Self-pumping Patents (Class 267/64.17)
  • Patent number: 11492062
    Abstract: A shock absorber assembly including a first sheath slidingly housing inside it a first piston which is filled with hydraulic fluid, the first piston having a first stem extending from the first sheath and a first head contained inside the first sheath, a second sheath slidingly housing inside it a second piston which is filled with hydraulic fluid, the second piston having a second stem extending from the second sheath and a second head contained inside the second sheath. The first and second sheaths are fluidly connected to each other by means of at least one upper duct and a first interconnection duct passing through a control body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: PIAGGIO & C. S.P.A.
    Inventor: Andrea Raffaelli
  • Patent number: 11320016
    Abstract: A vibration damper may include an external tube and at least one internal tube. The external and internal tubes may be disposed in a coaxial manner relative to one another. An annular gap may exist between the external tube and the internal tube, and the annular gap may be fluidically connected to the internal tube. The annular gap may form a compensation chamber for receiving damper oil and damper gas for preloading of the damper oil in the compensation chamber. The vibration damper may further include a separating element disposed in the compensation chamber. The separating element may be axially displaceable and may separate the damper oil from the damper gas in a fluid-tight manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP BILSTEIN GMBH, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Freddy Woenarta
  • Patent number: 10605275
    Abstract: In an interior of a cylinder tube of a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston unit is displaced along an axial direction under the supply of a pressure fluid, and the piston unit is connected to one end of a piston rod. Further, a rod cover is disposed on another end of the cylinder tube, and in the center thereof, a cylindrical holder is provided that displaceably supports the piston rod. The holder is fixed integrally by a plurality of first rivets, in a state in which a flange member, which is expanded radially outward, abuts against an inner wall surface of the rod cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunaga Suzuki, Chiaki Fukui, Makoto Yaegashi
  • Patent number: 10562365
    Abstract: A vibration damper of a vehicle wheel is supported on a vehicle body by a damper mount having an elastic body. The vibration damper includes a fluid-filled cylinder, a piston guided in the cylinder, and a piston rod. A wherein a damper chamber is formed in the cylinder on each side of the piston. The damper mount includes a hydraulic pressure chamber connected via a fluid-conducting connection to the damper chambers, whose volumes are respectively reduced when the vehicle wheel is deflected in relation to the vehicle body. In addition, a throttle valve is provided in the fluid-conducting connection, wherein the throttle value comprises a valve body that is displaceable in relation to a valve seat counter to a spring force, and a throttle bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Roland Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10471798
    Abstract: An active suspension system is configured in a strut arrangement. The active suspension system comprises a hydraulic actuator and a hydraulic pump/electric motor assembly, wherein the actuator movement is preferably in lockstep with the hydraulic motor-pump and electric motor-generator combination. Torque in the electric motor is instantaneously controlled by a controller to create an immediate force change on the hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic actuator is configured so that it can be used as a strut whereby the actuator has sufficient structural rigidity to carry the applied suspension loads while capable of supplying damper forces in at least three quadrants of the force velocity graph of the suspension actuator operation. Embodiments disclosed include low cost active suspension systems for a MacPherson strut application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Clive Tucker, Zackary Martin Anderson, David Michael Lewis, Ross J. Wendell, Alexander Apostolos Alexandridis
  • Patent number: 10370057
    Abstract: A vehicle height adjustment apparatus according to one embodiment includes a spring, a spring-length changing unit, a first valve, a control valve and a second valve. The spring-length changing unit changes a length of the spring in accordance with an amount of oil in a jack chamber that accommodates the oil. The first valve opens and closes a first communication path in which the oil supplied from a pump is oriented toward a reservoir chamber that stores the oil. The control valve opens and closes a discharge flow path oriented toward the reservoir chamber from a chamber that accommodates the oil to close the first valve. The second valve opens and closes a second communication path in which the oil supplied from the pump is oriented toward the jack chamber when the first valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Murakami, Hiroyuki Miyata
  • Patent number: 9868624
