With Valve Controlling Fluid Flow Between Chambers Or Compartments Of The Chamber Patents (Class 188/313)
  • Patent number: 11960801
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for calculating a pressure loss of a parallel R-type automobile vibration damper. The automobile vibration damper includes a frame, a spring, an axle, a hydraulic cylinder, an upper oil tank, a piston, a lower oil tank, and a resistance adjustment section. The resistance adjustment section is composed of 4 capillaries connected in parallel and solenoid valves. The four capillaries are all coiled into an M shape. The 4 capillaries are R8, R4, R2, and R1 and are connected in series with solenoid valves VR8, VR4, VR2, VR1, respectively. Due to the viscous effect of oily liquid in the cylinder, when the oily liquid flows through the resistance adjustment section, damping can be adjusted by adjusting the configurations SRn of the solenoid valves VR8, VR4, VR2, and VR1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SOUTH CHINA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Qiang Rong
  • Patent number: 11933330
    Abstract: A pneumatic hydraulic retractable device includes a fluid pressure cylinder having a cylinder body and a plug seat disposed in the cylinder body, a piston rod movably disposed in the fluid pressure cylinder, a control valve set having a valve seat disposed at the piston rod and forms an upper fluid chamber and a lower fluid chamber with the cylinder body therebetween, and a valve rod disposed in the valve seat for controlling communication between the upper and lower fluid chambers, and a pressure relief element forming a pressure relief gap with the piston rod. The pressure relief gap communicates with the lower fluid chamber through a communication portion of the pressure relief element. As such, when the valve rod is opened, the fluid is allowed to flow between the lower fluid chamber and the pressure relief gap through the communication portion for reducing airtight effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: J.D COMPONENTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pin-Chieh Feng, Nien-Teng Kuo
  • Patent number: 11802604
    Abstract: A gas spring and damper assembly includes a damper assembly and a gas spring assembly. The gas spring assembly is axially coextensive with the damper assembly and includes a flexible spring member, a first end member assembly and a second end member assembly. The first end member assembly includes a first wall portion that extends about a longitudinal axis and defines an end member chamber. A second wall portion projects outwardly beyond an outer peripheral surface portion of the first wall portion. The second wall portion at least partially defines an intermediate chamber in fluid communication with the end member chamber and is dimensioned to receive an associated control device. A third wall portion at least partially defines an end member passage through which the end member chamber can be selectively placed in fluid communication with the spring chamber by way of the intermediate chamber and the associated control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventors: Jan van Aartsen, Joseph A. Bounds
  • Patent number: 11661992
    Abstract: A damping valve for a hydraulic damper (D) comprises a valve housing comprising an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber. A housing valve seat is arranged between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber. A valve element having a cylindrical first portion is slidably received in a cylindrical bore of the valve housing and a second portion has a valve surface for selectively engaging and disengaging the housing valve seat to allow passage of hydraulic fluid between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber. A spring element is mounted within the valve housing for biasing the valve element into engagement with the housing valve seat. The bore of the valve housing has a closed end defining a bore chamber between an end of the first portion of the valve element and the closed end of the bore. A first passage provides fluid communication between the bore chamber and the inlet chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zbigniew Jáskiewicz, Mateusz Wnuczko
  • Patent number: 11230155
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a suspension apparatus, includes: a vehicle speed acquiring section which acquires a vehicle speed as a speed of a vehicle; an acquisition section which acquires a stroke velocity of the suspension apparatus; a contribution ratio determining section which determines a contribution ratio between a first parameter and a second parameter based on the vehicle speed, the first parameter serving for controlling a damping force in a first speed region of the vehicle, the second parameter serving for controlling the damping force in a second speed region which is a speed region higher in speed than the first speed region; a change amount restricting section which restricts a change amount of the contribution ratio; and a damping force controlling section which controls the damping force of the suspension apparatus based on the restricted contribution ratio and the stroke velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventor: Masato Tokuhara
  • Patent number: 11186360
    Abstract: Methods of retracting a strut assembly for stowing aircraft landing gear comprise longitudinally translating an upper bulkhead within an upper tubular housing from a lower position to an upper position by pressurizing an upper bulkhead space between an upper plate of the upper bulkhead and an upper bulkhead restriction structure that is fixed to the upper tubular housing. Other methods of retracting a strut assembly for stowing aircraft landing gear comprise flowing liquid from an upper liquid chamber positioned above an upper bulkhead within an upper tubular housing to a recoil chamber, wherein during the flowing, the liquid is prevented from passing from the recoil chamber to a pressure chamber that is defined between the upper bulkhead and a lower bulkhead, thereby longitudinally translating a lower tubular housing upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Justin Duane Cottet, James E. Cusworth, Malcolm Scott Bryant, George Sonnenburg
  • Patent number: 11104198
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes an inner cylinder electrode sealingly containing electrorheological fluid therein, a piston slidably inserted in the inner cylinder electrode, and a relief valve provided on the piston and configured to relieve an actual damping force according to a desired value. The controller includes an instruction value calculation portion configured to determine a high-voltage instruction value to output to the shock absorber based on a detection value output from a sprung acceleration sensor and an unsprung acceleration sensor. The electrorheological fluid has such a characteristic that an actual damping force value output according to the instruction value output from the instruction value calculation portion increases when a temperature is low compared to when the temperature is high. The relief valve and the high-voltage instruction value are set based on the actual damping force value that output when the temperature is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Yamahata, Nobuyuki Ichimaru, Ryusuke Hirao
  • Patent number: 10995815
    Abstract: A damper system for a vehicle including a pressure tube, piston assembly, and stroke dependent damper assembly. The stroke dependent damper assembly is coupled to a piston rod at a position below the piston assembly. The stroke dependent damper assembly includes a disc chamber that slidably receives a flexible floating disc. The disc chamber has proximal and distal chamber surfaces, which can include holes. The flexible floating disc is moveable between a first position where it contacts the proximal chamber surface and a second position where it contacts the distal chamber surface. The proximal chamber surface defines a proximal tapered cavity and the distal chamber surface defines a distal tapered cavity. The flexible floating disc is resilient and can flex into the proximal tapered cavity or the distal tapered cavity when it makes contact with the proximal chamber surface or the distal chamber surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Jelle Van De Plas, Ioannis Trikalinos, Werner Bosmans, Frederic Baldoni
  • Patent number: 10995814
    Abstract: A damper valve (100) comprises a controlled flow channel (115) between a valve inlet side (100.1) and a valve outlet side (100.2); a controlled valve (130) provided in the controlled flow channel; a movable valve body (120) acting on the controlled valve so as to change a closing force of the controlled valve; and a control chamber (126). The control chamber comprises a control chamber inlet (125) in fluid connection with the valve inlet side (100.1) upstream of the controlled valve (130); a configuration providing a variable volume of the control chamber, a change in volume of the control chamber acting to cause a movement of the movable valve body (120); and a pressure relief valve (160) to allow a relief fluid flow from the control chamber (126) to the valve inlet side (100.1) bypassing the flow restriction (160.1) of the control chamber inlet (125).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Patent number: 10962081
    Abstract: A damper includes a pressure tube and a piston defining a rebound chamber and a compression chamber within the pressure tube. The damper further includes an adapter attached to the pressure tube. The damper includes a retainer slidably disposed within the pressure tube. The retainer and the adapter define an end chamber therebetween within the pressure tube. The damper also includes a cup movably disposed within the pressure tube between the retainer and the adapter. The damper further includes a tubular member disposed adjacent to the cup and attached to the adapter. The tubular member includes at least one through aperture. The damper includes a base valve attached to the adapter. The damper also includes a first spring disposed between the retainer and the cup and a second spring disposed between cup and the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Shivanand Sankaran, Wojciech Weglorz
  • Patent number: 10940732
    Abstract: An adjustment control for adjusting a damping curve of a shock absorber includes an aperture seat coupled to a base of the shock absorber. The aperture seat defines a flow tube. A plug, in mechanical communication with a spring, slidably engages the flow tube. A plug nut is threadably coupled to an adjustment nut shaft stud and is in mechanical communication with the spring. An adjustment nut is coupled to the base. The adjustment nut has a non-circular cavity to receive at least a portion of the adjustment nut shaft stud and at least a portion of the non-circular region of the plug nut such that the plug nut cannot rotate relative to the non-circular cavity of the adjustment nut. An adjustment knob causes rotation of the adjustment nut shaft stud. The rotation of the adjustment nut shaft stud causes axial movement of the plug nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: VIKING PERFORMANCE, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher J. King, Jacob A. Neuman
  • Patent number: 10858791
