provided by a shock absorber by means of a piston face and an additional dampening shim underneath the piston face in the shock absorber. The piston face is coupled to a piston and the dampening shim is positioned beneath a bottom surface of the piston face. The piston face includes a first set of openings and a second set of openings on the piston face that have differing sizes and diameters. The dampening shim has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the piston face. When fluid pressure is applied against the underside of the dampening shim, the dampening shim partially blocks the first set of openings and fully blocks the second set of openings on the piston face from the bottom of the piston face, which thereby affects the overall dampening of the shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Factory Kahne, LLC
    Inventors: Willis D. Kahne, Kole S. Kahne
  • Patent number: 10801575
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve structure of a shock absorber, in which a rebound-side stepped portion for supporting a rebound-side disc valve is integrally molded with an upper surface of a piston, and a compression-side inner stepped portion and a compression-side outer stepped portion for supporting a compression-side disc valve are integrally molded with a lower surface of the piston to omit a retainer for supporting a disc valve, thereby simplifying a structure and reducing manufacturing costs and weight of the valve structure, and a side surface of the piston is used to form compression channels, thereby easily securing a space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Moon Sang Cheong
  • Patent number: 10539202
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a vehicular active shock absorber in which two variable valves is able to be operated by one solenoid, a tube connecting a damping force-variable valve and the pump is not subjected to a bending force and is not expanded, and a space of a compression chamber is small. According to the embodiments, there is provided a vehicular shock absorber including: a damper including a cylinder, a piston valve disposed inside the cylinder, and a piston rod, of which one end is connected to the piston valve and a remaining end is connected to a vehicle body; a damping force-variable valve assembly attached to an outer portion of the damper and configured to regulate a flow of the working fluid of the damper; a pump fixed to the vehicle body; and a tube configured to make the pump and a piston road flow path provided in the piston rod communicate with each other. The piston rod flow path makes the tube and an extension chamber of the damper communicate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Young Hwan Jee
  • Patent number: 10302169
    Abstract: A hydraulic vibration damper having an inner tube arranged in a container; a piston arranged such that it is axially movable in the inner tube and the internal space of which is divided into a first working chamber and a second working chamber; a sealing element via which the piston rests against the inner tube in order to seal the first and second working chambers against one joining the first and second working chambers and arranged on the piston; and a bottom valve arranged on an axial end section of the inner tube in order to join the second working chamber to a compensation space formed between the container and the inner tube. The bottom valve projects axially into the second working chamber with a section. The piston has an operating position, in which same radially surrounds the section of the bottom valve projecting into the second working chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Wahl, Marco Schreiner, Jan-Rickmer Schlegel
  • Patent number: 9975597
    Abstract: A suspension system includes a body comprising a cylindrical cavity in which a piston is slidably mounted that divides the cylindrical cavity into two working chambers: a lower chamber and an upper chamber, each of which receives a gas. The piston is connected to a piston rod protruding from the cylindrical cavity through a sealing ring. The body slides within an external tube of the suspension system. The external tube is engaged around the piston rod and a lower plug is at its free end to which the end of the piston rod is secured. The space between the lower plug and the sealing ring determines within the external tube a third chamber filled with gas by a preload valve. A single filling valve fills the lower and upper chambers, and a transfer element transfers gas from one of the two working chambers to the other, according to predetermined conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Inventor: Olivier Bossard
  • Patent number: 9719572
    Abstract: A hydraulic damper (2) includes a first piston body member (233), a second piston body member (234), a third piston body member (235), and a compression stroke disc assembly (231) compressed at a radially inner side thereof between the first (233) and said second (234) piston body members. The hydraulic damper includes a rebound stroke disc assembly (232) compressed at the radially inner side thereof between the second (234) and third (235) piston body members, and the compression stroke disc assembly (231) additionally includes an annular supporting member (2319) positioning discs (2311-2318) of the compression stroke disc assembly (231) at radially inner side thereof, while a radially inner axial passage (23191) is defined at the radially inner side of the supporting member (2319).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: BEIJINGWEST INDUSTRIES CO., LTD
    Inventors: Pawel Slusarczyk, Jakub Wrzesinski, Robert Kapolka
  • Patent number: 9303714
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides hydraulic dampening systems wherein the dampening effect may be controlled by rotating a body of the dampener, after the dampening system has been installed and in use. The system includes a piston including a front disk and back disk, wherein the front disk has a reduced diameter with respect to the back disk. A washer is positioned between the two piston disks, wherein the diameter of the washer is greater than the piston back disk, wherein the washer includes at least two protruding tabs. The washer is frictionally engaged with the body of the dampener. As the body is rotated, the washer is rotated such that the washer tabs engage at least a portion of the piston front disk to rotate the piston along a threaded surface of a shaft of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: WALACH MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventor: David P. Walach
  • Patent number: 9004516
    Abstract: A bicycle fork includes a pair of fork leg assemblies, each of the leg assemblies having an upper leg telescopingly engaged with a lower leg. A damping assembly is provided in at least one of the legs. The damping assembly includes lock-out and blow-off compression circuits. These compression circuits are externally adjustable without tools. Furthermore, these two compression circuits may be adjusted independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Fox Factory Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Becker, Brian Lampman
  • Patent number: 8925695
    Abstract: A progressive damping device for furniture is designed to prevent impacts between the mobile parts of furniture provided with self-closing systems, and provides progressive closure according to the speed and energy acquired in the closure. The damping device generally includes a cylinder in which a dynamic fluid circulates, and in the interior of which there is displaced a piston which has a rod provided with an elastoplastic valve, which delimits respective compression and expansion chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Miguel Angel Rioja Calvo
  • Patent number: 8869957
    Abstract: A damper 1 includes a vessel 4 for accommodating a viscous fluid 3 in its interior 2; hampering walls 5 and 6 for hampering the flow of the viscous fluid 3; a partitioning member 11 which partitions each of interior portions 7 and 8 into two chambers 9 and 10 and is provided rotatably; a communicating hole 13 formed in the partitioning member 11 so as to allow the two chambers 9 and 10 to communicate with each other via a variable passage 12 whose passage cross-sectional area changes; a flow limiting means 14 for limiting the flow of the viscous fluid 3 in the chamber 9 into the chamber 10 through the communicating hole 13, when the internal pressure of the viscous fluid 3 accommodated in the chamber 9 has exceeded a fixed value on the basis of the rotation of the partitioning member 11; and a resilient means 15 for resiliently urging the partitioning member 11 in an R2 direction with respect to the vessel 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Oiles Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Okimura, Yoshiteru Igarashi, Naohiro Horita
  • Patent number: 8844912
    Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle, having a bellows piston, bellows, and a fluid as the damping medium. The shock absorber has a first partition wall, which is situated on the bellows piston, and is implemented to separate a volume area of the bellows piston from a volume area of the bellows. The first partition wall has a first opening, which is implemented to limit a fluid flow between the volume area of the bellows piston and the volume area of the bellows. The shock absorber further has a sprung mass, which is situated inside the shock absorber to influence the fluid flow inside the shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Naber
  • Publication number: 20140252735
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a first passage (111) or (112) and a second passage (32), (99) or (235) in communication with each other and configured to allow a working fluid to flow between two chambers (16) and (17) based on movement of a piston (15), and a passage area adjustment mechanism (101) or (236) configured to adjust a passage area of the second passage (99) or (235) depending on a position of a piston rod (18) is installed to have at least one of a maximum length-side property in which an extension-side damping force becomes soft and a compression-side damping force becomes hard in a range in which the piston rod (18) extends to an outside of a cylinder (11) farther than a maximum length-side predetermined position, and a minimum length-side property in which the extension-side damping force becomes hard and the compression-side damping force becomes soft in a range in which the piston rod (18) enters an inside of the cylinder (11) further than a minimum length side predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Mikio Yamashita, Fumiyuki Yamaoka, Masaru Kouyama, Kunio Takiguchi, Atsufumi Ishimoto
  • Publication number: 20140251741
    Abstract: A fluid-type shock absorber, particularly for doors of electrical household appliances, comprising a shock absorber body, in which a substantially cylindrical chamber is defined that accommodates coaxially a piston provided with a stem that protrudes from at least one axial end of the chamber, the piston divides the chamber into two parts, the piston is accommodated so that it can slide axially within the chamber, moreover at least one duct is provided for connecting the two parts of the chamber in order to allow the transit of a fluid from one part to the other of the chamber for the axial sliding of the piston with respect to the shock absorber body, the connecting duct is defined in the piston and has a calibrated portion thereof that is defined on a first end face of the piston, elements are provided for varying the passage section of the connecting duct available for the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: BRERA CERNIERE S.R.L.
    Inventor: Roberto Piero BRERA
  • Patent number: 8820494
    Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorbing apparatus of a vehicle is described in which hydraulic shock absorbers are provided at both left and right sides of a wheel. One hydraulic shock absorber is provided with a compression side damping valve in one oil passage of a piston, is provided with a check valve in another oil passage, and is provided with a volume compensating oil passage of a piston rod communicated with an oil reservoir chamber in a piston rod side oil chamber. The other hydraulic shock absorber is provided with an expansion side damping valve in one oil passage of the piston, is provided with a check valve dosing at the time of expansion and opening at the time of compression in another oil passage, and is provided with a volume compensating oil passage of the piston rod communicated with the oil reservoir chamber in a piston side oil chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Nagai
  • Patent number: 8794407
    Abstract: A shock absorber has a valve assembly having a valve that is biased away from a valve body. A controlled restriction is defined between the valve and the valve body. During stroking of the piston of the shock absorber, the valve moves toward the valve body to close the restriction. The valve assembly can be used in the piston assembly, the base valve assembly or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Ronny Vanbrabant, Bert Diels, Jean-Marie Tuts, Vincent Bailly, Kristoff Six
  • Publication number: 20140203530
    Abstract: A hydraulic strut system that damps vehicle vibration and includes a compressible fluid, a strut, and a valve plate. The strut includes three concentric tubes defining an inner cavity, an intermediary cavity, and an outer reservoir cavity, the inner cavity and intermediary cavity being fluidly coupled, wherein the inner cavity receives a piston that divides the inner cavity into a first volume and a second volume, the piston having an aperture that allows one way flow from the first volume to the second volume. The valve plate is removably coupled to the strut, and includes a first fluid path that allows one-way fluid flow from the intermediary cavity to the reservoir cavity, the first fluid path including a damping valve that damps fluid flowing therethrough; and a second fluid path that allows one-way fluid flow from the reservoir cavity to the inner cavity, the second fluid path further including a replenishment valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Fluid Ride, Ltd.
    Inventors: Joshua Coombs, Jeremy Edmondson
  • Patent number: 8776961
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes: at least one cylinder apparatus including a cylinder sealingly containing operating fluid, a piston slidably fittedly inserted in the cylinder to divide an interior of the cylinder into two chambers, and a piston rod coupled to the piston and extending to an outside of the cylinder; and at least one damping force generation mechanism connected to the cylinder apparatus, and capable of generating a damping force to be applied to a flow of the operating fluid caused by a movement of the piston and adjusting the damping force from the outside. The damping force generation mechanism includes a damping valve for generating the damping force, a pilot chamber for applying a pilot pressure by the operating fluid to the damping valve, and a pump for at least supplying or discharging the operating fluid to or from the pilot chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Mori, Kenichi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140190779
    Abstract: A rotational speed reduction device 1 for a truck tailgate includes a housing 5, a rotor 8 disposed inside the housing 5, a viscous fluid 14a accommodated in an inner space 13a, passages 15a and 16a provided in the rotor 8, a one-way valve 19 disposed in the passage 15a, and a one-way valve 20a disposed in the passage 16a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: OILES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naohiro Horita, Ryohei Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8727366
    Abstract: A bicycle fork includes a pair of fork leg assemblies, each of the leg assemblies having an upper leg telescopingly engaged with a lower leg. A damping assembly is provided in at least one of the legs. The damping assembly includes lock-out and blow-off compression circuits. These compression circuits are externally adjustable without tools. Furthermore, these two compression circuits may be adjusted independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Incorporated
    Inventors: William M. Becker, Brian Lampman
  • 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: 8668062
    Abstract: The invention relates to a damper (1, 1?) for furniture, especially hinges, comprising a housing (2, 2?) in which a piston (8, 8?) is connected to a piston rod (3, 3?) and can be displaced. A fluid flows through at least one flow channel (11, 11?) on or in the piston (8, 8?) during a movement of the piston (8, 8?) inside the housing (2, 2?), the movement of the piston (8, 8?) resulting in a different damping power in different directions. The cross-section of the flow channel can be modified in some sections on at least one groove (20, 20?) by moving a plate (12, 12?) relative to the piston (8, 8?). On the at least one groove (20, 20?), a substantially funnel-shaped outlet (22, 22?) and/or the groove (20?) have a section which is arranged at an angle to the radial direction to avoid cavitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Konrad Weber
  • Patent number: 8651253
    Abstract: Damping device for moveable furniture parts. A longitudinally displaceable piston on opposing sides forms two variable size working chambers filled with a damping medium via at least one overflow connection. A piston rod led out of the housing is connected to one side of the piston. An adjustment shaft is connected to one side of the piston opposite one of the working chambers, its free end is also led out of the housing. A throttle disc radially protrudes from the circumferential surface of the adjustment shaft. The throttle disc being disposed in a region of an end of a piston passage bore connecting the two working chambers and configuring the overflow connection abutting a front surface of the piston. Recesses in the throttle disc offset from each other circumferentially have different cross-sections. The recesses may be selectively aligned by rotating the adjustment shaft relative to the passage bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Grass GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Herper, Gabriele Schneider
  • Publication number: 20140020994
    Abstract: The rotary damper comprises: case having viscous fluid 13 filled cylindrical chamber; rotor housed in the chamber; check valve; and pressure-regulating valve. In the chamber, projecting bulkheads are formed. The rotor comprises: the rotor body and vanes. The check valve closes when the rotor rotates in the normal rotation direction, so as to restrict movement of the viscous fluid between areas 111a-111d partitioned by the bulkheads and the vanes. On the other hand, the check valve opens when the rotor rotates in the reverse rotation direction, so as to allow movement of the viscous fluid between the areas 111a-111d. The pressure-regulating valve opens when rotating force applied for rotating the rotor in the normal rotation direction is above a predetermined value, to cancel the restriction of movement of the viscous fluid between the areas 111a-111d.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: OILES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiko Okimura, Naohiro Horita
  • Patent number: 8573605
    Abstract: An active suspension system for a vehicle including at least one fluid operated ram having a cylinder and a main piston mounted therein for reciprocating movement, control means for controlling an equilibrium position of the piston in the ram in response to lateral acceleration of the vehicle in order to counter the effects of body roll of the vehicle, and wherein the ram includes shock absorbing means for permitting rapid movement of the piston from the equilibrium position when operating fluid in the ram is subjected to transient increases in pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Inventor: Phillip Di Maria
  • Publication number: 20130264157
    Abstract: An adjustment-free cushioning air cylinder includes an air cylinder body, a piston, a first check valve, an upper air way, a second check valve and a lower air way. An air chamber is formed inside the air cylinder body. The piston slides in the air chamber. One end of the piston extends to the external of the air cylinder body. The piston does a reciprocating movement in the air chamber and divides the air chamber into an upper air chamber and a lower air chamber. The first check valve is disposed in the piston, one end of the first check valve is connected to the upper air chamber, and the other end is connected to the lower air chamber. The upper air way connects the upper air chamber with the outside. The adjustment-free cushioning air cylinder of the invention does not need to adjust the entering flow rate of the air, but the entering flow rate can be automatically adjusted to produce cushioning resistance as the user is walking according to the walking speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicants: MEDI GMBH & CO., KG, PRO LIMB INTERNATIONAL CORP.
    Inventor: Hsin-Fa SHEN
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8528708
    Abstract: An air damper is provided which can exhibit an appropriate braking force in accordance with an input load. There is provided an air damper including: a tubular cylinder 1 in which both end portions are opened; a piston 2 which moves within the cylinder 1; and a cap 3 which closes a one-end opening of the cylinder 1, wherein the cylinder 1 has an annular seal surface 4 formed on a circumferential surface of the one-end opening, wherein the cap is mounted on the one-end opening side of the cylinder 1 so as to be moveable or deformable along an axial direction of the cylinder 1, wherein the cap is brought into contact with or separated from the seal surface 4 in accordance with a pressure change due to a movement of the piston 2 within the cylinder 1, and wherein a first orifice 14 is opened in a base plate 12 of the cap, characterized in that: a second orifice having an inlet area smaller than the first orifice is defined between the cap 3 and the cylinder 1 during an operation of the first orifice 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Piolax Inc.
    Inventors: Takahiro Sakai, Tomoyoshi Ohnuki, Takao Nagai
  • Publication number: 20130192940
    Abstract: A tubular piston mounted at one end of a rod accommodated inside a cylinder and partitioning the space inside the cylinder includes first groove and second groove recessed from an outer circumferential surface thereof and aligned side by side along a centerline direction of the cylinder, and a communication passage communicating an end face on the side of an opening in the centerline direction of the cylinder with one of the two grooves (second groove) formed on the side of the opening. A rubber-made annular sealing member having an outer circumferential surface contacting an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder is fitted in the second groove. A resin-made restrictor ring that is a C-shaped member fitted in the first groove has an outer circumferential surface positioned closer to the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder than the outer circumferential surface of the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventor: SHOWA CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8474850
    Abstract: A lubricated guide unit is for a motorcycle fork tube that includes an outer tube and an inner tube telescopically slidable within the outer tube. The guide unit includes upper and lower sliding bushings axially spaced apart and disposed within a cavity of the outer tube and guide sliding movement of the inner tube. A first sealing device is mounted at an open end of the outer tube and seals against the outer surface of the inner tube. A second sealing device is mounted in the outer tube and seals against the outer surface of the inner tube. The second sealing device is axially spaced from the first sealing device such that a sealed, lubrication chamber is defined between the two sealing devices and the facing circumferential surfaces of the inner and outer tubes, the two bushings being disposed within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Roberto Pasino
  • Publication number: 20130161139
    Abstract: A damping cylinder (100) is provided. The damping cylinder (100) comprises a housing (101) and a piston cylinder (201) located within the housing (101). A piston rod (103) extends from the housing (101) and the piston cylinder (201). The damping cylinder (100) can also include a piston (203) coupled to the piston rod (103). The piston (203) is movable within the piston cylinder (201) and separates the piston cylinder (201) into a first fluid chamber (210) and a second fluid chamber (211). The damping cylinder (100) can further include a damping module (102) in fluid communication with the first and second fluid chambers (210, 211). The damping module (102) includes a pressure relief valve (221) configured to provide a first damping level and a directional control valve (222) configured to provide at least a second damping level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: Dieter Immler, Franz Hirschmann, Wolfgang Sedlacek
  • Publication number: 20130161138
    Abstract: A shock absorber having a valve controlling the flow rate of fluid between a compression chamber and a rebound chamber in a housing and separated by a piston. The valve has an orifice component and a blocker component, one of which has a permanent magnet, and the other of which has a magnetically permeable material. Upon the application of sufficient fluid pressure, the blocker component is forced away from the orifice component, despite the magnetic bias that tends to attract the two structures. Because the magnetic force decreases as the two components are spaced farther apart, the shock absorber has excellent performance characteristics. Alternatively, a mechanical spring urges the blocker closed, and magnetic attraction between the blocker and a spaced opener mitigates the increased force of the compressed spring tending to close the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Eko Sport, Inc.
    Inventor: Eko Sport, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8459418
    Abstract: A bicycle fork includes a pair of fork leg assemblies, each of the leg assemblies having an upper leg telescopingly engaged with a lower leg. A damping assembly is provided in at least one of the legs. The damping assembly includes lock-out and blow-off compression circuits. These compression circuits are externally adjustable without tools. Furthermore, these two compression circuits may be adjusted independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Becker, Brian Lampman
  • Patent number: 8447466
    Abstract: A method for controlling the pressure in a compressed-air accumulator of a level-control system of a motor vehicle utilizing a pressure-control apparatus constructed and arranged to adjust the accumulator pressure according to a predetermined index pressure value. The index pressure value is automatically determined by a computing device based on the relative level and/or the load of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Meier, Olaf Thielking
  • Publication number: 20130081912
    Abstract: In a hydraulic shock absorber 10, at least one of a first base piston 50 and a second base piston 60 is provided with a communication path 44 communicating an intermediate portion between a compression side damping valve 51 and a compression side check valve 52 which are provided in respective compression side flow paths 50A, 60B of the first and second base pistons 50, 60 with an oil reservoir chamber 32, and communicating an intermediate portion between an extension side damping valve 61 and an extension side check valve 62 which are provided in respective extension side flow paths 60A, 50B of the first and second base pistons 50, 60 with the oil reservoir chamber 32.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yosuke Murakami
  • Patent number: 8393447
