Replacement indicator for a shock absorber

• US 10,539,203 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2019
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Incorporated (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Incorporated (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kunkel, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahase, Pameshanand
• Application Number:
  US16/274,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20190178327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 13/08 hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0182 involving parameter estimation, e.g. observer, Kalman filter
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0185 for failure detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/112 on dampers, e.g. fluid dampers
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/5182 Fluid damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/042 Monitoring means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/802 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2230/24 Detecting or preventing malfunction, e.g. fail safe
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/3264 Arrangements for indicating, e.g. fluid level; Arrangements for checking dampers F16F9/3292 takes precedence; testing of vehicle damping G01M17/04
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/3292 Sensor arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance

Abstract

A replacement indicator for a shock absorber includes a pressure sensor which monitors pressure of operating fluid inside the shock absorber. The replacement indicator includes an indicative mechanism operatively coupled with the pressure sensor. The indicative mechanism includes an indicator component coupled to the shock absorber. The indicator component gets displaced relative to an outer surface of the shock absorber when the pressure of the operating fluid drops below a threshold pressure.

Claims

1. A replacement indicator for a shock absorber comprising:

a pressure sensor configured to monitor pressure of operating fluid inside the shock absorber; and

an indicative mechanism operatively coupled with the pressure sensor, wherein the indicative mechanism includes an indicator component coupled to the shock absorber, wherein the indicator component gets displaced relative to an outer surface of the shock absorber when the pressure of the operating fluid drops below a threshold pressure.

2. The replacement indicator of claim 1, wherein the indicator component getting displaced relative to the outer surface of the shock absorber indicates replacement requirement of the shock absorber.

3. The replacement indicator of claim 1, wherein the threshold pressure is defined as a minimum operating pressure required for functioning of the shock absorber.

4. The replacement indicator of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is mechanical pressure sensor.

5. The replacement indicator of claim 1, wherein the indicator component getting displaced relative to the outer surface of the shock absorber indicates that the shock absorber should be inspected.

6. The replacement indicator of claim 1, wherein the indicator component getting displaced relative to the outer surface of the shock absorber indicates that the shock absorber should be replaced.

7. The replacement indicator of claim 1, wherein the operating fluid is a gas, and the pressure sensor monitors a gas pressure.

8. The replacement indicator of claim 1, wherein the shock absorber has a head end and a rod end, and the pressure sensor is disposed towards the head end.

9. The replacement indicator of claim 8, wherein the indicative mechanism is disposed towards the head end.

10. The replacement indicator of claim 1, wherein the shock absorber has a head end and a rod end, and the pressure sensor is disposed towards the rod end.

11. The replacement indicator of claim 10, wherein the indicative mechanism is disposed towards the rod end.