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multipurpose viscous damper (100), comprising: an outer cylinder (101); a core rod (102) positioned in the outer cylinder (101); a core piston (103) positioned in the middle and surrounded the core rod (102); a plurality of bypass pipes (104) extending along the outer cylinder (101), each bypass pipe (104) being connected to the outer cylinder (101) adjacent to the two ends of the outer cylinder (101); an orifice controller (105) located on the bypass pipes (104) for providing initial adjustable damping during low to moderate vibration; and characterized by a pair of inner cylinders (106) positioned inside the two ends of the core rod (102); an inner piston (107) positioned in each inner cylinder (106); a fixed sealing (108) located at the two end of each of the inner cylinders (106); and an orifice (109) located at the two ends of the inner cylinder (106) for allowing fluid flowing from the inner cylinder (106) to the outer cylinder (101) during movement of inner piston (10
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Universiti Putra Malaysia
    Inventors: Farzad Hejazi, Mohd Saleh Bin Jaafar, Mehdi Mohammadi
  • Patent number: 10626747
    Abstract: There is disclosed a variable vane actuation arrangement 100, 200 comprising a crankshaft 48, 148 comprising a crank web 50,150 and a unison ring assembly 45 comprising a unison ring 34 moveable to vary the pitch of a plurality of variable vanes 26. A connector 42 is fixed with respect to the unison ring 34. The crank web 50, 150 and the connector 42 cooperate by a pin 56—slot 52, 152 mechanism configured so that rotation of the crankshaft 48, 148 causes rotation of the unison ring 34. There is further disclosed a gas turbine engine with a variable vane actuation arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Neelambaran Karapurath
  • Patent number: 10612619
    Abstract: A damper valve includes a controlled flow channel between a valve inlet side and a valve outlet side; a controlled valve provided in the controlled flow channel; a movable valve body acting on the controlled valve so as to change a closing force of the controlled valve; and a control chamber. The control chamber includes a control chamber inlet in fluid connection with the valve inlet side upstream of the controlled valve; a configuration providing a variable volume of the control chamber, a change in volume of the control chamber acting to cause a movement of the movable valve body; and a pressure relief valve to allow a relief fluid flow from the control chamber to the valve inlet side bypassing the flow restriction of the control chamber inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Patent number: 10570968
    Abstract: A clutch regulator for vehicle comprises a main body provided with an oil passage inside thereof; an opening and closing member provided inside of the main body in a slide manner to open and close the oil passage; an elastic member configured to elastically press the opening and closing member toward the oil passage side; and a plug member installed in the main body to support the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Yonghee Kim
  • Patent number: 10443671
    Abstract: A damper assembly with a bypass for a vehicle comprises a pressure cylinder with a piston and piston rod for limiting the flow rate of damping fluid as it passes from a first to a second side of said piston. A bypass provides fluid pathway between the first and second sides of the piston separately from the flow rate limitation. In one aspect, the bypass is remotely controllable from a passenger compartment of the vehicle. In another aspect, the bypass is remotely controllable based upon one or more variable parameters associated with the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John Marking
  • Patent number: 10370097
    Abstract: A rotor blade system includes a hub assembly pivotally attached to a rotor blade, a mast attached to the hub assembly, and a swashplate engaged with the mast, the swashplate includes a non-rotating ring and a rotating ring. The method to raise the swashplate includes using an anti-drive link system pivotally engaged with a transmission top case and pivotally engaged with the non-rotating ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Jason L. Hoyle, Frank B. Stamps
  • Patent number: 10266256
    Abstract: A monitoring system for a dual-stage, pressure-activated, mixed fluid gas shock strut, may comprise a controller, and a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the controller, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the controller, cause the controller to perform operations comprising receiving, by the controller, a primary chamber temperature sensor reading, receiving, by the controller, a primary chamber pressure sensor reading, receiving, by the controller, a shock strut stroke sensor reading, and calculating, by the controller, an oil volume in a primary chamber of the shock strut. The instructions may cause the controller to perform further operations comprising calculating, by the controller, a number of moles of gas in a primary chamber of the shock strut and calculating, by the controller, a number of moles of gas in a secondary chamber of the shock strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Amir Fazeli, Adnan Cepic, Susanne M. Reber
  • Patent number: 10160279
    Abstract: A hydraulic actuator assembly is configured to receive a pressurized fluid from a pump. The hydraulic actuator assembly includes a housing and a piston arranged concentrically with respect to a longitudinal axis, wherein the housing is configured to receive a first portion of the pressurized fluid to displace the piston relative to the housing. The hydraulic actuator assembly also includes a sleeve arranged concentrically with respect to the housing and to the piston, and configured to restrain the piston relative to the housing and receive a second portion of the pressurized fluid from the pump to selectively release the piston. A vehicle including a suspension corner connecting the vehicle's road wheel to the vehicle's body, the fluid pump, and the subject hydraulic actuator assembly to change the vehicle's ride height at the suspension corner is also disclosed. The vehicle may also include a controller configured to control the actuator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Najmuddin Khaja, Brian D. Christoff, Joshua T. Cyrul
  • Patent number: 10160511
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper is described. The vehicle suspension damper includes a primary valve and a pilot valve assembly. The pilot valve assembly includes an adjustable pilot spool configured for controlling a pressure inside the primary valve. The vehicle suspension damper further includes an externally-adjustable adjuster, wherein the pilot valve assembly meters fluid to the primary valve, and movement of the externally-adjustable adjuster varies an effective orifice size of the adjustable pilot spool. The vehicle suspension damper further includes a set of shims coupled to the primary valve, wherein a position of the adjustable pilot spool corresponds to an increase of pressure inside the primary valve and an increase of an axial force on the set of shims by said primary valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Everet Ericksen, Robert C. Fox, David Batterbee, John Marking
  • Patent number: 9982739
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a cylinder; a piston movable therein and dividing the cylinder in first and second cylinder chambers; a cylinder attachment for attachment to a first part of a vehicle and connected to the cylinder; and a piston attachment for attachment to a second part of a vehicle and connected to the piston. The piston attachment and cylinder attachment move towards one another on an inward movement and away from one another on an outward movement. The piston includes a first inward channel; a first inward valve to open the first inward channel on inward movement; a first outward channel; a first outward valve to open the first outward channel on outward movement; a second inward channel; a second inward valve to open the second inward channel on inward movement; a second outward channel; and a second outward valve to open the second outward channel on outward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Patent number: 9902460
    Abstract: A chassis controller controls a shock absorber of a bicycle for spring-assisted damping of a relative movement between a first and a second connecting unit. A damper device and a spring device absorb shocks between the connecting units. A sensor device acquires measurement data relating to a relative movement of the connecting units. A control device controls the shock absorber. The sensor device has a scaling device connected to one of the connecting units and the sensor device extends over a measuring section in a direction of movement of the relative movement. The scaling device has a structure with magnetic properties that repeat periodically over the measuring section. The sensor device has a detector head which interacts with the scaling device, is connected to the other of the connecting units and determines a position of the shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: DT Swiss Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Walthert, Valentin Wendel, Gernot Elsensohn, Juergen Poesel
  • Patent number: 9764832
    Abstract: A rotor blade system includes a hub assembly pivotally attached to a rotor blade, a mast attached to the hub assembly, and a swashplate engaged with the mast, the swashplate includes a non-rotating ring and a rotating ring. The method to raise the swashplate includes using an anti-drive link system pivotally engaged with a transmission top case and pivotally engaged with the non-rotating ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Jason L. Hoyle, Frank B. Stamps
  • Patent number: 9714093
    Abstract: A tie rod assembly which includes a first rod member and an enclosure which defines an opening and contains a fluid with the first rod member affixed to the enclosure. A second rod member extends through the opening with a seal member positioned between the second rod member and the enclosure. The assembly also includes a head member affixed to the second rod member wherein the head member is positioned within the enclosure and the head member and the second rod member are moveable relative to the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Nathanial Cuddy, Harold Erickson, Randy Garcia, Benjamin Tegge
  • Patent number: 9616728
    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: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John Marking
  • Patent number: 9476476
    Abstract: A shock absorber including a cylindrical outer shell and a piston rod slidably inserted into the outer shell, the shock absorber includes a cylindrical dust cover coupled to the piston rod and permitting an entry of the outer shell to inside thereof; and an annular dust filter whose inner peripheral side is attached to the outer shell and whose outer periphery is brought into slidable contact with an inner periphery of the dust cover at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Takeo
  • Patent number: 9291230