    Abstract: A vibration damper includes a damping medium filled cylinder in which a piston rod carrying a working piston is guided with freedom of axial movement, the working piston dividing the cylinder into two working spaces. The piston rod forms a housing having an inside wall, the housing having first and second working chambers separated by a separating piston, the first working chamber being connected to one of the working spaces to provide amplitude selective damping as the working piston moves in the cylinder. The separating piston is spaced from the inside wall to form an annular gap in which a pressure gradient develops when the piston rod moves, thereby causing the separating piston to move in the housing, the separating piston being radially expandable to close the gap when sufficient pressure develops in one of the working chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichafen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Breun, Marcus Kirchner, Hans Gonschorrek, Valentin Harwardt
  • Publication number: 20130048452
    Abstract: In a front fork, a throttle flow path is provided between a hole which is provided in an inner tube and is communicated with an annular gap chamber, and a lower oil chamber in an outer periphery of a hollow pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu NAGAI, Kazuhiko MIWA
  • Patent number: 8282086
    Abstract: There is provided a vibration isolator in which a restriction passage for causing a main fluid chamber and a sub-fluid chamber to communicate with each other is changed over to one of a first restriction passage and a second restriction passage according to a change in the frequency of vibrations in a short period of time, and the size of the isolator is made small efficiently. A plunger member 78 closes an orifice opening 74 when being moved to a closing position against the urging force of a coil spring 90 by the fluid pressure in a pressurization space 130, and opens the orifice opening 74 when being returned to an opening position by the urging force of the coil spring 90. For the orifice opening 74, the opening ratio R between the transverse opening width along the axial direction and the longitudinal opening width along the circumferential direction is set in the range of 2?R?25, further preferably 5?R?20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Ueki
  • Publication number: 20120247890
    Abstract: In a hydraulic shock absorber, a damping force generating device provided between a piston side oil chamber of a cylinder and a rod side oil chamber is provided with a through-hole which communicates the piston side oil chamber of the cylinder with the rod side oil chamber of the cylinder via an outer flow path of the cylinder. A leading end portion of a piston rod is provided with a needle which can come in and out of the through-hole of the damping force generating device, and an opening degree of the through-hole can be varied by the needle according to a forward and backward position of the piston rod with respect to the oil chamber of the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yosuke MURAKAMI
  • Patent number: 8256587
    Abstract: A shock absorber for use in lowering a structure in a body of sea water. The shock absorber includes a cylinder with a piston arranged slidably therein, said piston having a piston rod which in use extends downwards out of the cylinder, wherein at least one chamber in the cylinder above the piston is fillable with a fluid and is provided with means for controlled exiting of the fluid from the chamber when the piston rod is subjected to an impact force which presses the piston inwards in the chamber. Said fluid is water deliverable from the body of sea water to said chamber through a valve device having a one-way function in the piston, and the piston and the piston rod alone have sufficient weight to pull the piston down and provide renewed filling of the chamber with water when the impact force has ceased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: EAB Engineering AS
    Inventor: Harald Bakke
  • Patent number: 8220602
    Abstract: Damping movement device of pieces of furniture which are movable relative to stationary parts. The device has a cylinder with a piston movable in a longitudinal direction, forming a modifiable working chamber filled with liquid medium. The liquid medium is transferred in a throttled manner. A piston rod is sealingly guided and connected to one side of the piston. The movement of the parts of furniture which is to be damped is transmitted to the piston via the outer end of the piston rod facing away from the piston. A volume compensating mechanism is provided. The piston rod is coupled to the piston with overflow ports. The non-return disk with overflow port is moved into sealing contact with the facing piston face. A spring biasing the facing faces of the non-return disk and the piston into the spaced-apart position is arranged between the non-return disk and the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Alfit AG
    Inventor: Guenter Grabher
  • Patent number: 8210330
    Abstract: A gas damper includes a gas pressurized working chamber and valving within the piston to control flow of the gas through the piston. A system is in communication with the working chamber to control the gas pressure within the working chamber in order to control the damping characteristics of the damper. An electronic control unit is utilized to control the opening and closing of the valving within the piston to also control the damping characteristics of the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventor: Bart Vandewal
  • Publication number: 20120160622
    Abstract: A shock absorber having a valve controlling the flow rate of fluid between a compression chamber and a rebound chamber in a housing and separated by a piston. The valve has an orifice component and a blocker component, one of which has a permanent magnet, and the other of which has a magnetically permeable material. Upon the application of sufficient fluid pressure, the blocker component is forced away from the orifice component, despite the magnetic bias that tends to attract the two structures. Because the magnetic force decreases as the two components are spaced farther apart, the shock absorber has excellent performance characteristics. Alternatively, a mechanical spring urges the blocker closed, and magnetic attraction between the blocker and a spaced opener mitigates the increased force of the compressed spring tending to close the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: EKO SPORT, INC.
    Inventor: Darek C. Barefoot