FLOW-CONTROL PASSIVE VALVE AND DAMPING-ADJUSTABLE SHOCK ABSORBER COMPRISING SAME
First Claim
1. A flow-control passive valve (32) for controlling flow of a fluid between an upstream space (22) at high pressure (pH) and a downstream space (28) at low pressure (pL), the flow-control passive valve (32) comprising:
- a valve body (34, 36) in fluid communication on one side (64) with the upstream space (22) and on another side (82) with the downstream space (28), a first space (62) and a second space (66) being defined within the valve body (34, 36);
a movable member (48) slidably received in a chamber (46) of the valve body (34, 36);
resiliency (54) applying on the movable member (48) a force tending to keep the movable member in a given “
non-working”
position; and
metering discs (56, 64, 68, 72, 76) for metering the flow of the fluid from the upstream space (22) to the downstream space (28) through the valve body (34, 36), the metering discs (56, 64, 68, 72, 76) including;
a first fixed restrictor (64) through which the first space (62) is in fluid communication with the upstream space (22);
a second fixed restrictor (76) through which the first space (62) is in fluid communication with the downstream space (28);
a first variable restrictor (56, 72) a restriction amount of which depends on a position of the movable member (48) and through which the first space (62) is in fluid communication with the downstream space (28) in substantial parallel to the second fixed restrictor (76);
a second variable restrictor (56, 68) a restriction amount of which depends on the position of the movable member (48) and through which the first space (62) is in fluid communication with the second space (66); and
a third fixed restrictor (56, 40) through which the second space (66) is in fluid communication with the downstream space (28),wherein a pressure (p1) in the first space (62) is lower than a pressure in the upstream space (22) as a result of a pressure drop through the first fixed restrictor (64) while a pressure (p2) in the second space (66) is variable between the pressure (p1) in the first space (62) and the pressure (pL) in the downstream space (28) depending on the position of the movable member (48).
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flow-control passive valve controls flow of fluid between an upstream space at high pressure and downstream space at low pressure. The valve comprises a valve body in fluid communication with the upstream and downstream spaces and within which are defined first and second spaces. A movable member is slidably received in a body chamber, and a force is applied to the member tending to keep it in a given “non-working” position. Metering discs meter the flow from the upstream to downstream space through the body and comprise first, second, and third fixed restrictors and first and second variable restrictors. Pressure in the first space is lower than that in the upstream space via a pressure drop through the first fixed restrictor while pressure in the second space is variable between the pressure in the first space and that in the downstream space depending on the position of the member.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A flow-control passive valve (32) for controlling flow of a fluid between an upstream space (22) at high pressure (pH) and a downstream space (28) at low pressure (pL), the flow-control passive valve (32) comprising:
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a valve body (34, 36) in fluid communication on one side (64) with the upstream space (22) and on another side (82) with the downstream space (28), a first space (62) and a second space (66) being defined within the valve body (34, 36); a movable member (48) slidably received in a chamber (46) of the valve body (34, 36); resiliency (54) applying on the movable member (48) a force tending to keep the movable member in a given “
non-working”
position; andmetering discs (56, 64, 68, 72, 76) for metering the flow of the fluid from the upstream space (22) to the downstream space (28) through the valve body (34, 36), the metering discs (56, 64, 68, 72, 76) including; a first fixed restrictor (64) through which the first space (62) is in fluid communication with the upstream space (22); a second fixed restrictor (76) through which the first space (62) is in fluid communication with the downstream space (28); a first variable restrictor (56, 72) a restriction amount of which depends on a position of the movable member (48) and through which the first space (62) is in fluid communication with the downstream space (28) in substantial parallel to the second fixed restrictor (76); a second variable restrictor (56, 68) a restriction amount of which depends on the position of the movable member (48) and through which the first space (62) is in fluid communication with the second space (66); and a third fixed restrictor (56, 40) through which the second space (66) is in fluid communication with the downstream space (28), wherein a pressure (p1) in the first space (62) is lower than a pressure in the upstream space (22) as a result of a pressure drop through the first fixed restrictor (64) while a pressure (p2) in the second space (66) is variable between the pressure (p1) in the first space (62) and the pressure (pL) in the downstream space (28) depending on the position of the movable member (48). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A damping-adjustable shock absorber (10) for at least one of an active and a semi-active suspension system for a motor vehicle, the shock absorber comprising:
