Piston Valve Detail (e.g., Seat Design, Structural Arrangement, Metering Element) Patents (Class 188/322.15)
  • Publication number: 20150008083
    Abstract: A damping valve includes a piston with a one-side disk and an other-side disk, a port configured to include through holes, a piston rod, and a nut. A plurality of the through holes of the other-side disk are formed along between the inner peripheral seat surface and the outer peripheral seat surface. Elastic deforming portions are formed between the through holes of the other-side disk. A clearance is formed between the inner peripheral seat surface of the one-side disk and that of the other-side disk in a state where the nut is not tightened and the outer peripheral seat surface of the one-side disk and that of the other-side disk are in contact. The elastic deforming portions of the other-side disk are strained and the respective inner peripheral seat surfaces come into contact in a state where the nut is tightened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: KAYABA INUSTRY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Hideki Yamada
  • 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: 8919505
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic damper (1), in particular for the suspension system of a motor vehicle comprising a tube (2) filled with working liquid, inside of which a slidable piston assembly (3) is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: BWI Company Limited S.A.
    Inventors: Pawel Slusarczyk, Waldemar Widla, Sebastian Kaffanke
  • Patent number: 8893864
    Abstract: A frequency unit valve is provided. In the frequency valve, a free piston reciprocates within a housing where a sub-valve is mounted in a lower portion. Variable frequency units installed above and under the free piston provide a damping characteristic by selectively opening or closing a passage when a frequency of a piston rod is in a high-frequency region and a low-frequency region. Accordingly, the vehicle ride comfort is maximally improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Wan Sang Park
  • Patent number: 8857581
    Abstract: A rotor hub and method to dampen a force exerted on a rotor hub by a rotor blade during flight. The rotor hub including a central member rotatably coupled to a rotor mast, a blade grip rigidly attached to a blade and movably coupled to the central member, and an adjustable damper operably associated with the blade grip. The method includes damping the force exerted on the rotor hub with the adjustable damper and selectively adjusting the adjustable damper between a first spring rate and a second spring rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Michael R. Smith, Christopher M. Bothwell, Lawrence M. Corso, James L. Braswell, Jr., David A. Popelka, Ernst C. Schellhase, Charles L. Hollimon, Thomas J. Newman, Bryan Baskin, Thomas C. Campbell, Daniel B. Robertson
  • Patent number: 8857579
    Abstract: A shock absorber comprises a tubular housing (10), a cover (14), and a piston (34) defining within the tubular housing (10) a working chamber (W) 34g 34h and an accumulator chamber (A). A first fluid pathway (34p, 42, 34g) and a second fluid pathway (46, T, 34f) arranged in parallel connect the working chamber (W) to the accumulator chamber (A). The first fluid pathway establishes a permanent fluid communication between the working chamber (W) and the accumulator chamber (A). A valve assembly comprises an obturating element (44) arranged around the piston (34) and slidable along an axial length of the piston (34). The second fluid pathway comprises a first pathway section (34f) formed through the piston and a second pathway section (46, T) formed between the piston (34) and the obturating element (44). The second fluid pathway is able to selectively assume an open configuration and a closed configuration, and it has a lower fluid resistance than the fluid resistance of the first fluid pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Cultraro Automazione Engineering S.R.L.
    Inventor: Antonino Cultraro
  • Publication number: 20140291092
    Abstract: In shock absorber system 10, solenoid 18 varies the damping force by changing the position of spring seat 24, and the effective preload force, at the same time. In the normal, de-energized condition (with no current), damping forces are generated by the piston valve 30 including piston 20. The actuated valve spring 16 is relaxed and set in such a way that it applies only a minimum preload force to the rebound-side disc stack 28. The motion of the plunger 14, pin 32 and movable spring seat 24 assembly changes the spring force by varying the distance between the movable spring seat 24 and the stationary spring seat 22. In the energized state, applying current to coil 12 generates a pulling force on the plunger 14 in the direction of the core element 34 to attract plunger 14 towards the core 34 and across the initial gap 36 until it is in a direct contact with the core's surface 38.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Janusz Goldasz, Thomas W. Nehl, Zbigniew Szklarz
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8844687
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a valve structure of a shock absorber which forms flow channels in two directions of working fluid passing through the valve structure so as to slow change of damping force when the moving velocity of a piston is changed between a low velocity and a middle and high velocity and forms one of the two flow channels as a variable flow channel to improve ride comfort of a vehicle. The valve structure includes a piston valve assembly installed at the end of the piston rod and operated to generate damping force varied according to moving velocity of a working fluid, and a variable valve assembly moving together with the piston valve assembly to vary damping force to slow change of a damping force curve when the flow velocity of the working fluid is changed between a low velocity and a middle and high velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Chun Sung Yu, Jun Sik Shin
  • Patent number: 8840094
    Abstract: A self-pumping suspension strut with internal level regulation, for example for motor vehicles having a fluid-filled working cylinder pressurized with the pressure of the fluid acting as a spring. A hollow piston rod is guided, in a sealed manner, within the working space, into which projects a pump piston attached to the working cylinder. During relative movements between the working cylinder and the piston rod, fluid is delivered from the working space into a pressure chamber in which a pressure is higher than the pressure of the working space. Flow connections between the pressure chamber and the working space selective set a specifiable dynamic level, determined by the extension length of the piston rod, such that the piston rod can be rotated, by a rotating device, for selective cooperation of the axially and the circumferentially spaced flow connections to control flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Markus Renninger
  • Publication number: 20140262655
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a piston which has at least one compression fluid passage, at least one rebound fluid passage and at least one bleed fluid passage. A compression valve assembly closes the at least one compression passage and a rebound valve assembly closes the at least one rebound passage. A bleed valve assembly with the bleed fluid passage defines a first, always open flow path through the piston and a second flow path, separate from the first flow path, through the piston. A bleed disc is movable between a first position where the second flow path is open and a second position where the second flow path is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Tuts, Patrick Massonet, Ronny Vanbrabant, Kristoff Six
  • Patent number: 8833532
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a piston partitioning an inside of a cylinder into a rod-side chamber and a bottom-side chamber, a piston rod having a first end connected to the piston and a second end extending to an outside of the cylinder, a housing provided on the first end side of the piston rod, a free piston slidably inserted into the housing, a rod passage allowing the rod-side chamber to communicate with a pressure chamber within the housing, and damping valves provided in passages allowing the rod-side chamber to communicate with the bottom-side chamber. The free piston is provided with a shutter member that adjusts the opening area of a pressure chamber opening of the rod passage according to a movement of the free piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mikio Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8820495
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an internal bypass shock absorber is disclosed whose compression and rebound resistance can be independently adjusted and is position dependent. The shock absorber features a fluid flow regulator coupled to a hollow chamber opening of a partially hollow piston rod. The fluid flow regulator may also feature a plurality of compression orifices and rebound orifices, and a compression valve stack and rebound valve stack each having one or more deflection discs. The number, diameter, and thickness of the deflection discs of the stacks can be adjusted to independently control compression and rebound resistance by controlling the flow of fluid between the first and second chambers of the cylinder housing of the shock absorber. The shock absorber may also have a tapered needle that controls the position at which the shock exhibits its maximum resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: King Shock Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Lance King
  • Patent number: 8807302