    Abstract: A system and method of operating a scissors lift assembly are provided. The system includes a hollow piston rod including an internal fluid reservoir, a cylinder body that is coaxial with and at least partially surrounding the hollow piston rod, and a fluid pump in flow communication with the reservoir through a suction channel extending from the internal fluid reservoir though a transfer tube to a suction port of the fluid pump. The transfer tube is coaxial with the piston, the piston rod, and the cylinder body and a discharge port of the fluid pump is in flow communication with an extension pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Xtreme Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Don Francis Ahern, Ronald Lee Fifield
  • Patent number: 9809075
    Abstract: A gas spring and gas damper assembly includes a gas spring assembly and a gas damper assembly. The gas spring assembly includes a first wall portion, a second wall portion disposed in spaced relation to the first wall portion, and a flexible wall section connected therebetween. The gas damper assembly includes a third wall portion disposed in longitudinally-spaced relation to the first wall portion, and a second flexible wall section connected between the second wall portion and the third wall portion. A fourth wall portion is disposed between the first and second wall sections to define two pressurized gas chambers. A damper rod connects at least the first and third wall portions. Methods are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph A. Bounds
  • Patent number: 9765841
    Abstract: A damper assembly includes a tubular member, an outer cylinder positioned at least partially within the tubular member, an inner cylinder positioned at least partially within the outer cylinder, a cap coupled to the inner cylinder, a plunger received within the inner cylinder and coupled to an end of a rod extending at least partially within the inner cylinder, an annular piston fixed to the inner cylinder where the annular piston extends between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and a barrier extending between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. The rod has an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the inner cylinder. The plunger, the cap, and an interior of the inner cylinder at least partially define a first chamber. The barrier, the annular piston, an exterior surface of the inner cylinder, and the outer cylinder at least partially define a second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Ellifson, Darin Rosenboom
  • Patent number: 9701360
    Abstract: A suspension system for use with a motorcycle includes a single body having two pneumatic cylinders in axial alignment therein. The suspension system may be sold in a kit, and may be installed in an existing front wheel fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: AIRFX, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Schwindt
  • Patent number: 9611001
    Abstract: An reaction force adjustment member is attached to a suspension including a cylinder, a piston rod which has a piston at one end thereof and which is inserted into the cylinder together with the piston, and a diaphragm which has one end fixed to the cylinder and the other end fixed to the other end of the piston rod and which forms an air chamber around at least the piston rod. The reaction force adjustment member includes a cylindrical member which is provided on an outer circumference of the cylinder surrounded by the diaphragm when the suspension is extended and compressed. An outer circumference surface of the cylindrical member has an uneven surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeki Awasa
  • Patent number: 9428029
    Abstract: An air spring module including an air spring and a shock absorber for springing and damping vibrations of a motor vehicle chassis, including—at least two working chambers filled with compressed air and connectable via at least one valve, an air spring cover, a rolling bellows fixed to the air spring cover in an air-tight manner and at least partly delimits a first working chamber filled with compressed air, and a rolling piston, which is fixed to a cylindrical tube of the shock absorber and on which the rolling bellows rolls. A second and a third working chamber are arranged one above the other in the rolling piston so as to surround the cylindrical tube. The working chambers are separated from each other by an intermediate floor provided in the rolling piston and can be connected to the first working chamber via switchable valves arranged in the rolling piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventor: Heinz Job
  • Patent number: 9327575
    Abstract: An air spring for a vehicle may include a piston chamber with a bottom connected with an axle assembly to be able to move up/down, an air chamber with a top fixed to a car body and a bottom seated over a top of the piston chamber to be extendable and contractible by inflow/outflow of air, a piston positioned in the piston chamber, vertically dividing an internal space of the piston chamber into upper and lower internal spaces, and airtightly separating the upper internal space from the lower internal space, and an air control mechanism allowing air to flow into/out of the upper and lower internal spaces of the piston chamber and the internal space of the air chamber so that the piston chamber and the axle assembly are moved up/down with extension/contraction of the air chamber by the inflow/outflow of the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Byung Bae Kim
  • Patent number: 9139064
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension system enables active control of pre-load, spring rate, and ride height by using a fluid damper housing defining an interior chamber containing an incompressible fluid and a hollow rod supporting a piston extending into the interior chamber. The housing is movable relative to the hollow rod such that fluid volume in the interior chamber varies. A multi-chambered manifold is operatively connected to the hollow rod and has a first gas chamber in fluid communication with a second gas chamber. A first plunger, a second plunger, and a third plunger are supported by the manifold. A first actuator is operable to move the third plunger to vary a volume of the first gas chamber between the first and third plungers. A second actuator is operable to move the second plunger to vary a volume of the second gas chamber in communication with the first gas chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert P. Marble, Robert G. Izak
  • Patent number: 8944422
    Abstract: A spring system in particular for bicycles includes a gas suspension spring with adjustable progression and a housing element for movably receiving the suspension piston of the gas suspension spring. The gas suspension spring has a spring volume including a first spring chamber and at least a second spring chamber separated from one another by a partitioning member. The first spring chamber is arranged within the housing element and the second spring chamber extends internal of the housing portion consecutive to the housing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: DT Swiss, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Achenbach
  • Patent number: 8887882
    Abstract: A vibration damper with integrated level control includes a cylinder in which a hollow piston rod with a piston outfitted with damping valves is guided so as to be axially movable. The piston divides the cylinder into a workspace on the piston rod side and a workspace remote of the piston rod. The workspace on the piston rod side is limited at the end by a piston rod guide, and the workspace remote of the piston rod is connected to a pump space by at least one connection opening in a separating wall. The separating wall supports a hollow rod on which the piston slides and controls the pump operation of the vibration damper. A compensation space receives the damping volume displaced by the piston rod due to a dynamic load, and the piston rod guide is guided in the cylinder so as to be movable axially, and the connection opening in the separating wall is outfitted with a valve that opens in the direction of the work space remote of the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Hubert Beck
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8770361
    Abstract: A residual pressure holding valve (1) for a hydropneumatic suspension strut (2) of a motor vehicle has a valve housing (3) with an air inlet (4) and an air outlet (5). A valve body (6) is arranged displaceably in the valve housing (3) and a valve element (7) is arranged displaceably in the valve body (6). Air pressure applied to the air inlet (4) can lift the valve body (6) off a valve body seat (8) of the valve housing (3) to allow air to flow past the valve body (6) to the air outlet (5). Air pressure applied to the air outlet (5) can lift the valve element (7) off a valve element seat (9) of the valve body (6) to allow air to flow past the valve element (7) to the air inlet (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Francesco Germano, Steffen Lang, Claus Blattner, Thomas Sprengel
  • Patent number: 8746661
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydro-pneumatic piston accumulator (1), particularly for vehicle suspension systems, consisting of an accumulator housing (2) and a separating piston (6), which is disposed free-floating inside the accumulator housing in a displaceable manner in the direction of the movement axis (4). The separating piston separates an accumulator area (8) for a hydraulic medium from a pressure area (10) that is filled or is to be filled with a compressible medium, and is guided with an interior guide opening (30) on an elongated guide element (32), which is axially fixed within the accumulator housing (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Hemscheidt Fahrwerktechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Walter Runkel
  • Patent number: 8740200
    Abstract: A fluid-elastomeric damper assembly operable for damping relative motion between a first structure and a second structure including a housing structure grounded to the first structure and a plurality of elastomer seals coupled to the housing structure, the housing structure and the plurality of elastomer seals defining a fluid-elastomeric chamber operable for containing a fluid. The fluid-elastomeric damper assembly also including one or more piston structures disposed within the housing structure and the fluid-elastomeric chamber, the one or more piston structures grounded to the first structure and driven by the second structure, and the one or more piston structures each including a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber in communication via an orifice, the first substantially fluid-filled chamber and the second substantially fluid-filled chamber also in communication with the fluid-elastomeric chamber through a fluid backfiller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: LORD Corporation
