Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for varying the damping characteristics of a shock absorber

US4756393A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
13References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 18, 1986
Grant dateJul 12, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 18, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16F9/462
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus for varying the damping characteristics of a shock absorber of the kind comprising a piston rod and an adjusting shaft mounted coaxially within the piston rod for rotation relative to the piston rod. Upon a change in its angular position relative to the piston rod, the adjusting shaft effects a change in an effective oil passage area in the shock absorber, and thus varies its damping characteristics. The adjusting shaft (16) has a free end (15) located at the end of the piston rod. The apparatus comprises a housing (4, 18, 19, 50) arranged to be attached to the end of the piston rod. The housing accommodates, in succession: an electric motor (1) adapted to be driven and positioned in two directions; a speed reducer (2) coupled to an output shaft (26) thereof; and a universal joint (3) disposed between an output member (33) of the speed reducer (2) and the free end (15) of the shock absorber adjusting shaft (16).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.