    Abstract: A damper assembly for a vehicle suspension system includes a primary damper and a secondary damper coupled to the primary damper. The secondary damper includes a housing, a piston, a conduit, and a valve. The housing includes a sidewall that defines a set of apertures and at least partially surrounds the primary damper, and the volume between the sidewall and the primary damper defines a damping chamber. The piston is positioned within the damping chamber and is slidably coupled to the sidewall. The conduit forms a flow path between the set of apertures, and the valve is disposed along the flow path. The primary damper provides a base damping force, and the secondary damper provides a supplemental damping force that varies based on the position of the piston along the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Erik S. Ellifson, Patrick S. Dillman, Jason J. Zuleger, Aaron J. Rositch, Robert K. Sollenskog
  • Patent number: 9267568
    Abstract: At least one of fluid paths of a shock absorber is a bypass path including: a one-side opening opened to a chamber in one side; the other-side opening opened to a chamber in the other side; a one-side shaft member fluid path that is connected to the one-side opening and passes through an inner side of the shaft member; the other-side shaft member fluid path that is connected to the other-side opening and passes through the inner side of the shaft member; and a support member fluid path formed inside the support member to connect the one-side shaft member fluid path and the other-side shaft member fluid path. The valves provided in the bypass path are housed in the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: KYB CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9228632
    Abstract: Provided is a damping force variable shock absorber in which an additional valve is installed in a rod guide so as to implement performance that could not be implemented by a main valve. The damping force variable shock absorber includes: a base shell in which a damping force variable valve assembly is attached to an outside thereof; an inner tube which is installed inside the base shell and in which a piston rod is installed to be movable in a length direction; a piston valve which is connected to one end of the piston rod to partition an internal space of the inner tube into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber; a separator tube which is installed to partition a space between the base shell and the inner tube into a low-pressure chamber and a high-pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kwang Su Lee
  • Patent number: 9120362
    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: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John Marking
  • Patent number: 9103402
    Abstract: A shock absorber is provided. A first piston, a pilot valve, a second piston, and a rebound retainer are sequentially connected to a piston rod reciprocating within a cylinder. An upper portion of the second piston is provided inside the first piston. Due to a first compression chamber formed in the first piston, a second compression chamber formed in the second piston, a third compression chamber formed between the first piston and the second piston, and a fourth compression chamber formed in the rebound retainer, it is possible to improve a ride comfort by reducing a damping force over periods from an ultra-low-speed period to a high-speed period and it is possible to achieve the compact configuration and the cost reduction by reducing the overall length of the processing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hark Joo Kim, Tae Ju Kim, Jun Hyuk Lim
  • Publication number: 20150145188
    Abstract: A multi-stage shock absorber with closed ends has a plurality of tubular shock bodies telescopically interconnected together, and includes a piston arrangement slidably mounted within certain of the shock bodies to define a number of chambers variously containing damping and/or spring elements for enabling damping of shock forces applied to the shock absorber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: GREAT LAKES SOUND & VIBRATION, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Polakowski, Christian Michael Muehlfeld, Steven G. Mattson, David Labyak
  • Patent number: 9033122
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper is described. The vehicle suspension damper includes: a pilot valve assembly; a primary valve; and an adjuster, wherein the pilot valve assembly meters fluid to the primary valve, and the adjuster moves the primary valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Everet Ericksen, Robert C. Fox, David Batterbee, John Marking
  • Publication number: 20150129380
    Abstract: A hydraulic damper device includes a cylinder unit including a cylinder body having an inner surface and a plug, and a piston unit including a piston, a piston rod and a valve member. The piston defines an annular groove. The valve member is disposed movably in the annular groove. The piston cooperates with the inner surface to define a valve opening and a valve seat. The valve seat has a truncated conical surface. The valve member is movable between a closing position, in which the valve member covers sealingly the valve opening and abuts against the truncated conical surface, and an opening position, in which the valve member is spaced apart from the truncated conical surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Chung-Hsing WU
  • Publication number: 20150129381
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to cam operated shock absorber damper systems for use with landing gear. The cam operated shock absorber damper systems may comprise a cylinder and a piston mounted to slide telescopically in the cylinder and a snubber ring comprising rebounding orifices and compression orifices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Adam J. Ditzler