at least one flow-control passive valve (32) for controlling flow of a fluid between an upstream space (22) at high pressure (pH) and a downstream space (28) at low pressure (pL), the flow-control passive valve (32) including; a valve body (34, 36) in fluid communication on one side (64) with the upstream space (22) and on another side (82) with the downstream space (28), a first space (62) and a second space (66) being defined within the valve body (34, 36); a movable member (48) slidably received in a chamber (46) of the valve body (34, 36); resiliency (54) applying on the movable member (48) a force tending to keep the movable member in a given “
non-working”
position; andmetering discs (56, 64, 68, 72, 76) for metering the flow of the fluid from the upstream space (22) to the downstream space (28) through the valve body (34, 36), the metering discs (56, 64, 68, 72, 76) having; a first fixed restrictor (64) through which the first space (62) is in fluid communication with the upstream space (22); a second fixed restrictor (76) through which the first space (62) is in fluid communication with the downstream space (28); a first variable restrictor (56, 72) a restriction amount of which depends on a position of the movable member (48) and through which the first space (62) is in fluid communication with the downstream space (28) in substantial parallel to the second fixed restrictor (76); a second variable restrictor (56, 68) a restriction amount of which depends on the position of the movable member (48) and through which the first space (62) is in fluid communication with the second space (66); and a third fixed restrictor (56, 40) through which the second space (66) is in fluid communication with the downstream space (28), wherein a pressure in the first space (62) is lower than a pressure in the upstream space (22) as a result of a pressure drop through the first fixed restrictor 64 while a pressure (p2) in the second space 66 is variable between the pressure (p1in the first space (62) and the pressure (pL) in the downstream space (28) depending on the position of the movable member (48). - View Dependent Claims (9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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10. At least one of an active and a semi-active suspension system for a motor vehicle, the suspension system comprising:
at least one shock absorber including; at least one flow-control passive valve (32) for controlling flow of a fluid between an upstream space (22) at high pressure (pH) and a downstream space (28) at low pressure (pL), the flow-control passive valve (32) having; a valve body (34, 36) in fluid communication on one side (64) with the upstream space (22) and on another side (82) with the downstream space (28), a first space (62) and a second space (66) being defined within the valve body (34, 36); a movable member (48) slidably received in a chamber (46) of the valve body (34, 36); resiliency (54) applying on the movable member (48) a force tending to keep the movable member in a given “
non-working”
position; andmetering discs (56, 64, 68, 72, 76) for metering the flow of the fluid from the upstream space (22) to the downstream space (28) through the valve body (34, 36), the metering discs (56, 64, 68, 72, 76) comprising; a first fixed restrictor (64) through which the first space (62) is in fluid communication with the upstream space (22); a second fixed restrictor (76) through which the first space (62) is in fluid communication with the downstream space (28); a first variable restrictor (56, 72) a restriction amount of which depends on a position of the movable member (48) and through which the first space (62) is in fluid communication with the downstream space (28) in substantial parallel to the second fixed restrictor (76); a second variable restrictor (56, 68) a restriction amount of which depends on the position of the movable member (48) and through which the first space (62) is in fluid communication with the second space (66); and a third fixed restrictor (56, 40) through which the second space (66) is in fluid communication with the downstream space (28), wherein a pressure (p1) in the first space (62) is lower than a pressure in the upstream space (22) as a result of a pressure drop through the first fixed restrictor (64) while a pressure (p2) and space (66) is variable between the pressure (p1) in the first space (62) and the pressure (pL) in the downstream space (28) depending on the position of the movable member (48). - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification