ELECTRONIC DAMPER CONTROL
First Claim
1. An electronically controlled damper, comprising:
- a damper body defining a chamber for housing a damping fluid and having a first mounting portion at a distal end and a shaft aperture at a proximal end;
an elongate shaft slidingly extending through the shaft aperture, the elongate shaft having a distal portion within the chamber and a proximal portion external to the chamber;
a piston disposed at a distal end of the elongate shaft, the piston defining a first chamber portion at the distal end of the chamber and a second chamber portion at the proximal end of the chamber, the piston having a damping valve and configured to sealingly translate along the chamber; and
a fluid bypass assembly external to the chamber at a proximal end of the elongate shaft, the fluid bypass assembly comprising;
a second mounting portion;
a first reservoir for the damping fluid in fluid communication with the first chamber portion;
a second reservoir for the damping fluid in fluid communication with the second chamber portion; and
a control valve having a plunger positioned between the first and second reservoirs and configured to selectively reciprocate from a closed position when de-energized, where damping fluid is prevented from flowing between the first and second reservoirs, to an open position when energized, where damping fluid is permitted to flow from the second reservoir to the first reservoir during a rebound stroke of the damper,wherein the plunger is positioned such that pressure of the damping fluid in the second reservoir exerts a force to bias the plunger toward the closed position during the rebound stroke of the damper.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Generally described, aspects of the disclosed subject matter are directed to electronically controlled dampers having shimmed pistons. In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, the dampers generally include a shaft having a piston with compression and rebound valves extending therethrough. For further damper tuning and adjustment, a fluid bypass assembly permits damping fluid to bypass the piston during operation. The fluid bypass assembly may include a metering pin for manual adjustment of the fluid bypass, and a control valve for electronic adjustment of the fluid bypass. In this regard, the control valve may be controlled automatically, manually, or a combination thereof.
3 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An electronically controlled damper, comprising:
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a damper body defining a chamber for housing a damping fluid and having a first mounting portion at a distal end and a shaft aperture at a proximal end; an elongate shaft slidingly extending through the shaft aperture, the elongate shaft having a distal portion within the chamber and a proximal portion external to the chamber; a piston disposed at a distal end of the elongate shaft, the piston defining a first chamber portion at the distal end of the chamber and a second chamber portion at the proximal end of the chamber, the piston having a damping valve and configured to sealingly translate along the chamber; and a fluid bypass assembly external to the chamber at a proximal end of the elongate shaft, the fluid bypass assembly comprising; a second mounting portion; a first reservoir for the damping fluid in fluid communication with the first chamber portion; a second reservoir for the damping fluid in fluid communication with the second chamber portion; and a control valve having a plunger positioned between the first and second reservoirs and configured to selectively reciprocate from a closed position when de-energized, where damping fluid is prevented from flowing between the first and second reservoirs, to an open position when energized, where damping fluid is permitted to flow from the second reservoir to the first reservoir during a rebound stroke of the damper, wherein the plunger is positioned such that pressure of the damping fluid in the second reservoir exerts a force to bias the plunger toward the closed position during the rebound stroke of the damper. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electronically controlled piston bypass system for a damper, comprising:
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an elongate shaft having a damping piston disposed at a distal end of the elongate shaft, the piston having a first side facing away from the elongate shaft, a second side opposite the first side, and a damping valve; and a fluid bypass assembly disposed at a proximal end of the elongate shaft, comprising; a first reservoir for receiving damping fluid in fluid communication with a passageway in the elongate shaft having an axial aperture opening toward the first side of the piston; a second reservoir for receiving damping fluid in fluid communication with an annular jacket surrounding the passageway and having a radial aperture through the elongate shaft; and a control valve having a plunger positioned between the first and second reservoirs and configured to selectively reciprocate from a closed position when de-energized, where damping fluid is prevented from flowing between the first and second reservoirs, to an open position when energized, where damping fluid is permitted to flow from the second reservoir to the first reservoir during a rebound stroke of the damper, wherein the plunger is positioned such that pressure of the damping fluid in the second reservoir exerts a force to bias the plunger to the closed position during the rebound stroke of the damper. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification