Including Seal Or Guide Patents (Class 188/322.16)
  • Patent number: 6684990
    Abstract: In a tube structure of a hydraulic damper, an outer tube and an inner tube are separately formed by extrusion, and using this outer tube or inner tube, as it has ribs integrally formed on an inside wall of the outer tube or outside wall of the inner tube, the inner tube is inserted into the outer tube, and the outer tube is forced to be reduced in diameter so that the outer tube is compression-joined onto the inner tube, whereby the outer and inner tubes and are integrally joined
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignees: Showa Corporation, Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Takakusaki
  • Patent number: 6637559
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension and bearing therefor providing improved slidability of members and torque resistance. The bearing includes a first member with at least one guide track, a second member with rolling element openings and a collar positioned within the second member to rotatably receive rolling elements positioned within the rolling element openings and guided by the at least one guide track. Another embodiment includes rolling element holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: Howard Hoose
  • Patent number: 6619446
    Abstract: A vibration damper, particularly a mono-tube vibration damper, has a cylinder in which a piston rod is arranged together with a piston so as to be axially movable, wherein the piston divides the cylinder into two work spaces filled with a work medium, the vibration damper having at least one deaerating device at the outer surroundings of the vibration damper for the areas filled with the work medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Sachs Race Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Theo Rottenberger, Alexander Schwarz, Steffen Gail, Markus Reinhart, Peter Brembs, Stefan Lungwitz
  • Patent number: 6615961
    Abstract: To positively prevent a pressure medium sealed into an outer tube from leaking out from a clearance relative to an oil damper, there is provided a seal construction of a shock absorber 1 with leveling function wherein a seal mechanism 3 is disposed in an outer tube 2 to slidably insert a shock absorber 4 thereinto, a piston rod 5 extending from the shock absorber 4 is connected on the outer tube 2 side, a pressure medium sealed into the outer tube 2 is heated by a heating means 7 and leveling is carried out while controlling the support force exerting on the shock absorber 4, the seal construction being constituted that a free piston 15 is interposed opposite to the seal mechanism 3 between the outer tube 2 and the shock absorber 4, and the seal mechanism 3 and the free piston 15 compart and form a lubricating oil chamber 16 therebetween whereas the free piston 15 is always biased toward the lubricating oil chamber 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignees: Kayaba Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Komatsu, Yukio Hayakawa, Ryosuke Fujiya, Kiyoshi Nakahara
  • Patent number: 6578832
    Abstract: An air damper comprises a cylinder having first and second openings at both ends, a piston that moves in the cylinder, a piston rod coupled to the piston and moving in and out at the first opening of the cylinder; and a cap positioned at the second opening of the cylinder. The piston rod has a continuous outer wall and an opening extending along the longitudinal axis of the rod. The cross-sectional view of the piston rod taken along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is an inverse U-shape, an inverse V-shape, a C-shape, or the like. The piston rod has a fixing ring at the leading end. A plane containing the opening is perpendicular to a plane defined by the fixing ring. The piston rod is fixed to a glove box so that the opening faces down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Piolax, Inc.
    Inventor: Kouichi Katoh
  • Publication number: 20030070893
    Abstract: A hydraulic dashpot with a piston rod that travels back and forth into and out of a cylinder (4), which it is sealed off from and aligned with by a sheet-metal subassembly. The sealing-and alignment assembly consists of a support with a collar that can accommodate a piston-rod centering sleeve (5) and of a seal (6) reinforced by a sheet-metal disc and whereby the support and/or the disc (7) are in one or more components. To further simplify the sealing-and-alignment assembly and to simplify the assembly's structure not only as such but in conjunction with the dashpot, at least one component of the support (1) is form fit or substance fit to at least one component of the sheet-metal disc 7.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Adolf Adrian, Andreas Nevoigt
  • Publication number: 20020157910
    Abstract: A vibration damper for a motor vehicle includes an inner tube concentrically aligned within an outer housing. A piston shaft having a piston attached at an end thereof is slidably inserted into the inner housing. A support ring encloses the inner housing defining a pumping chamber inside the inner housing. The piston shaft is inserted through the support ring. The support ring includes a seal cover having an inner surface with a rim. A rod guide is inserted into the seal cover and abuts the rim. The rod guide guides the shaft through the support ring and provides lateral support to the shaft. A retainer sleeve is secured to the rod guide having the rim disposed between the rod guide and the retainer sleeve securing the rod guide to the retainer sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron A. Kime
  • Patent number: 6460665
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic spring arrangement (1) comprising at least the following components, namely a pneumatic spring lid (2), a pneumatic spring piston (3), pneumatic spring bellows (7), a vibration damper (11) with a rucksack module (14; e.g. an ADS module) and a protective collar (17) with a first connection area (B; inside diameter D1) and a second connection area (B′; inside diameter D2). The inventive pneumatic spring arrangement is characterized in that the inside diameters (D1 , D2) of the first (B) and the second (B′) connection area pertaining to the protective collar (17) have a size so that the protective collar can be slid over the ruck sack module (14). The excess free space within the second connection area (B′) of the protective collar (17) can be filled with an adapter element (18) in a compensating manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Phoenix AG
    Inventors: Harald Götz, Jan Müller
  • Publication number: 20020130002
    Abstract: A magneto-rheological (“MR”) damper having a gas cup that slidably moves within a damper body tube and isolates an MR fluid from a gas in one end of the damper body tube. The gas cup has a dynamic seal that comprises an MR fluid compatible O-ring located in a narrow O-ring groove disposed in an outer surface of the gas cup. The narrow O-ring groove is sized to reduce entrapment of abrasive magnetic particles in the MR fluid between the O-ring and an inner surface of the damper body tube. The O-ring groove has a free roll room of about less than 12%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Applicant: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Neil Hopkins, Frank M. Robinson, Michael W. Hurtt, William Charles Kruckemeyer, Michael L. Oliver
  • Patent number: 6401885
    Abstract: A brake mechanism which permits adjustment of the outer reach or extent of an elastomeric ring about the periphery of the brake. The adjustment is effected by engaging and bending the elastomeric ring seal to a greater or lesser extent depending upon the axial relationship of the component parts forming the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Whittlesey
  • Publication number: 20020063025
    Abstract: A suspension damper system is provided. The damper system includes a damper with a damper rod, a portion of which extends from the proximal end of the damper. The damper rod includes a bore and an electrode disposed within the bore. A fastener for securing the damper rod to a vehicle is also provided. The fastener is disposed over the damper rod and includes a circumferential groove. An electrical connector which includes an electrically conducting terminal is connected to the electrode. The connector includes a lock which mates with the groove in the fastener and includes a ground terminal which is connected to the damper rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Kent Raypole, Richard M. Fetcenko, Christopher Adrian Margrave, Kathleen D. Murphy, Max F. Viney, Christopher E. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 6390258
    Abstract: A guide assembly for a rod of a motor vehicle strut comprises a rod guide, a seal cover, and a retainer. The seal cover engages the rod guide, and defames an area therebetween. The retainer is engaged with the seal cover. A first O-ring is disposed between the seal cover and the rod guide, and a second O-ring is disposed between the rod guide and the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall L. Hofmann, Steven R. Robinson, Michael W. Hurtt
  • Patent number: 6382373
    Abstract: A gas shock absorber has a pressure tube which defines a working chamber. A piston divides the working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. A series of extension passages extend through the piston and are opened and closed by an extension valve assembly. A series of compression passages extend through the piston and are opened and closed by a compression valve assembly. An open flow path defined by the extension valve assembly extends through the piston between the upper and lower working chambers. A rod guide assembly is located between the pressure tube and a piston rod. The rod guide assembly includes an oil chamber for sealing and lubricating the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Luc Lemmens, Stefaan Duym
  • Publication number: 20020027050
    Abstract: In a tube structure of a hydraulic damper, an outer tube and an inner tube are separately formed by extrusion, and using this outer tube or inner tube, as it has ribs integrally formed on an inside wall of the outer tube or outside wall of the inner tube, the inner tube is inserted into the outer tube, and the outer tube is forced to be reduced in diameter so that the outer tube is compression-joined onto the inner tube, whereby the outer and inner tubes and are integrally joined
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Takakusaki
  • Patent number: 6345707
    Abstract: A hydraulic damper including an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder, a space between the inner and outer cylinders, first and second end walls in the inner cylinder, a piston rod extending only through the first end wall and supported therein by a ball bearing assembly, a first portion of the piston on one side of the first end wall and within the inner cylinder, a second portion of the piston on the opposite side of the first end wall and external to the inner cylinder, a piston head on the first portion of the piston rod within the inner cylinder, a first chamber in the inner cylinder between the piston head and the first end wall, a second chamber in the inner cylinder between the piston head and the second end wall, an accumulator in communication with the second chamber, a fluid-containing seal between the first end wall and the second portion of the piston rod, and a closed fluid circuit between the accumulator and the fluid-containing seal through the space between the inner and outer cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Tayco Developments, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan R. Klembczyk
  • Publication number: 20020014381
    Abstract: To positively prevent a pressure medium sealed into an outer tube from leaking out from a clearance relative to an oil damper, there is provided a seal construction of a shock absorber 1 with leveling function wherein a seal mechanism 3 is disposed in an outer tube 2 to slidably insert a shock absorber 4 thereinto, a piston rod 5 extending from the shock absorber 4 is connected on the outer tube 2 side, a pressure medium sealed into the outer tube 2 is heated by a heating means 7 and leveling is carried out while controlling the support force exerting on the shock absorber 4, the seal construction being constituted that a free piston 15 is interposed opposite to the seal mechanism 3 between the outer tube 2 and the shock absorber 4, and the seal mechanism 3 and the free piston 15 compart and form a lubricating oil chamber 16 therebetween whereas the free piston 15 is always biased toward the lubricating oil chamber 16.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Satoshi Komatsu, Yukio Hayakawa, Ryosuke Fujiya, Kiyoshi Nakahara
  • Patent number: 6340153
    Abstract: A shock and acoustic mount for reducing transmission of forces between two relatively moveable members such as a mounted component and a supporting structure, providing a compressible fluid spring with large allowable relative movement of the mounted component and support structure. The mount comprises a casing, a piston shell with one end disposed in the casing and another end extending outside of the casing, and a piston housed in the piston shell, all relatively moveable in response to external axial forces. In one embodiment, the mount is filled with a compressible fluid, such as air, providing an air spring. The piston is sealingly bonded to the inner surface of the piston shell, the bond accommodating acoustic and vibration forces by deformation of the bond material. An annular seal between the piston shell and the casing accommodates large and shock forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics Advanced Technology Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Miesner
  • Patent number: 6336610
    Abstract: A compressed air landing strut 2 is disclosed with a pneumatic shock absorber which is set onto a spring support 14. The spring support 14 has an offset 22 and the end region 24 of the roll-off piston 12 is flared radially outward, so that it surrounds the offset 22. An O-ring 24 is radially compressed between the outer wall 40 of the spring support 14 and the inner wall 42 of the roll-off piston 12 and seals the spring space 4 of the pneumatic shock absorber air-tight against the environment. A method for the manufacture of said pneumatic shock absorber is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stefan Wode
  • Patent number: 6334607
    Abstract: A fluid spring has a cylindrical housing (1) in whose end sections pieces (12,13) are introduced. A hollow space (20) is configured in one of these end pieces (12), a control device (30) being located in the hollow space (20). The control device (30) has two sealing devices (31,32) and an actuating rod (33) which connects them. The planes of the sealing devices (31,32) do not run parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Cabex AB
    Inventor: Sava V. Kulhavy
  • Patent number: 6311813
    Abstract: An axially movable switching sealing ring within a groove having an axial width greater than the axial width of the ring, in particular in the piston of a piston-cylinder unit, where the switching sealing ring has sealing surfaces on its upper side surface, lower side surface and radial outer wall surface in each instance. The upper and lower side surfaces each have an axially relieved section adjacent the radially outer diameter of the ring, so that the upper and lower sealing surfaces are formed optimally by only part of the upper and lower side surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Leo Lauderbach, Rolf Stumm
  • Patent number: 6241391
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension and bearing therefor providing improved slidability of members and torque resistance. The bearing includes a first member with at least one guide track, a second member with rolling element openings and a collar positioned within the second member to rotatably receive rolling elements positioned within the rolling element openings and guided by the at least one guide track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Inventor: Howard Hoose
  • Patent number: 6220409
    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 compression and a rebound valve assembly. The piston assembly also includes a housing attached to the piston rod within which is slidably disposed a piston to define a closed chamber. The closed chamber is in communication with one of the working chambers through a passageway extending through the piston rod. The housing and piston provide two stage damping in rebound and compression with a smooth transition between soft and firm damping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan Deferme