Gas spring with travel control
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A gas spring suspension comprising:
- an internal gas chamber;
a valve rod disposed within said internal gas chamber, said valve rod further comprising;
an internal fluid path; and
at least through hole formed in said valve rod, said through hole configured to enable fluid communication between said internal gas chamber and said internal fluid path of said valve rod;
a moveable piston assembly disposed within said internal gas chamber, said moveable piston assembly dividing said internal gas chamber into a first variable volume gas chamber and a second variable volume gas chamber, said moveable piston assembly configured to move with respect to said valve rod; and
an adjuster disposed external to said internal gas chamber, said adjuster coupled to said valve rod and configured to adjust a location of said through hole within said internal gas chamber, said location of said through hole within said internal gas chamber corresponding to a travel mode for said gas spring suspension such that differing positions of said through hole within said internal gas chamber correspond to different travel modes for said gas spring suspension.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a gas spring having a travel control includes positive and negative chambers and a valve mechanism that controls the fluid communication between the chambers. The valve mechanism includes a valve bore that while only moving a small amount, allows for large changes in gas spring travel length.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A gas spring suspension comprising:
-
an internal gas chamber; a valve rod disposed within said internal gas chamber, said valve rod further comprising; an internal fluid path; and at least through hole formed in said valve rod, said through hole configured to enable fluid communication between said internal gas chamber and said internal fluid path of said valve rod; a moveable piston assembly disposed within said internal gas chamber, said moveable piston assembly dividing said internal gas chamber into a first variable volume gas chamber and a second variable volume gas chamber, said moveable piston assembly configured to move with respect to said valve rod; and an adjuster disposed external to said internal gas chamber, said adjuster coupled to said valve rod and configured to adjust a location of said through hole within said internal gas chamber, said location of said through hole within said internal gas chamber corresponding to a travel mode for said gas spring suspension such that differing positions of said through hole within said internal gas chamber correspond to different travel modes for said gas spring suspension. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A gas spring suspension comprising:
-
an internal gas chamber; a valve rod assembly disposed within said internal gas chamber, said valve rod assembly further comprising; an outer valve rod having a hollow interior; and a valve control assembly disposed within said outer valve rod, said valve control assembly including an inner valve rod, said inner valve rod having at least one valve rod bore formed therethrough, said inner valve rod longitudinally moveable with respect to said outer valve rod, said inner valve rod enclosing a fluid path; and a moveable piston assembly disposed within said internal gas chamber, said moveable piston assembly dividing said internal gas chamber into a first variable volume gas chamber and a second variable volume gas chamber, said moveable piston assembly configured to move with respect to said valve rod assembly; and an adjuster disposed external to said internal gas chamber, said adjuster coupled to said inner valve rod and configured to longitudinally adjust a position of said inner valve rod with respect to said outer valve rod, said position of said inner valve rod with respect to said outer valve rod corresponding to a travel mode for said gas spring suspension such that differing positions of said inner valve rod with respect to said outer valve rod correspond to different travel modes for said gas spring suspension. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification