Continuously variable single-tube shock absorber with bidirectional control valve

• US 6,264,015 B1
• Filed: 12/18/1998
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koni B.V (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Koni B. V.
• Inventors: De Kock, Cornelis
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberleitner, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, XUAN LAN T
• Application Number:
  US09/125,659
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 188/284, 188/282.5, 188/282.6, 188/282.8, 188/313, 188/316, 188/322.13, 188/322.15, 188/322.12
• US Class Current: 188/282.8
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/465 using servo control, the servo pressure being created by the flow of damping fluid, e.g. controlling pressure in a chamber downstream of a pilot passage self-adjustment of damping F16F9/50
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/504 Inertia , i.e. acceleration,-sensitive means

Abstract

A continuously variable single-tube shock absorber operating according to the skyhook principle and having bidirectional control valves comprising a working cylinder, a piston with piston rod which is movable therein, openings cut out in the piston, spring-loaded shock absorber valves, fitted on either side of the piston, in order to shut off the openings until a certain fluid pressure has been reached, exciting chambers fitted on either side of the piston and each bounded by a stationary disc, a piston skirt which can be slid around such a disc, and a spring-loaded shock absorber valve. The exciting chambers are in communication with a bore in which the pressure is controlled by a control mechanism. Bores through which fluid can flow into the exciting chambers are provided in the stationary discs. The control mechanism can consist of a movable mass which is fitted in a spring-loaded manner and controls the passage of fluid to a bore which is in communication with the exciting chambers, or it can consist of valves to be adjusted by a coil.

Claims

1. Continuously variable single-tube shock absorber with bidirectional control valves, comprising:

a working cylinder;

a piston which is connected to a piston rod and is movable in the working cylinder;

openings cut out in the piston;

spring-loaded shock absorber valves fitted on either side of the piston, in order to shut off said openings until a certain fluid pressure has been reached;

exciting chambers situated on either side of the piston, each bounded by a stationary disc, a piston skirt which can be slid around said disc, and two spring-loaded plates;

wherein said exciting chambers are in communication with a communicating bore in which the pressure is controlled by a control mechanism;

wherein said communicating bore through which fluid can flow into the exciting chambers are provided in said stationary disc; and

wherein each spring-loaded plate is clamped near the piston rod and rests with initial stress against an edge of said piston skirt.

2. Shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein each exciting chamber is divided into two spaces by two spring-loaded plates, which spring-loaded plates grip with their outside edge around a radial edge of a piston skirt, and at their inside edge are clamped near the piston rod, while of the said two spaces the space facing the shock absorber valve is connected by way of a narrow radial passage to the space surrounded by the cylinder.

3. Shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein if no excess pressure is present in the exciting chambers, the piston skirt does not exert initial stressing forces on the shock absorber valves.

4. Shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein the communicating bore is a central bore.

5. Shock absorber according to claim 9, wherein the control mechanism comprises a movable mass which is fitted in a spring-loaded manner above the piston, and is linked to the piston rod and controls the passage of fluid to said communicating bore which is in communication with the exciting chambers.

6. Continuously variable single-tube shock absorber with bidirectional control valves, comprising:

a working cylinder;

a piston which is connected to a piston rod and is movable in the working cylinder;

openings cut out in the piston;

spring-loaded shock absorber valves fitted one either side of the piston, in order to shut off said openings until a certain fluid pressure has been reached;

exciting chambers situated on either side of the piston, each bounded by a stationary disc, a piston skirt which can be slid around said disc, and two spring-loaded plates;

wherein said exciting chambers are in communication with a central bore in which the pressure is controlled by a control mechanism;

wherein said communicating bore through which fluid can flow into the exciting chambers are provided in said stationary disc; and

wherein the control mechanism comprises valves which are adjustable by a coil and which can continuously vary the pressure in the central bore in proportion to an electric current to be sent through the coil.

7. Shock absorber according to claim 6, wherein the valve to be adjusted by a coil is a piston valve.

8. Shock absorber according to claim 6, wherein the valve to be adjusted by a coil is a metal diaphragm.