    Inventor: Donald D. Russell
  • Patent number: 8740577
    Abstract: A damping compressor generates compressed air by damping a relative motion between an axle and a chassis of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Herges
  • Publication number: 20140070467
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for a vehicle, for height adjustment of a vehicle superstructure, which at one end has a first means for pivoting on a sprung mass (2) of the vehicle and at the other end a second means for pivoting on an unsprung mass (3) of the vehicle, a vibration damper (4) damping a relative movement of the sprung mass and unsprung masses (2, 3), and a self-pumping air spring (5) which supports the sprung and unsprung masses (2, 3) against each other in a sprung fashion. The vibration damper (4) according to the invention has a damping characteristic which is adjustable during operation, preferably steplessly adjustable. The invention also concerns a method for height adjustment of a vehicle superstructure by means of such a device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthias Dehmel, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Michael Seemann, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
  • Patent number: 8573606
    Abstract: A shock absorber apparatus for a vehicle may include a piston installed within a cylinder to be moved along a lengthwise direction of the cylinder and separating the cylinder into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a piston rod installed to pass through the cylinder and connected to the piston, wherein the piston rod has an oil flow space therein, and a valve mechanism installed on the piston rod and operated to be opened and closed to selectively connect the upper chamber of the cylinder and the oil flow space of the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Bo Min Kim, Sung Bae Jang, Jong Min Kim, Jae San Kim, Dae Sik Ko
  • Patent number: 8567575
    Abstract: A shock absorber, in which external gas is sucked by movement of a piston rod to obtain compressed gas, which is used for inhibiting the “lag” phenomenon. A piston valve is connected to one end of a piston rod received in an inner shell and moved between rebound and compression strokes, an inner space of the inner shell being divided into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber by the piston valve. A reservoir chamber is provided in an outer shell outside of the inner shell to supply oil to the compression chamber in the rebound stroke and to recover oil in the compression stroke. The shock absorber has a high pressure tank with a high pressure chamber installed outside of the outer shell, and a self pumping unit for sucking gas and pumping it into the high pressure chamber using energy generated by movement of the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Woo Jin Jung, Myung Hwa Hyun
  • Patent number: 8561767
    Abstract: A shock absorber, in which external gas is sucked by movement of a piston rod to obtain compressed gas, which is used for inhibiting the “lag” phenomenon. A piston valve is connected to one end of a piston rod received in an inner shell and moved between rebound and compression strokes, an inner space of the inner shell being divided into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber by the piston valve. A reservoir chamber is provided in an outer shell outside of the inner shell to supply oil to the compression chamber in the rebound stroke and to recover oil in the compression stroke. The shock absorber has a high pressure tank with a high pressure chamber installed outside of the outer shell, and a self pumping unit for sucking gas and pumping it into the high pressure chamber using energy generated by movement of the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Woo Jin Jung, Myung Hwa Hyun
  • Patent number: 8556048
    Abstract: A piston connected with a piston rod is fitted in a cylinder having a hydraulic fluid sealed therein. A damping force is generated through extension and compression disk valves and an orifice. Vehicle height adjustment is performed with a self-leveling mechanism by transferring the hydraulic fluid between the cylinder and a hydraulic fluid tank. A bladder of the hydraulic fluid tank is clamped between an outer flange portion of a partition member and a casing. Because the hydraulic fluid tank is formed without welding, it is possible to avoid contamination of the hydraulic fluid by welding sputter and thermal deformation. Provision of an O-ring on the outer flange portion can reduce the pressure acting from a reservoir on the clamped portion of the bladder and hence prevent dislodging of the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Maeda, Reiji Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8474582
    Abstract: A cushion device includes a shock absorber and an accumulator. As a piston moves in a certain direction in a cylinder so that the shock absorber is compressed, oil in an oil chamber is discharged to the accumulator through an oil hose. The compression operation of the piston allows a slide member to slide and the capacity of an oil chamber is reduced. The oil in the oil chamber is discharged to a regulation unit through an oil hose. The regulation unit controls a valve by the pressure of the oil coming in from the oil chamber and applies resistance to the oil discharged from an oil chamber to an oil chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takamasa Kamioka
  • Patent number: 8408561
    Abstract: A displaceable spring seat (2) supporting one end of a vehicle suspension spring (S) is supported by a fluid pressure of an operation chamber (J). A screw pump (P) supplying a working fluid to the operation chamber (J) includes a pump chamber (L) defined within a cylinder (10) by a piston (11, a nut (13) formed integrally with the piston (11), and a screw shaft (14) screwed into the nut (13). A guide member (16) fixed to the cylinder (10) is fitted onto an outer circumference of the nut (13) or the piston (11) such that when the screw shaft (14) is driven to rotate, the piston (11) is fed via the nut (13). The guide member (16) formed from a non-metallic, low-friction material, reduces a driving resistance of the piston (11) and improves a durability of a screw portion between the nut (13) and the screw shaft (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahisa Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 8371424
    Abstract: Yaw damper for damping yaw motions between two vehicle parts. This includes in the customary manner a piston part and a cylinder part, wherein that piston part is provided with a piston which divides that cylinder part into two chambers. Between these two chambers, connecting lines are present. The embodiment of these connecting lines determines the damping characteristic which governs the motion between the piston and the cylinder part. Especially for vehicle parts which move at higher speeds and/or high frequencies, such as train sets, it is desirable to provide a damper which is as stiff as possible. For this purpose, the present invention proposes the installation of pumping elements which, as far as possible, increase the pressure in the chambers which are formed by the piston in the cylinder part. Preferably, this construction is realized such that this pressure automatically decreases at lower speeds and/or low frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Koni B.V.
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Patent number: 8342280
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle having a hydraulic system, a cab for the vehicle operator includes a self-levelling cab suspension system having a plurality of suspension units each having a spring, a damper and an accumulator. The accumulator comprises a hydraulic working chamber which is separated by a movable wall from a gas filled chamber serving as a spring. The working chamber is also connected to a working chamber of the damper in a closed hydraulic circuit. In the invention, there is no need for a dedicated oil pump since a hydraulic actuator powered by the vehicle hydraulic system is provided for causing hydraulic fluid to flow in the closed hydraulic circuit between the working chamber of the accumulator and the damper, to vary the height of the cab without fluid from the vehicle hydraulic system entering or leaving the closed hydraulic circuit of the damper and accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventors: Patrizio Turco, Michele Ieluzzi
  • Patent number: 8267382
    Abstract: Before inner components of a hydraulic shock absorber, such as a cylinder, a piston and a piston rod, are placed, an outer shell is joined with a joint portion of an assembling apparatus so that a gas pressure chamber and the outer shell are in communication with each other. A low-pressure gas is supplied in the gas pressure chamber and the outer shell. Under a pressure of the low-pressure chamber, an oil tank subassembly is inserted in the outer shell and is fitted therein to form an oil tank. The oil tank is divided into an oil chamber and a gas chamber by a diaphragm. By this assembling method, it is possible to supply the low-pressure gas into the gas chamber without a need for a gas-supplying hole for supplying the gas into the gas chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryu Yazaki, Atsushi Maeda
  • Patent number: 8261869
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle having a hydraulic system, a cab for the vehicle operator includes a self-levelling cab suspension system having a plurality of suspension units each having a spring, a damper and an accumulator. The accumulator comprises a hydraulic working chamber which is separated by a movable wall from a gas filled chamber serving as a spring. The working chamber is also connected to a working chamber of the damper in a closed hydraulic circuit. In the invention, there is no need for a dedicated oil pump since a hydraulic actuator powered by the vehicle hydraulic system is provided for causing hydraulic fluid to flow in the closed hydraulic circuit between the working chamber of the accumulator and the damper, to vary the height of the cab without fluid from the vehicle hydraulic system entering or leaving the closed hydraulic circuit of the damper and accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Patrizio Turco, Michele Ieluzzi
  • Patent number: 8235406
    Abstract: A damper unit includes: a cylinder, connected to a reservoir; a piston dividing an interior of the cylinder into two chambers; a piston rod which is connected to the piston at one end; an inner sleeve adapted to be accommodated within a hollow recess portion in the piston rod; a pump rod; a pump unit which performs pumping for generating a force with which the piston is pushed out of the cylinder or the piston is drawn into the cylinder; a hydraulic fluid releasing unit configured to release the a hydraulic fluid within the inner sleeve and the pump rod to the reservoir or the two chambers when the piston reaches a predetermined position relative to the cylinder within a sliding range thereof by pumping of the pump unit; and a control unit configured to control the predetermined position where the hydraulic fluid is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Azekatsu
  • Patent number: 8215620
    Abstract: Self-pumping spring and damper unit (13) with automatically activated ride level control system for chassis of vehicles having a pump which is driven as a result of the distance between the articulation points (14, 15) which changes as a result of the spring compression and spring extension of the vehicle, wherein an elastic connecting element (35) is arranged between at least one pump part (33) and the associated articulation point (14) in such a way that it at least partially elastically compensates the distance between the pump parts (32, 33) which changes when the vehicle experiences spring compression and spring extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Continental AG
    Inventor: Hans-Peter Krauss
  • Patent number: 8146721
    Abstract: A self leveling shock absorber includes a base shell, an inner tube in the base shell, having a low pressure chamber between the shell and the inner tube, a piston rod in the inner tube and having a hollow portion with an upper portion closed, a piston valve coupled to the piston rod, dividing space in the inner tube into rebound and compression chambers. An outer tube installed to a lower portion of the inner tube having a high pressure chamber and a gas chamber between the shell and the outer tube. A diaphragm divides the high pressure chamber from the gas chamber. A body valve is installed to a lower end of the inner tube to control flow of fluid between the low pressure chamber and the high pressure chamber, and a pump rod is provided having a hollow portion and one end installed to the body valve and another end inserted into the hollow portion of the piston rod. A relief valve is positioned under the pump rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Nam Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8146897
    Abstract: Self-pumping hydropneumatic spring strut includes a working cylinder divided into first and second working spaces by a working piston carried on a hollow piston rod; a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber partially filled with hydraulic damping medium, the high pressure chamber having a gas cushion and being connected to the second working space; and a piston pump including a pump rod extending into the hollow piston rod, the pump rod having a bore connected to the low pressure chamber, an end provided with a suction valve inside the hollow piston rod, and a deregulating opening, which is closable as a function of position of the working piston in the working cylinder. An adjustable damping valve located outside the external tube has a first flow connection connected to the first working space, and a second flow connection connected to the second working space and the high pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Hubert Beck
  • Patent number: 8113323
    Abstract: An oil-filled working cylinder is divided into first and second working spaces by a working piston, the first working space being connected to a high pressure chamber. A piston pump includes a pump rod received in a pump cylinder formed by the hollow piston rod, the pump rod having a bore connected to a low pressure chamber via a discharge valve, a distal end provided with a suction valve, and a down-regulating opening connecting the bore to the first working space as a function of the position of the working piston, the pump cylinder being connected to the first working space by an outlet valve. At least one of the valves is a check valve including a housing having a bore, a ball reciprocably guided in the bore by guide ribs, and a resilient retaining element capturing the ball in the bore and spring-loading the ball toward a valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Hubert Beck, Klaus Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8100236
    Abstract: A shock absorber, in which external gas is sucked by movement of a piston rod to obtain compressed gas, which is used for inhibiting the “lag” phenomenon. A piston valve is connected to one end of a piston rod received in an inner shell and moved between rebound and compression strokes, an inner space of the inner shell being divided into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber by the piston valve. A reservoir chamber is provided in an outer shell outside of the inner shell to supply oil to the compression chamber in the rebound stroke and to recover oil in the compression stroke. The shock absorber has a high pressure tank with a high pressure chamber installed outside of the outer shell, and a self pumping unit for sucking gas and pumping it into the high pressure chamber using energy generated by movement of the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Woo Jin Jung, Myung Hwa Hyun
  • Patent number: 8091870
    Abstract: A self-pumping hydropneumatic spring strut is provided to have internal level control. The spring strut has an outer tube having one end sealed by a piston rod guide, a working cylinder received inside the outer tube, and a hollow piston rod extending into the working cylinder through the piston rod guide. The piston rod carries a piston, which is operable to travel axially inside the working cylinder in a sealing manner and separates the working cylinder into first and second working spaces. The first working space is under a high-pressure from a high-pressure chamber and acting as a spring and the second working space is located on a piston rod-side. The spring strut also has a pump rod received inside the hollow piston rod. The pump rod and the hollow piston rod form a piston pump, which, in response to sprung movements acted thereonto, conveys a damping media from a low-pressure chamber into the first working space connected to the high-pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Holger Kirchner, Thomas Meyer
  • Patent number: 8074974
    Abstract: A vehicle height adjusting device includes a cylinder (1), a rod (3) inserted in the cylinder (1), a piston (4) connected to the rod (3) and movable within the cylinder (1), and defining a rod side chamber (2a) and an non-rod side chamber (2b) in the cylinder (1), damping parts (4a, 4b) for generating a damping force by the movement of the rod (3), a high pressure chamber (18) and a low pressure chamber (16) charged with gas, a pump chamber (25) for adjusting the vehicle height by supplying the working fluid in the low pressure chamber (16) into the non-rod side chamber (2b), a communicating path (5a) for communicating the non-rod side chamber (2b) and the high pressure chamber (18), and a valve body (20) for increasing and reducing a channel area of the communicating path (5a) depending on the fluid pressure of the high pressure chamber (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Syusaku Nogami, Tomohiko Baba
  • Patent number: 8052128
    Abstract: A self-pumping hydropneumatic spring strut with internal leveling control, particularly for motor vehicles, has an outer tube having an oil-filled high-pressure work space in the work cylinder, which high-pressure work space is under pressure by at least one gas cushion which is arranged in a high-pressure chamber and acts as a spring, a second work space on the piston rod side, and a piston which is supported by a hollow piston rod and which is axially displaceable in the work cylinder in a sealed manner, a piston pump which is driven by the spring movement of the vehicle and pumps oil out of a low-pressure chamber into the work space connected to the high-pressure chamber and which comprises a pump rod and a pump cylinder which is formed by the hollow piston rod, and the high-pressure chamber can be connected to the atmosphere by a flow connection which is arranged in the piston rod guide and has a closing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Holger Kirchner, Hubert Beck, Thomas Meyer
  • Patent number: 8047340
    Abstract: In a suspension spring adjusting apparatus of a hydraulic shock absorber, a mounting mating surface sealed by a spring adjusting case and a seal material of a case cover is formed in a flat surface shape, and an outer peripheral edge of the case cover is provided with a skirt portion covering over an outer peripheral surface of the spring adjusting case via a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventor: Shigenobu Abe
  • Patent number: 8042791
    Abstract: Self-pumping hydropneumatic shock absorber with internal level control, with an oil-filled working cylinder under the pressure of gas cushions and with a damping piston, which is attached to the end of a hollow piston rod and can slide back and forth in the working cylinder, the hollow space in the piston rod serving as the pump space of a pump rod attached to the working cylinder. Oil is drawn from a reservoir space when the piston rod travels outward and into the working space when the piston rod travels inward, and where a control opening is provided in the pump rod to compensate for pressure differences between the working spaces. At least one throttle acting as a function of pressure is provided in the pump space between the high-pressure gas cushion and the low-pressure gas cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Klaus Schmitz, Roland Krupp
  • Patent number: 7931258
    Abstract: A fluid-elastomeric damper assembly operable for damping relative motion between a first structure and a second structure including a housing structure grounded to the first structure and a plurality of elastomer seals coupled to the housing structure, the housing structure and the plurality of elastomer seals defining a fluid-elastomeric chamber operable for containing a fluid. The fluid-elastomeric damper assembly also including one or more piston structures disposed within the housing structure and the fluid-elastomeric chamber, the one or more piston structures grounded to the first structure and driven by the second structure, and the one or more piston structures each including a first substantially fluid-filled chamber and a second substantially-fluid-filled chamber in communication via an orifice, the first substantially fluid-filled chamber and the second substantially fluid-filled chamber also in communication with the fluid-elastomeric chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: LORD Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Russell, Peter Jones, Eric Seitter
  • Publication number: 20110024957
    Abstract: A vehicle height adjusting apparatus of a hydraulic shock absorber has a hydraulic pump carrying out a pumping action by an extending and retracting motion of a piston rod with respect to a damper tube so as to feed a working fluid to a jack chamber of a hydraulic jack, and a blow valve releasing a jack pressure of the jack chamber which is pressurized by a plunger of the hydraulic jack exposed to a spring load on a suspension spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Osamu Nagai
  • Patent number: 7806390
    Abstract: A spring system in particular for bicycles includes a gas suspension spring with adjustable progression and a housing element for movably receiving the suspension piston of the gas suspension spring. The gas suspension spring includes a spring volume including a first spring chamber and at least a second spring chamber separated from one another by a partitioning member. The first spring chamber is arranged within the housing element and the second spring chamber extends internal of the housing portion consecutive to the housing element. One single adjustment element allows adjustment of both the damping system and the spring characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: DT Swiss, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Achenbach
  • Patent number: 7717669
    Abstract: A load absorption arrangement 40 for absorbing loads in a variable stator vane positioning system of a gas turbine engine includes a valve 42 which has a first operating condition to enable the load absorption arrangement 40 to transmit load, and a second operating condition, which is operable above a predetermined load, in which the valve 42 can release to enable the load absorption arrangement 40 to absorb the load thereon. The arrangement 40 is particularly suitable for absorbing shock loads which may arise under engine surge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Sheath, Paul S. McCabe
  • Publication number: 20100065994
    Abstract: Self-pumping spring and damper unit (13) with automatically activated ride level control system for chassis of vehicles having a pump which is driven as a result of the distance between the articulation points (14, 15) which changes as a result of the spring compression and spring extension of the vehicle, wherein an elastic connecting element (35) is arranged between at least one pump part (33) and the associated articulation point (14) in such a way that it at least partially elastically compensates the distance between the pump parts (32, 33) which changes when the vehicle experiences spring compression and spring extension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventor: Hans_Peter Krauss
  • Patent number: 7635051
    Abstract: A suspension system for motor vehicles with a level control for adjusting a predetermined height of the vehicle body is configured with at least one piston-cylinder unit which is provided with a work cylinder, a piston rod and a damping piston having damping valves, a pump of an oil reservoir, corresponding inlet lines and outlet lines from the oil reservoir, and corresponding inlet lines and outlet lines from the oil reservoir to the piston-cylinder unit, and vice versa, and the pump is configured with a pump piston and a drive unit. The piston-cylinder unit and the pump are constructed as separate subassemblies which are manufactured independently beforehand, and at least the piston-cylinder unit is filled with damping medium before the two subassemblies are mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Hubert Beck
  • Patent number: 7568562
    Abstract: A self-pumping hydropneumatic spring strut includes an oil-filled working cylinder which is divided into two working spaces by a working piston carried by a hollow piston rod. Two high-pressure chambers connectable to the cylinder in such that the piston rod is selectively supported in both directions of movement either on a gas cushion provided by the first high-pressure chamber, the second high-pressure chamber, or both high-pressure chambers. Further, the spring strut includes a piston pump driven by the movements of the piston rod and for conveying oil from a low-pressure chamber to the working space which is connected to at least one of the high-pressure chambers. Moreover, a control channel connects the working space, which is connected to at least one of the high-pressure chambers, to the low-pressure chamber via a control opening, which can be closed as a function of the position of the working piston in the working cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Hubert Beck