Damper and valve
US6193029A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 8, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 27, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 8, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16F2224/0283
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A valve regulates fluid displacement in a damper assembly, for example, displacement of hydraulic fluid in a sealed shock absorber. The valve is placed between a portion of fluid at one pressure and regulates the passage of fluid through an aperture or passage to a portion of fluid at a lower pressure by a blocking member which moves to obstruct the aperture in accordance with a desired level of damping. The blocking member is, or is driven by, an electroactive device, such as a bimorph actuator formed of ferroelectric material. In one embodiment, the blocking member is a bimorph which covers the aperture, and is flexibly displaced by passage of pressurized fluid through the aperture. A controller provides an electrical actuation signal to move the bimorph toward or away from the aperture, augmenting or decreasing its closing bias to affect both the threshold flow initiation pressure and the rate of flow once the passage opens. Preferably the blocking member is a flexible piezoelectric assembly, which moves across a gap to provide a varying obstruction in the near field of fluid flow as the fluid moves through the passage. Piezobenders, washers and various pinned or cantilevered co…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.