  • Patent number: 9022186
    Abstract: A damping force generator for a hydraulic shock absorber featuring an increased deflection (bending) characteristic of a damping valve to widen the adjustable range of a damping force. In a damping force generator (70) for a hydraulic shock absorber, the damping valve (80) undergoes deflections with boundaries (71C) between secured portions (71A) and recessed portions (71B) of the valve seat (71) as supporting points K, and inner and outer peripheries of the damping valve (80) are disposed on an outside of line segments L each connecting two circumferentially adjacent supporting points K, K of the valve seat (71).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Murakami, Kazuhiro Miwa
  • Patent number: 9010504
    Abstract: A damper includes a pressure-sensitive damping control circuit that selectively permits fluid flow from a first chamber to a second chamber. A piston varies a volume of the first chamber. A blow-off piston is movable between a closed position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is substantially prevented, and an open position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is permitted. The damper also includes a first source of pressure. A fluid pressure created by compression of the damper applies an opening force to the blow-off piston moving the blow-off piston in a direction toward the open position against a resistance force provided by the first source of pressure. The resistance force exceeds the opening force until the pressure created by forces tending to insert the piston rod into the first fluid chamber exceeds the pressure in the first source of pressure by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Dustin F. Janes
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150096853
    Abstract: A suspension apparatus includes: a cylindrical outer tube; an inner tube a piston rod of which one end portion retains a piston; and a partition wall member that is mounted to an upper end portion of the inner tube to define an upper end portion of an annular oil chamber, that has a bowl portion, and that divides a space inside the inner tube into an inner space and an outer space of the bowl portion, in which the partition wall member divides the outer space into a gap space and a space other than the gap space, a through-hole is formed in the partition wall member, and at least one of the partition wall member and the inner tube is provided with a communication path through which an upper portion of the annular oil chamber communicates with the gap space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kojiro YOSHIDA, Masao SHIMASAKI, Tatsuya TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20150096854
    Abstract: A piston and cylinder type damper is provided having a cylinder (12) with a piston assembly (10) which is mounted for reciprocal linear movement therein. The piston assembly (10) divides the cylinder (12) into separate chambers with a restricted flow path extending therebetween for passage of damping fluid contained within it. A piston rod (11) is mounted for linear reciprocal movement with respect to the cylinder (12) and is arranged to engage the piston assembly (10) with abutting contact. The contact between the piston rod (11) and piston assembly (10) is arranged to be remote from the restricted flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Valter Svara, Danijel Kozlovic, David Pecar
  • Publication number: 20150090549
    Abstract: A shock absorber is provided having a housing, an inner tube, a piston rod, a piston which divides the interior of the inner tube into a lower chamber and an upper chamber, a first valve arrangement on the piston, a second valve arrangement at the upper end of the inner tube, and a third valve arrangement at the lower end of the inner tube. The shock absorber includes a first connection element on the lower chamber of the inner tube and a second connection element on the upper chamber of the inner tube, to connect a means for controlling the flow resistance of the working medium in the first valve arrangement and an ascending pipe which projects into the working medium received in the housing and by which working medium can be transferred from the housing acting as a tank into the upper chamber of the inner tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Erwin HALLER
  • Patent number: 8978845
    Abstract: A frequency/pressure sensitive shock absorber for generating a damping force varying according to a frequency and a pressure-includes: a cylinder filled with a working fluid; a piston rod having one end located inside the cylinder and the other end extending outward from the cylinder; a main piston valve assembly installed at one end of the piston rod and configured to operate in a state that the inside of the cylinder is divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, and generate a damping force varying according to a moving speed; and a sensitive unit installed at one end of the piston rod under the main piston valve assembly and configured to generate a damping force varying according to a frequency and a pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Tae Ju Kim
  • Publication number: 20150053518
    Abstract: A shock absorber has a pressure tube with a piston assembly slidably disposed within the pressure tube and attached to a piston rod. The piston assembly divides the pressure tube into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. The piston assembly includes a frequency dependent valve assembly attached to the piston rod which defines a housing attached to the piston rod and a spool valve assembly. The spool valve assembly includes a spool valve and a bypass valve assembly that controls fluid flow through bypass passage that bypasses the piston assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Mark NOWACZYK, Gunther BISMANS
  • Publication number: 20150047936
    Abstract: A hydraulic damper (2) includes a slidable piston assembly (4) attached to a piston rod (6) to form at least one valve assembly of the damper. The damper further includes at least one chamber in which a slidable partition assembly (54) separates this chamber into an additional compression chamber (101) hydraulically connected with a main compression chamber (10) and an additional rebound chamber (91) hydraulically connected with a main rebound chamber (9, 09). The slidable partition assembly (54) comprises a piston (541) making a sliding fit with an inner surface of the chamber and at least one spring (543) supporting the piston (541). The slidable partition assembly (54) additionally comprises at least one internal piston (542) disposed slidably within the external piston (541) and supported by an internal spring (544) disposed between the internal piston (542) and the external piston (541).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: BEIJING WEST INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pawel Slusarczyk, Janusz Goldasz, Zbigniew Szklarz
  • Publication number: 20150041264
    Abstract: A hydraulic damper (2) comprises a tube (3) filled with working liquid, inside of which a slidable piston assembly (4) is attached to a piston rod (6) and provided with at least one valve assembly (43) to control the flow of working liquid passing through the piston assembly (4) during rebound and compression stroke of the damper. The valve assembly (4) contains a floating disc valve (431) and additionally comprises a unidirectional check valve disc (436) disposed serially with the floating disc valve (431) across the passage of the flow of working liquid during compression or rebound stroke of the damper (2). Preferably the piston assembly (4) forms a symmetrical cross-flow arrangement and preferably the at least one valve assembly includes compression (43a) and rebound (43b) valve assemblies of the piston assembly (4) which each have the same constructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: BEIJINGWEST INDUSTRIES, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Janusz Goldasz, Zbigniew Szklarz, Waldemar Widla
  • Publication number: 20150027829
    Abstract: A shock absorber has a pressure tube with a piston assembly slidably disposed within the pressure tube and attached to a piston rod. The piston assembly divides the pressure tube into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. The piston assembly includes a frequency dependent valve assembly attached to the piston rod which defines a housing attached to the piston rod and a piston disposed within the housing. The piston moves within the housing to control the fluid flow through a bypass fluid passage that bypasses the piston assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
    Inventors: Mark NOWACZYK, Gunther BISMANS
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140353097
    Abstract: A frequency sensitive type shock absorber is provided. A housing has a bypass hole formed such that an upper portion of a chamber part is opened to connect to the opening, and a lower portion of the chamber part communicates with the compression chamber. A spool is formed within the chamber part and is elevated by a fluid flowing into the chamber part. A pair of partition members partitions the chamber part into upper and lower chambers and provides a restoring force to the spool. A guide member is formed between the pair of the partition members, has a elastic force, and guides the partition members to maintain positions thereof. A pair of elastic members is formed in the upper and lower chambers to prevent a fluid from penetrating between the pair of the partition members and the side of the chamber part, and assist a restoration of the partition members by elasticity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hark Joo KIM, Tae Ju KIM
  • Publication number: 20140353098
    Abstract: An example method for operating a lockable damper includes moving a valve assembly together with a piston assembly between a retracted position and an extended position relative to a tube, the moving unassisted by the lockable damper. The method includes communicating a flow of hydraulic fluid through the valve assembly to damp the moving, and restricting the flow of hydraulic fluid through the valve assembly to limit the moving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Mark Manuel, Jon Roever
  • Patent number: 8899560
    Abstract: A springless combination shock absorber and suspension apparatus comprising three tubes: An outer tube, a piston tube (inner tube) and a stationary (damping) tube, with a floating piston disposed in the inner piston tube, wherein the floating piston forms two chambers therein, a lower liquid chamber and an upper gas chamber. Fluid dampens shocks by passing through a two-way valve in the outer tube and may be controlled internally by a shim plate positioned over apertures or valve passageways, or, in a separate embodiment, by external adjustment of flow by rotating adjusting plates to open and close the valve passageways. The amount by which the gas chamber is reduced in compression is large enough to generate the high pressures required to produce spring-like forces. This design allows the gas pressure chamber to operate effectively as a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Elite Suspension Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Mark M. Allen, Nicholas C. Giannopoulos