Annular Reservoir Patents (Class 188/315)
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Patent number: 7431134Abstract: The invention relates to a gas spring which uses a compensating medium acting on a compensating piston in order to compensate the dependence on temperature of its characteristic. According to a first aspect of the invention, a compensating medium (16M) is selected whereof the critical temperature (TK) is between the lower limit temperature (Tlower) and a temperature exceeding the upper limit temperature (Tupper) of the range of operating temperatures of the gas spring (50) by up to 100° C., and the gas spring (50) is designed such that, at an operating temperature (TB) of the gas spring (50) not exceeding the critical temperature (TK) of the compensating medium (16M), the point indicating the state of the compensating medium (16M) lies on or above the vapor pressure curve.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2006Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: STABILUS GmbHInventors: Holger Ansel, Meik Broeder, Stefan Bonnekessel, Stephan Enders, Alexander Koehl, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Marc Nadler, Willi Nieratschker, Rainer Sauer
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Publication number: 20080230335Abstract: A front fork comprises a telescopic tube (1, 32) in which a damper cylinder (3) generates a damping force. The damper cylinder (3) comprises a guide sleeve (4) and a free piston (6) having an inner circumference which slides on the outer circumference of the guide sleeve (4) and an outer circumference which slides on the inner circumference of the damper cylinder (3). A lateral through-hole (11) formed in the guide sleeve (4) connects an auxiliary reservoir (R3) formed outside the damper cylinder (3) and an oil reservoir (R2) via a flow path (12) formed in the guide sleeve (4) according to the displacement position of the free piston (6), thereby reducing the number of seal members required to be fitted on the outer circumference of the free piston (6) and enabling the free piston (6) to slide smoothly even when the telescopic tube (1, 32) suffers a bending force.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2008Publication date: September 25, 2008Applicant: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventors: Ken Furuya, Kiyoshi Kubo
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Patent number: 7422199Abstract: Self-pumping hydropneumatic suspension strut unit with internal level control, with an oil-filled working cylinder subject to the pressure of gas cushions and with a damping piston, which is free to slide inside the cylinder and is mounted at the end of a hollow piston rod, the cavity of which serves as a pump cylinder for a pump rod attached to the working cylinder. Oil is drawn from a reservoir space when the piston rod travels outward, whereas the oil is conveyed into the working space when the piston rod travels inward. The pump rod passes through the end wall of the working space and is held axially in position by an end-mounted disk formed as a Belleville washer, which acts as a universal joint for the rod. The disk engages in a groove in the pump rod and is held in place by its outer circumference axially between the working cylinder and the end wall of the working cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2005Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Hubert Beck, Werner Kuchheuser
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Patent number: 7364142Abstract: Spring strut unit for suspension systems of motor vehicles with a fastening connection on the body side and another fastening connection on the wheel side; with a helical spring supported between the body and the wheel; and with a vibration damper installed between the body-side fastening connection and the wheel-side fastening connection. The vibration damper includes a working cylinder, a damping piston attached to a piston rod, damping valves installed in the damping piston, and a compensating space. The helical spring can be pretensioned by a ring-shaped cylinder, which can be actuated by a hydraulic medium. A pump rod is mounted in a permanent axial position in the working cylinder of the vibration damper and cooperates with a cavity in the piston rod to form a pump space.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Hubert Beck
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Patent number: 7357232Abstract: In an inverted type front fork in a two-wheeled motor vehicle or the like, a stopper plate having a through hole formed in a center portion is fitted to an inner periphery of an upper end portion of an inner tube. A rod attached to an outer tube is inserted into the inner tube via the through hole of the stopper plate. A spring seat supporting an upper end portion of a suspension spring is provided in a end portion of the rod. A rebound spring is interposed between the spring seat and the stopper plate. A plurality of connecting holes connecting upper and lower air chambers locating above and below the stopper plate are formed in an outer peripheral portion of the stopper plate, and a flow path connecting the upper and lower air chambers locating above and below the stopper plate is formed within the rod.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2005Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Showa CorporationInventor: Nobuaki Fujita
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Patent number: 7347307Abstract: A variable damper assembly (10) includes a cylinder head (42) with multiple valves (50) selectively blocking corresponding flow paths (54) to provide multiple dampening rates. Hydraulic fluid passing through flow paths (54) within the cylinder head (42) are selectively opened and closed to provide a desired dampening rate. The cylinder head (42) includes an upper part (44) and a lower part (46). The valves (50) are mounted within the upper part (44) of the cylinder head (42). Each of the valves (50) includes a plunger (56) extending into flow passages (54) defined within the lower part (46) of the cylinder head (42). Actuation of the valves (50) within the cylinder head (42) selectively opens and closes specific flow paths (54) within the lower part (46) of the cylinder head (42) to control the flow of fluid between upper and lower portions (14,16) of a dampening chamber (12).Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2003Date of Patent: March 25, 2008Assignee: Arvin TechnologiesInventor: Fabrice Joly
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Publication number: 20080053764Abstract: A front fork including an axle side tube, an axle bracket connected to the axle side tube, and a damper cylinder is disclosed. A lower end of the damper cylinder is held between the axle bracket and a lower end of the axle side tube. Furthermore, a damping force generating apparatus is provided in the axle bracket, and an inner portion and an outer portion of the damper cylinder are communicated via the damping force generating apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2007Publication date: March 6, 2008Applicant: Showa CorporationInventors: Takao Tomonaga, Yosuke Murakami, Daiki Takehana
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Publication number: 20080053765Abstract: A front fork is disclosed. The front fork includes an axle side tube slidably connected to a vehicle body side tube; an axle bracket attached to a lower end of the axle side tube; a damper cylinder extending up from a side of the lower end of the axle side tube, wherein a piston rod is inserted into the damper cylinder and connected to an upper end side of the vehicle body side tube; and an oil lock collar provided in a bottom portion side of the damper cylinder, and an oil lock piece is provided at a leading end side of the piston rod. Furthermore, a damping force generating apparatus is provided in the axle bracket, and an inner portion and an outer portion of the damper cylinder are communicated via the damping force generating apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2007Publication date: March 6, 2008Applicant: Showa CorporationInventors: Takao Tomonaga, Yosuke Murakami, Daiki Takehana
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Publication number: 20080000738Abstract: A dampening mechanism is described having a pressure tube defining a working chamber between a rod guide proximate a first end and an end cap proximate a second end. A piston is disposed within the pressure tube and divides the working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. A piston rod is secured to the piston. A reservoir tube surrounds the pressure tube defining a reservoir chamber between the reservoir tube and the pressure tube. At least one passage is disposed through the pressure tube between the reservoir chamber and the working chamber and a bypass valve is disposed between the piston and the at least one passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2006Publication date: January 3, 2008Inventor: David T. Zdeb
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Publication number: 20070261931Abstract: The strut unit includes a piston dividing an oil-filled working cylinder into first and second working spaces, wherein the second working space is connected to a high pressure chamber having a gas cushion; a hollow piston rod defining a pump cylinder; and a pump rod received in pump cylinder. The pump rod has a bore extending between its ends, and a deregulating opening which connects the bore to the second working space when the piston rod is extended. A first check valve permits flow from the low pressure chamber into the bore; a second check valve permits flow from the bore into the pump cylinder; and a third check valve permits flow from the pump cylinder to the second working space. The check valves are formed as substantially identical modules having cylindrical valve housings which can be press fit into a recess in either of two orientations.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2007Publication date: November 15, 2007Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Hubert Beck
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Patent number: 7273137Abstract: A damper including an inertia valve movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively alter the compression damping rate of the shock absorber is disclosed. In these embodiments, the damper has at least one chamber that at least partially surrounds two other chambers.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2005Date of Patent: September 25, 2007Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventor: Robert C. Fox
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Patent number: 7270222Abstract: A shock absorber that combines both the suspension function and the shock absorbing function in one unit. It has an elongated shock body filled with hydraulic fluid and a piston mounted on a piston rod that reciprocally travels within the shock body. The shock body is telescopically received in a bypass cylinder body having a greater diameter that produces an annular chamber between the outer surface of the shock body and the inner surface of the bypass cylinder body. A coil spring is mounted on the outside surface of the bypass cylinder body to provide a suspension function by the shock absorber. A plurality of bypass tubes are associated with longitudinally spaced ports in the shock body. Adjuster rods are telescopically received inside the respective bypass tubes for controlling whether the individual ports are closed, partially open, or fully open. These adjuster rods would be manipulated externally of the shock absorber assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2005Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Inventor: Brandon Aymar
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Patent number: 7264095Abstract: A vibration and displacement damper includes a plunger piston (10) sliding with a slight clearance inside a guiding cylinder (20). The plunger piston includes over a part of its length a piston ring (12) sliding inside a main chamber (13) provided in the cylinder, the ring including calibrated through-orifices (14) for a high-viscosity fluid filling the chamber on both sides of the ring. The device is intended to damp vibrations and displacements, in particular of cable stays.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2004Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignee: Enidine GmbHInventor: Bruno Domange
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Patent number: 7255210Abstract: A telescopic fork leg incorporates mutually displaceable inner and outer tube parts and a damping arrangement for damping the relative movements of the tube parts. The damping arrangement comprises tubular and coaxially disposed units. A piston belonging to a first outer tube part operates in a chamber within the interior of the tubular units in a medium present in the chamber, which medium, at a piston speed above a chosen value, is transferred between the top and bottom sides of the piston via passage(s) disposed in, on or by the piston and adjustable damping-influencing members.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2005Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Ohlins Racing ABInventors: Mats Larsson, Tomas Alatalo
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Patent number: 7243766Abstract: A cylindrical rebound cushion (8) is fitted to an outer circumference of a piston rod (5) inserted in a cylinder (3) of a hydraulic shock absorber (1). An upper end surface (8a) of the rebound cushion (8) comes Into contact with a rod guide (6) fixed to the cylinder (3) when the piston rod (5) reaches a protruding limiting position. Recesses (9) are provided in the upper end surface (8a) of the rebound cushion (8) at regular angular intervals in order to provide working oil between the rod guide (6) and the upper end surface (8a), thereby ensuring smooth rotation of the rebound cushion (8) with respect to the rod guide (6) when the piston rod (5) at the protruding limiting position and the cylinder (3) relatively rotate.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2006Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignees: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd., Gomunoinaki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro Miwa, Sachihide Makino
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Patent number: 7225906Abstract: Vibration damper cylinder, in which a piston rod is guided with freedom of axial movement, where the cylinder has a compensating space, the volume of which is partially determined by an outer sleeve of a joint eye attached to the cylinder. The joint eye has an inner sleeve inside the outer sleeve, and where these two sleeves form a ring-shaped space, which is in flow connection with the compensating space.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2004Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Peter Wirth
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Patent number: 7216747Abstract: A dual tube shock absorber includes a spool valve located between the upper working chamber and the reserve chamber. The spool valve moves with the piston rod to open and close a flow path between the upper working chamber and the reserve chamber. This provides a low damping characteristic for small movements of the piston rod which changes to a high damping characteristic for larger movement of the piston rod.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2005Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventor: Darrell Breese
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Patent number: 7172058Abstract: Vibration damper with amplitude-dependent damping force includes a cylinder, in which a piston rod, carrying a piston, is guided with freedom of axial movement, where the piston divides the cylinder into a working space on the piston rod side and a working space on the side away from the piston rod. The piston rod carries at least part of a housing, which is mounted in the direction of the piston rod-side working space, and where a separating body is supported inside the housing with freedom to slide. The separating body divides the housing into first and second working chambers, where the first working chamber is connected by at least one radial connecting opening to the piston rod-side working space and the second working chamber is connected by a connecting channel to the working space on the side away from the piston rod. At least a part of the housing is connected to the piston rod by a weld.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2004Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Gunnar Burkert, Andreas Förster, Heinz-Joachim Gilsdorf, Hans Gonschorrek, Frank MacKert, Thomas Kiefer, Klaus Sauer
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Patent number: 7097015Abstract: A suspension system for motor vehicles includes a piston-cylinder assembly having a working cylinder, a piston rod guidably inserted in a piston rod guide in the cylinder, and a damping piston having damping valves movably arranged in the working cylinder and connected to the piston rod. A shape-changing, enclosed envelope body is provided as an equalization space. A wall of the enclosed envelope is a gas-tight blocking layer. A connecting element connected to the enclosed envelope body is held in the piston rod guide, wherein the connecting element is non-detachably inserted into a drilled hole defined in the piston rod guide.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2004Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: ZF Sachs AGInventor: Hubert Beck
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Patent number: 7055661Abstract: A shock absorber (1) includes a compression chamber (2) in which a piston (3) moves along a path of travel from a near end to a far end. The chamber includes a constant force mode bleed orifice (10) adjacent the far end and a series of progressive force bleed orifices (9a–9e) at spaced intervals between the near and far ends. An adjustment cylinder (12) has sloping arcuate apertures (13a–13e). As the cylinder (12) is rotated, one of the arcuate apertures aligns with the constant force orifice or the apertures align with the progressive force orifices in full or in part.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2001Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: Etablissements Jean PerretInventors: Michel Bertrand, Jean-Pierre Perret
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Patent number: 7025184Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber with a self leveling function for a vehicle height is provided to prevent drop of a relief valve even if an excessive impulsive pressure is applied thereto. The relief valve is provided with a tubular valve case which is press-fitted into a press-fit bore of a partition wall member to divide an oil storage and a reservoir, and a valve body opening/closing a valve seat of an end portion of a flow passage formed in the partition wall member is urged toward the direction of the valve seat by a spring and is seated at the valve seat. This prevents an oil pressure in an oil chamber of the reservoir from acting directly on an end face of the valve case.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2004Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tomohiko Baba
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Patent number: 7021434Abstract: Self-pumping hydropneumatic suspension strut with internal height control, in particular for motor vehicles with a work cylinder which is filled with oil and is under pressure by at least one gas cushion which is arranged in a high-pressure chamber and which acts as a spring, the work cylinder being divided into two work spaces by a work piston supported by a hollow piston rod, with a piston pump which is driven by the spring movements and conveys oil out of a low-pressure chamber into the work space connected to the high-pressure chamber and connects the work space connected to the high-pressure chamber to the low-pressure chamber by a regulating opening which is closable depending on the position of the work piston in the work cylinder, wherein a flow connection running through an intermediate wall and opening out below the surface of the oil is provided between the pump space and the low-pressure chamber, wherein the flow connection is arranged in the intermediate wall and has at least one bore hole in theType: GrantFiled: July 2, 2004Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: ZF Sachs AGInventor: Hubert Beck
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Patent number: 7017720Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a front fork with a double-rod damper, which can improve an efficiency of an assembly operation thereof by simplifying alignment work of piston rods on assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2004Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tsutomu Yoshimoto
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Patent number: 7004293Abstract: The present invention provides the art with a shock absorber which is capable of compensating for the differing thermal expansion between two materials. The shock absorber in its various embodiments includes a free floating pressure tube that is able to expand or contract axially without breaking a seal, a hybrid piston rod with a shaft of one material that compensates for differing thermal expansions and a cap of another material that absorbs axial forces, a unique rod guide assembly with a biasing member that compensates for differing thermal expansions, and a unique cylinder end assembly with a biasing member made from springs, a rubber block, or pressurized gas.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2003Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventor: Rudi Schurmans
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Patent number: 6997293Abstract: In a front fork of a motor cycle or the like, an outer peripheral portion of a seat member is clamped and fixed between a bottom portion of an axle bracket and a lower end portion of an axle side tube. A flange portion is provided in an outer periphery of a lower end portion of a holder provided with a compression side partition wall member and valve assembly. An outer periphery of a lower end portion of a damper cylinder is screwed with the seat member. The outer peripheral flange portion of the holder is clamped and fixed between the lower end portion of the damper cylinder and the bottom portion of the axle bracket or the seat member.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2004Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Showa CorporationInventors: Takao Tomonaga, Munemitu Eguchi
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Patent number: 6974005Abstract: Vibration damper comprising a damping medium-filled pressure tube, in which a displacer is installed, where a damping device produces a damping force as a function of the movement of the displacer. A damping force-limiting device, independently of the flow of the damping medium, becomes active above a certain damping force threshold value, which is defined as a function of the vehicle. At least a partial section of the force-limiting device is connected in a fixed manner to the pressure tube below the damping force threshold value and travels an operating distance which is associated with a change in the volume of the pressure tube when the force threshold is exceeded.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2002Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Dieter Lutz, Gottfried Zimmermann
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Patent number: 6974001Abstract: A gas spring provides an outer cylinder which is partitioned into a multiple of auxiliary volumes. A multiple of temperature compensation valves are located within a piston cylinder which sequentially open or close. As the temperature increases, the temperature compensation valves open sequentially and as the temperature decreases the temperature compensation valves close in reverse sequence. Between each pair of adjacent temperature compensation valves is a passage which provides communication between the working volume and an auxiliary volume to effectively increase or decrease the working volume of gas within cylinder through communication with or isolation of the auxiliary volumes.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2003Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC.Inventor: Walter Douglas Bauman
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Patent number: 6971493Abstract: This invention provides a front fork that can be efficiently be filled with oil when it is manufactured.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2004Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tsutomu Yoshimoto
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Patent number: 6959796Abstract: A damper includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder. The inner cylinder is disposed inside the outer cylinder and contains a rod and valve to define an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. An adjustable valve portion fluidly communicates the upper working chamber with a reserve chamber. The adjustable valve portion is positioned inside the outer cylinder and coaxially aligned with the axis of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. As a result, the adjustable valve portion does not extend radially from the damper to potentially obstruct other vehicle elements or cause damage to the adjustable valve portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2003Date of Patent: November 1, 2005Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Dirk DeGronckel, Paul Martens, Patrick Vanmechelen
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Patent number: 6938887Abstract: The present invention relates to a spring damper system for bicycles having a first load-applying segment, a second load-applying segment, at least one spring mechanism, a damping means, and a regulating mechanism that automatically effects a damping behavior of the damping means based on a tension or load present in the at least one spring mechanism. A method of spring suspension and damping of bicycles is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2002Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Assignee: DT Swiss Inc.Inventor: Martin Achenbach
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Patent number: 6926128Abstract: A shock absorber damper assembly is provided that includes a working cylinder filled with fluid. A piston and rod are disposed in the working cylinder and move along an axis to provide dampening during a compression stroke. For a twin tube arrangement, a reservoir surrounds the working cylinder and may include a gas cell to accommodate the volume of the rod. A recoil valve controls flow of the fluid from the working cylinder to the reservoir during a recoil stroke. The recoil valve has an opening force controlling damping during the recoil stroke. A fluid passageway, which may be located in the reservoir, connects the working cylinder and the recoil valve. A check valve is disposed in the fluid passageway and opens to receive the fluid during the compression stroke. The check valve closes during the recoil stroke to retain the fluid against the recoil valve at a pressure and adjust the opening force of the recoil valve.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2003Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James M. Barbison, Kevin H. Erickson, Arnett R. Weber, Ronald W. Farewell, Richard Coury, Thomas R. King, Stephen H. Bell, Nelson C. Goncalves
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Patent number: 6913127Abstract: A dual tube shock absorber includes a baffle located in the reservoir chamber to define a non-linear flow path within the reservoir chamber. The baffle extends between the pressure tube and the reservoir tube such that the non-linear flow path is the only flow path between two portions of the reservoir chamber. One embodiment is a T-shaped baffle, and another embodiment has a base section and an upright section with a wire being embedded in the base section.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2003Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: David Holiviers, Paul Martens, Jan Hermans, Patrick Vanmechelen
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Patent number: 6913126Abstract: An impact damper for deceleration of a vehicle impacting on all obstacle by hydraulic damping forces and gas spring forces includes at least inner and outer pipes telescopically displaceable one inside the other and defining an annular space therebetween with a base closing one end of the inner pipe. A dividing piston is sealingly guided in the inner pipe. The inner pipe, the base, and the dividing piston define a gas space which holds gas under pressure. The inner pipe further defines a first liquid space separated from the gas space by the dividing piston. An intermediate wall is fastened to the inner pipe and includes a throttle opening therethrough connecting a second liquid space to the first liquid space. The annular space between the first and second pipes has one end sealed to the atmosphere and another end sealed by the intermediate wall. The annular space is connected to the second liquid space by a flow connection having a valve.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2002Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignee: ZF Boge GmbHInventors: Wolfgang Dohrmann, Thomas Hansen
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Patent number: 6899206Abstract: High frequency shock absorber/accelerator built in at any or both end of conventional air cylinder that includes piston moving axially inside cylinder body and sealed against inner surface of body by sealing structure. Cylinder piston rod protrudes outside thru cylinder front-end block Shock absorber/accelerator comprises piston with sealing structures moving axially in inner chamber, which communicates with outer chamber thru aperture(s). Air cylinder piston meets the protruded rod of the shock absorber/accelerator piston and starts to move it thus pushing volume of compressed air through provided aperture from inner chamber to outer chamber. Piston sealing structures seal air coming through the aperture thereby isolating compressed air in the outer chamber from the inner chamber. Compressed air coming through the open venting valve forces pistons to move in opposite direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2004Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Inventor: Yevgeny Antonovsky
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Patent number: 6883652Abstract: A dual tube shock absorber has a base valve assembly which includes both low speed control using a bleed type orifice and high speed/high pressure blow off control using a disc spring. The base valve assembly provides this variable damping force characteristic while reducing the dead length of the shock absorber.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2003Date of Patent: April 26, 2005Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc.Inventor: Stefan Deferme
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Patent number: 6863163Abstract: A suspension damper comprises a cylinder tube and a control partition. The cylinder tube is disposed within a reservoir tube to define a fluid reservoir, and has at least one first hole. The control partition is disposed in the fluid reservoir, and communicates with the at least one hole.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2002Date of Patent: March 8, 2005Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael L. Oliver, William C. Kruckemeyer, Todd A. Bishop, Eric L. Jensen
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Publication number: 20040262107Abstract: A shock absorber includes a gas compartment within its reservoir compartment. The gas compartment contains gas at a pressure beyond atmospheric pressure. The gas compartment may be defined by an elastomeric bladder which separates the fluid and gas in the shock from one another, and prevents the fluid from becoming aerated during operation of the shock. Because the shock absorber is pressurized beyond atmospheric pressure, the shock absorber provides a “spring assist” to the main suspension spring. The bladder acts as diaphragm and pressure in the bladder is directly transmitted to the fluid. As the main chamber of the shock absorber is replenished with fluid from the reservoir chamber, the gap in the reservoir chamber is taken up by the ever-expanding bladder, and no cavitation occurs in another embodiment, the bladder is replaced by a member mounted for reciprocal sealing movement within the reservoir compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Inventor: Srinath Nandyal
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Publication number: 20040251097Abstract: A shock absorber damper assembly is provided that includes a working cylinder filled with fluid. A piston and rod are disposed in the working cylinder and move along an axis to provide dampening during a compression stroke. For a twin tube arrangement, a reservoir surrounds the working cylinder and may include a gas cell to accommodate the volume of the rod. A recoil valve controls flow of the fluid from the working cylinder to the reservoir during a recoil stroke. The recoil valve has an opening force controlling damping during the recoil stroke. A fluid passageway, which may be located in the reservoir, connects the working cylinder and the recoil valve. A check valve is disposed in the fluid passageway and opens to receive the fluid during the compression stroke. The check valve closes during the recoil stroke to retain the fluid against the recoil valve at a pressure and adjust the opening force of the recoil valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2003Publication date: December 16, 2004Inventors: James M. Barbison, Kevin H. Erickson, Arnett R. Weber, Ronald W. Farewell, Richard Coury, Thomas R. King, Stephen H. Bell, Nelson C. Goncalves
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Publication number: 20040226790Abstract: This invention provides a front fork that can be efficiently be filled with oil when it is manufactured.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2004Publication date: November 18, 2004Inventor: Tsutomu Yoshimoto
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Patent number: 6793049Abstract: A shock absorber having a pair of valve assemblies which include an acceleration sensitive valve which couples the working chamber of the shock absorber to the shock absorber's reservoir chamber through a fluid path to provide a soft damping characteristic for the shock when the shock absorber experiences acceleration beyond a specific amount. A compression valve assembly and a rebound valve assembly are also provided which controls the fluid flow through the piston and the base assembly, respectively, to provide a firm damping characteristic for the shock absorber during low acceleration movement.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2003Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc.Inventor: Karl Kazmirski
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Publication number: 20040178033Abstract: A suspension system for motor vehicles includes a piston-cylinder assembly having a working cylinder, a piston rod guidably inserted in a piston rod guide in the cylinder, and a damping piston having damping valves movably arranged in the working cylinder and connected to the piston rod. A shape-changing, enclosed envelope body is provided as an equalization space. A wall of the enclosed envelope is a gas-tight blocking layer. A connecting element connected to the enclosed envelope body is held in the piston rod guide, wherein the connecting element is non-detachably inserted into a drilled hole defined in the piston rod guide.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2004Publication date: September 16, 2004Applicant: ZF Sachs AGInventor: Hubert Beck
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Publication number: 20040159515Abstract: A coil spring over shock absorber assembly includes a dampening mechanism for varying a dampening rate. The coil spring mounted to the outside of the shock absorber includes an adjustable support to change spring preload in order to adjust for vehicle load and maintain vehicle ride height. A load sensor is positioned on one of the coil spring supports and communicates changes in the coil spring preload to a controller. The controller in turn adjusts a dampening mechanism disposed within the shock absorber to optimize the dampening rate of the shock absorber relative to the coil spring preload.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2003Publication date: August 19, 2004Inventors: Stephen H. Bell, James M. Barbison, Kevin H. Erickson, Arnett R. Weber, Ronald W. Farewell, Richard Coury, Thomas R. King, Nelson C. Goncalves
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Publication number: 20040040806Abstract: A suspension damper comprises a cylinder tube and a control partition. The cylinder tube is disposed within a reservoir tube to define a fluid reservoir, and has at least one first hole. The control partition is disposed in the fluid reservoir, and communicates with the at least one hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2002Publication date: March 4, 2004Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Michael L. Oliver, William C. Kruckemeyer, Todd A. Bishop, Eric L. Jensen
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Patent number: 6695104Abstract: An reusable impact energy absorbing device utilized a liquid filled piston and cylinder assembly whereby upon application of an impact to the piston the piston will move along the length of the cylinder and discharge the liquid outwardly through a sequence of valves into an elastic balloon structure secured to the piston and cylinder assembly to capture the fluid. The valves may be two-way valves which will allow the return of the fluid from the elastic balloon to the cylinder due to the creation of a partial vacuum in the cylinder upon upward movement of the piston when the impact force is removed. Upon discharge of the fluid from the cylinder through each valve, the fluid is forced to travel through a restricted labyrinth to further dissipate the impact energy.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2001Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Inventor: Osman Akad
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Patent number: 6695105Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber comprises a cylinder (11) with an expandable and contractible piston rod (12), an outer casing (13) disposed on the outside of the cylinder (11), and a reservoir (16) defined between the outer casing and the cylinder. Due to an elastically deformable bladder (14) disposed inside the reservoir, a gas chamber (17) in which gas is sealed is formed between the bladder and the outer casing, and a reservoir chamber (18) communicated with the inside of the cylinder and designed for guiding hydraulic fluid is formed between the bladder and the cylinder. Furthermore, a gas sealing valve (23) for opening and closing a flow conduit (24) communicated with the gas chamber provided to part of the outer casing is provided to a bottom portion (19) of the outer casing, and allowing gas to enter and exit the gas chamber via the gas sealing valve makes it possible to freely adjust the gas pressure in the hydraulic shock absorber from the outside.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoshiro Toiyama
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Patent number: 6691840Abstract: A suspension damper including a tube and a damping piston assembly disposed within the tube and slidably mounted therein for reciprocal movement in the tube. The suspension damper also includes a piston rod extending through the tube and connected to the damping piston assembly, a rod guide assembly closing a top end of the tube, and a rebound cut-off disk and spring suspended in the tube between the rod guide assembly and the damping piston assembly and cooperating with the damping piston assembly to provide a rebound cut-off effect between the rebound cut-off disk and the damping piston assembly. The rebound cut-off disk and spring have specific gravities that are less than the specific gravity of the fluid in the tube, such that the disk and the spring are floatable in the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2003Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ilya Lisenker, Saiman Lun
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Publication number: 20040011613Abstract: Rotation damper (1), for a vehicle that runs on rails, having piston (9) and cylinder parts (2) moving with respect to one another. This damper has a friction characteristics, that is to say the fluid connection over the piston is not a permanently open hole but exclusively comprises spring-loaded valves (11). In order to facilitate the installation of such dampers, it is proposed to make a separate connection between the working cylinder and the reservoir in which a valve that can be manually operated is arranged, which valve, on operation, opens a connection as a result of which the piston and cylinder can be moved relative to one another under manual force.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2003Publication date: January 22, 2004Inventors: James Francis Vance, James Brian Pipp
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Publication number: 20040011612Abstract: Two oil chambers 28. 29 are formed in a cylinder 21. The piston rod oil chamber 28 is connected with a reservoir 50 formed on an outer section of the cylinder. Two parallel passages 33, 34 are formed in a sealing case 23 provided on an upper section of the cylinder. The sealing case 23 is provided with a needle valve 35 regulating the area of the opening of the passage 33, a poppet valve 37 closing the oil chamber 34 with the biasing force of the spring 40 and an adjuster 39 regulating the biasing force of the spring 40. A part of the oil flowing out of the oil chamber 28 in an expansion stroke is discharged through the needle valve 35 and the puppet valve 37 in order to allow respective regulation of the damping force at that time.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2002Publication date: January 22, 2004Inventors: Yoshiro Toiyama, Rene Lemieux
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Patent number: 6659242Abstract: In a hydraulic shock absorber in which a piston is slidably in contact with an inner periphery of an inner tube, a cross sectional area S1 of an annular oil chamber which is sectioned by an inner periphery of an outer tube and an outer periphery of the inner tube is formed larger than a cross sectional area of a piston rod. A check valve which inhibits a flow from an oil chamber to an oil storage chamber at a time of an expansion side stroke is provided in a partition member which is provided in an inner periphery of the inner tube, and a micro flow passage which communicates the oil chamber with the oil storage chamber is provided in the partition member.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2002Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Showa CorporationInventor: Osamu Nagai
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Publication number: 20030213664Abstract: A self-pumping, hydropneumatic suspension strut unit with an internal level control for a vehicle includes a low pressure chamber and a high pressure chamber for storing a damping medium under pressure. The high pressure chamber includes a gas cushion for displacing the damping medium therefrom when the damping medium is under less than a predetermined pressure. A working cylinder has a piston that defines a first volume of the working cylinder in fluid communication with the high pressure chamber. A piston rod is axially displaceable in inward and outward relative to the working cylinder. A pumping rod is axially mounted at one end in the working cylinder and a regulating bore is disposed at a first location of the pumping rod. The bore is closed when the first location is received in the piston rod and places the low pressure chamber in two-way fluid communication with the first volume when the regulating bore is open.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2003Publication date: November 20, 2003Applicant: ZF Sachs AGInventor: Hubert Beck