Shock absorber with positive and negative gas spring chambers
US6135434A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 15, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 24, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 15, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16F9/36
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A gas spring shock absorber (10A) includes a damping fluid cylinder (14A) telescopically housed within an air cylinder (12A). A shaft (16A) connects a sealable, outer end (18A) of the air cylinder with a vented piston (32A) movably mounted within the damping fluid cylinder. A first fluid seal (60) extends from the gas cylinder and contacts the outer surface (38A) of the damping cylinder while a second fluid seal (34A) extends from the damping cylinder and contacts the inner surface (36A) of the gas cylinder. The fluid seals create a sealed variable-volume air chamber (40A) which is divided into air positive and air negative spring chambers (62,64). The air negative spring chamber is defined between the two fluid seals and automatically balances the force on the damping unit from the pressurized gas in the first air chamber portion. A bypass channel (66) is provided to permit fluid to bypass the second fluid seal and automatically equalize the pressure in the air positive and air negative spring chambers when the second fluid seal is aligned therewith.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.