    Abstract: A shock absorber comprising a damping cylinder is divided into a first damping chamber and a second damping chamber by a main piston device. The main piston device comprises a first main piston and a second main piston. The main pistons comprise continuous ducts that are delimited in a direction of flow by first and second flow limiters. The main pistons are mounted on a piston rod. The piston rod has an axially extending and continuous cavity through which damping medium can flow between a pressurized chamber and a respective damping chamber. The damping medium flows via an interspace delimited by the first main piston and the second main piston out into the damping chambers via pressurization ducts delimited by the first flow limiters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Ohlins Racing AB
    Inventors: Nils Göran Nygren, Johan Jarl
  • Patent number: 8807301
    Abstract: A fluid pressure shock absorber includes a piston which is constituted by two piston bodies. An annular valve seat is formed on a non-coupled surface of one of the piston bodies, so that extension-side communication passages are located radially inside the annular valve seat and compression-side communication passages are located radially outside the annular valve seat, and an annular valve seat is formed on a non-coupled surface of the other of the piston bodies, so that the compression-side communication passages are located radially inside the annular valve seat and the extension-side communication passages are located radially outside the annular valve seat. A sliding member is disposed around one of the pitons bodies. A rotation preventing unit for preventing relative rotation of the piston bodies is provided on coupled surfaces and of the piston bodies. A nut for fastening the piston bodies and disk valves is disposed at an end of a piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ashiba, Kenji Hikosaka
  • Patent number: 8800729
    Abstract: During either of the extension and compression strokes, hydraulic liquid flows from a cylinder upper chamber into a reservoir through an annular passage and a damping force control mechanism, and a damping force is generated by the damping force control mechanism. The check valve is provided with a sub-check valve in parallel thereto, which opens in a very low piston speed region to allow the hydraulic liquid to flow through an orifice passage. These check valves are opened successively as the piston speed increases, thereby generating a sufficiently small damping force in the very low piston speed region during the compression stroke of the piston rod, and obtaining a moderate damping force when the piston speed increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yabe, Yohei Katayama, Takashi Nezu
  • Patent number: 8800732
    Abstract: A hydraulic damper assembly includes a main body, a shaft assembly and a main piston operatively configured to define an upper portion and a lower portion within the main body. A hydraulic damper spool valve is adapted to provide a single path, variable hydraulic flow restriction between the upper portion and lower portion of the main body. The hydraulic damper spool valve is configured with an array of precisely shaped flow apertures that are proportionally opened and closed by a pair of valve spools in response to the pressure differential across the main piston. The damper's pressure-flow operating characteristic is simply and predictably dictated by the geometric configuration of the shaped flow apertures. The precisely defined open area of the shaped flow apertures provides a mathematically predictable hydraulic flow restriction that operates predominately in a turbulent regime resulting in insensitivity to hydraulic fluid viscosity and consequently temperature change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Multimatic Inc.
    Inventors: Laurence J. Holt, Damian O'Flynn, Andrew Tomlin
  • Patent number: 8794405
    Abstract: Oil grooves of a shutter and oil holes of a stepped rod constitute first orifices as variable orifices whose opening areas are variable according to the rotational position of the shutter. The oil grooves of the shutter and oil holes of the stepped rod constitute third orifices as variable orifices. Cut portions of inner disk valves constitute second orifices. The opening areas of the variable orifices are changed by rotating the shutter, thereby controlling damping force characteristics in a low piston speed region and the relief pressures of pressure control valves independently of each other, and thus increasing the degree of freedom for adjusting the damping force characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Yamashita, Fumiyuki Yamaoka
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8794265
    Abstract: A damping valve arrangement for a vibration damper includes a damping valve body, which has at least one through-flow opening for the damping medium, and at least one valve disk which at least partly covers the through-flow openings under the influence of a closing force. The damping valve arrangement includes at least one spring element which has at least one supporting portion axially supported at another structural component part of the damping valve arrangement, and at least one spring portion disposed at a distance from the supporting portion and which introduces a spring force into the valve disk at least indirectly, wherein the spring force of the spring element is directed counter to the closing force acting on the valve disk, and wherein the spring force of the spring element is less than the closing force of the valve disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Günther Handke, Klaus Lieblein, Thomas Frank
  • Patent number: 8783696
    Abstract: In a vehicle-height adjustment apparatus of a motorcycle having the hydraulic jack attached to the damper, damping force characteristics of a damper are stabilized, the influence of the charged gas pressure of an oil reservoir chamber is eliminated, and the sealing performance of a hydraulic jack is reduced. In the vehicle-height adjustment apparatus of a motorcycle, a back pressure chamber is provided on a side opposite to a jack chamber, with a plunger being interposed therebetween inside a hydraulic jack, and this back pressure chamber is communicated with a hydraulic chamber inside a damper tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventor: Yosuke Murakami
  • Patent number: 8763639
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a controlled valve. The valve includes a valve body, a sleeve, a spool, and a valve actuator assembly. The valve body includes a cavity and a first chamber. The sleeve is between the cavity and the first chamber. The sleeve includes an inner bore and at least one opening. The inner bore extends from a first end to a second end of the sleeve. The at least one opening extends through the second end of the sleeve. A portion of the inner bore forms a second chamber. The spool is movably disposed within the inner bore. The valve actuator assembly is connected to the spool. The first chamber is in fluid communication with the second chamber through the at least one opening. The spool is configured to be movable over at least a portion of the at least one opening to regulate fluid flow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Enfield Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel S. Cook, Michael J. Elmoznino, Blake D. Carter
  • Patent number: 8757336
    Abstract: A damping mechanism (1) generates a damping force in response to movement of a fluid between a first fluid chamber (R1) and a second fluid chamber (R2) of a fluid pressure shock absorber. The damping mechanism (1) comprises a partition wall member (2) that defines the first fluid chamber (R1) and the second fluid chamber (R2), and a plurality of chokes (4) provided in parallel, which penetrate the partition wall member (2) to connect the first fluid chamber (R1) and the second fluid chamber (R2). A leaf valve (8, 9) having a valve body that is constituted by only a single leaf is preferably provided in an opening portion of the chokes (4). The chokes (4) generate a damping force that is substantially commensurate with a speed of the fluid passing therethrough, and the damping mechanism (1) exhibits a linear damping force characteristic while having a simple and compact constitution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Morita
  • Patent number: 8757333
    Abstract: A vibration damping method on a vehicle wheel suspension is provided in which, in a hydraulic vibration damper, the damping force increases highly progressively as a function of the piston speed, especially in the range of a piston speed of essentially 0 to 2 m/s, increasing at first slowly and essentially linearly and then especially beyond a piston speed of essentially 2 m/s increasing highly progressively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Pfaffenzeller, Heinrich Stein, Mirco Hauke, Hubert Strobl
  • Patent number: 8752682
    Abstract: Provided is a piston assembly of a shock absorber, which is simple in structure and is easy to fabricate. The piston assembly of the shock absorber includes: a piston body in which a piston rod reciprocating within a cylinder penetrates a central portion thereof, and a plurality of compression passages and a plurality of rebound passages alternately penetrating the piston body are formed around the piston rod; a compression retainer placed over the piston body, in which a plurality of connection holes corresponding to the compression passages penetrate the compression retainer; and a rebound retainer placed under the piston body, in which a plurality of connection holes corresponding to the rebound passages penetrate the rebound retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Wan Sang Park, Jun Sik Shin
  • Patent number: 8746423
    Abstract: A shock absorber has an inclined surface that is inclined to a moving direction of the free piston in at least one of a free piston contact surface of a free surface with which an elastic body is in contact and a housing contact surface of a housing with which the elastic body is in contact. A shortest distance between the free piston contact surface and the housing contact surface is changed by movement of the free piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Maeda, Masaru Kouyama, Mikio Yamashita, Fumiyuki Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 8739948
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a shock absorber includes a valve body defining a fluid passage. A valve disc engages the valve body to close the fluid passage. A fulcrum disc engages the valve disc at a first position and a second position radially outward from the first position. The fulcrum disc is designed such that the second position is closer to the valve body. In one embodiment, the fulcrum disc is concave with respect to the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventor: John Patrick McGahey
  • Patent number: 8727080
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Eko Sport, Inc.
    Inventor: Darek C. Barefoot
  • Patent number: 8714320
    Abstract: A shock absorber has a compression valve assembly which functions during a compression stroke, a rebound valve assembly which functions during a rebound stroke and a velocity sensitive valve which is in series with one or both of the compression valve assembly and the rebound valve assembly. The compression valve assembly, the rebound valve assembly and the velocity sensitive valve can be incorporated into a piston assembly, a base valve assembly or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Bombrys, Darrell Breese, Gary Groves, Karl Kazmirski, Daniel Keil, Matthew Roessle, Ben Schaller, Matthew Schelosky, Jim Szymusiak
  • Patent number: 8701846
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a hydraulic compression stop. The hydraulic stop includes a pressure tube surrounding the pressure tube of the shock absorber and a piston in hydraulic communication with the interior of the pressure tube. The piston can be disposed within the pressure tube and can be attached to the pressure tube or to the shock absorber. The hydraulic stop can also include a hydraulic fluid chamber and the piston can be disposed within the hydraulic fluid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc
    Inventors: Koen Reybrouck, M'Hand Nait Oukhedou, Simon Anne de Molina
  • Publication number: 20140076677
    Abstract: A valve structure includes a valve disc partitioning an interior of a damper into a one-side chamber and an other-side chamber, a plurality of one-side ports and a plurality of other-side ports communicating between the one-side chamber and the other-side chamber, a one-side leaf valve opening and closing only the one-side ports, and an other-side leaf valve opening and closing only the other-side ports, the one-side ports and the other-side ports are alternately arranged in the valve disc along the circumferential direction, and a plurality of through holes formed in the valve disk is opened from the inner circumferential side of openings of all the other-side ports and communicates with the one-side ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukimasa Kobayashi, Hideaki Takeuchi, Yoshihiro Shibata
  • Publication number: 20140069755
    Abstract: A suspension system 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: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    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: 8668061
    Abstract: A shock absorber has a compression valve assembly which functions during a compression stroke, a rebound valve assembly which functions during a rebound stroke and a velocity sensitive valve which is in series with one or both of the compression valve assembly and the rebound valve assembly. The compression valve assembly, the rebound valve assembly and the velocity sensitive valve can be incorporated into a piston assembly, a base valve assembly or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Bombrys, Darrell Breese, Gary Groves, Karl Kazmirski, Daniel Keil, Matthew Roessle, Ben Schaller, Matthew Schelosky, Jim Szymusiak
  • Patent number: 8657085
    Abstract: An air damper capable of stabilizing a damping force of the air damper is obtained. When a rod member (16) is pulled out of a cylinder member (20), a suction member (60) hits against the other side surface (56) of a piston member (30) so as to close an air passage (28), and an airflow path communicating between an air chamber (26) and an outside is only orifice portions (42). On the other hand, when the rod member (16) is pushed into the cylinder member (20), the suction member (60) moves away from the other side surface (56) of the piston member (30) so as to open the air passage (28). Consequently, compared to a conventional structure in which an O-ring rolls by a friction force with an inner peripheral surface of a cylinder so as to open or close the air passage, the air passage (28) can be opened and closed as intended so as to be capable of stabilizing the damping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Atsushi Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20140048366
    Abstract: Provided is a piston valve of a shock absorber which can achieve both an effect of varying an attenuation force according to a pressure and an effect of varying an attenuation force according to a frequency region. The piston valve includes: a main valve unit coupled to a lower end of a piston rod formed with an orifice hole, to divide an inside of a cylinder into an extension chamber and a compression chamber, the main valve unit generating an attenuation force according to a difference of pressure between the extension chamber and the compression chamber; and a frequency sensitive valve unit installed at one side of the main valve unit and configured to generate an attenuation force according to a frequency of hydraulic fluid delivered through the orifice hole of the piston rod, wherein the frequency sensitive valve unit is installed within the main valve unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jin Kee LEE, Kyong Hag YOON
  • Patent number: 8651252
    Abstract: A frequency-dependent mechanism provided at the lower end of a piston rod includes a tubular housing displaceable in an inner tube, together with the piston rod as one unit, and further includes a free piston and O-rings. A shutter of a passage area varying mechanism is provided with an axially extending inner hole, orifices, and oil grooves. The opening area between oil holes 3C and the orifices 33B is changed according to the rotational position of the shutter. The opening area between oil holes 3D and 3E and the oil grooves 33C and 33D and the opening area between oil holes 3F and 3G and the oil grooves 33E and 33F are also variably adjusted according to the rotational position of the shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Katayama, Takao Nakadate, Kenji Noda, Mikio Yamashita, Fumiyuki Yamaoka
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8641022
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Inventors: Osamu Nagai, Kazuhiro Miwa
  • Patent number: 8627933
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a two stage valve assembly that has two valve discs. The second valve disc defines the first stage at lower valve pressures and the first valve disc defines the second stage at higher valve pressures. The two valve discs can be defined by a single piece component or they can be separate components. The second valve disc can permit fluid flow by deflection of the second valve disc or by movement of the entire second valve disc. The two stage valve assembly can be incorporated into the piston assembly of the shock absorber and/or the two stage valve assembly can be incorporated into a base valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Kristoff Six, M'Hand Nait Oukhedou, Ronny Vanbrabant, Frank Gommans
  • Publication number: 20130341142
    Abstract: An adjustable damping valve arrangement for a vibration damper comprises an actuator which exerts an actuating force on a multiple-part auxiliary valve body of an auxiliary valve. The auxiliary valve influences a closing force on a main stage valve via an auxiliary valve closing body which is movable axially relative to a shaft portion on the actuator side. During a lift movement, a main stage valve body of the main stage valve compresses a rear space connected to the control space via the auxiliary valve. An auxiliary valve closing spring acts upon the auxiliary valve closing body in closing direction independently from the actuator control, and the rear space has a flow-off channel having a damping valve which generates a damping force during a lift movement of the main stage valve body when the rear space is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventor: Andreas FÖRSTER
  • Patent number: 8590677
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a shock absorber for damping vibration transmitted to a vehicle according to a road state. The shock absorber includes a cylinder and a piston valve disposed within the cylinder and connected to a piston rod. The piston rod includes a hollow chamber formed within the piston rod, a floating piston disposed within the hollow chamber to move up and down and to divide the hollow chamber into upper and lower chambers, and a moving mechanism formed in the hollow chamber to move an operating fluid to upper and lower portions of the floating piston. The shock absorber can change a damping force according to a displacement of the piston rod, thereby improving driving comfort and stability of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Nam Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8590678
    Abstract: A shock absorber has a compression valve assembly which functions during a compression stroke, a rebound valve assembly which functions during a rebound stroke and a velocity sensitive valve which is in series with one or both of the compression valve assembly and the rebound valve assembly. The compression valve assembly, the rebound valve assembly and the velocity sensitive valve can be incorporated into a piston assembly, a base valve assembly or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Bombrys, Darrell Breese, Gary Groves, Karl Kazmirski, Daniel Keil, Matthew Roessle, Ben Schaller, Matthew Schelosky, Jim Szymusiak
  • Patent number: 8590680
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a first passage and a second passage to which a working fluid flows out from one chamber in a cylinder by movement of a piston, a damping valve installed on the first passage and configured to regulate a flow of the working fluid caused by sliding of the piston to generate a damping force, a back pressure chamber applying an internal pressure to the damping valve in a closing direction of the damping valve, a back pressure chamber inflow oil passage introducing the working fluid from one chamber into the back pressure chamber, a pressure chamber provided in-between on the second passage, and a free piston installed in the pressure chamber so as to freely slide in the pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Maeda, Masaru Kouyama, Mikio Yamashita, Fumiyuki Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 8584818
    Abstract: A piston connected to a piston rod is fitted in a cylinder having a hydraulic oil sealed therein. Flows of hydraulic oil induced by sliding movement of the piston are controlled by extension and compression damping force generating mechanisms and to generate damping force. In the extension damping force generating mechanism, the valve-opening pressure of a disk valve is controlled by the pressure in a back pressure chamber. An elastic seal member fixed to the disk valve is brought into sliding contact with an inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical portion of a valve member to seal the back pressure chamber. The disk valve is self-aligned by fitting between the elastic seal member and the inner peripheral surface of the valve member and secured by being axially clamped at an inner peripheral portion thereof in a state where a clearance is formed between the inner peripheral portion of the disk valve and a shaft portion of the piston rod, thereby reducing the requirements for coaxiality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Murakami
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8561766
    Abstract: A piston-cylinder with a work cylinder filled with a fluid, a hollow piston rod displaceably arranged in the work cylinder along a longitudinal axis, a connection element at an end located outside the work cylinder and in the work cylinder, a piston that divides the work cylinder into first and second work spaces. A valve needle in the piston rod has a channel extending in axial direction arranged in the piston rod. The valve needle has a recess at one end. The valve needle is rotatable such that a flow of fluid is controllable. A lever extends in radial direction and is swivelably acted upon by an adjusting unit at the end of the valve needle outside the work cylinder. The adjusting unit is arranged at the connection element entirely outside the flow of force of the piston-cylinder unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Born
  • Patent number: 8556049
    Abstract: A damping force controlling valve assembly for a shock absorber is provided. The damping force controlling valve assembly includes: a main body part of a retainer having an inlet passage connected to a high pressure side of the shock absorber; a main valve generating a damping force while resisting a working fluid flowing in through the inlet passage; a spool rod part interacting with a spool inserted thereinto and supplying a working fluid through a connection port to a back-pressure chamber provided at the rear of the main valve; a solenoid part controlling a position of the spool to adjust a pressure of the back-pressure chamber; and an auxiliary valve disposed at an upstream of the main valve to generate a damping force in an extremely low speed section in advance of the main valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Young Whan Jee
  • Patent number: 8544621
    Abstract: A shock absorber which facilitates an insertion/fixation operation. The shock absorber includes a spring-force application unit (84) for applying a force in a valve-closing direction to a disc valve while allowing the fixed shaft to be inserted therethrough; and a cylindrical member (47) for allowing the fixed shaft (21) to be inserted therethrough. The disc valve includes a plurality of valve discs (53) to (58). The cylindrical member is inserted into each of the valve discs (53) to (58) and the spring-force application unit (84), in which: the cylindrical member (47) is provided so as to have a radially extending gap on an inner side of the inner seat (31) of the valve main body (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satsuki Yamamoto, Shinichi Kagawa
  • 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