Pneumatic connections for vehicle suspensions

• US 6,637,555 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2001
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BWI Company Limited SA (Shougang Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kruckemeyer, William C., Oliver, Michael L., Miller, Troy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Butler, Douglas C.
• Application Number:
  US09/798,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20020121731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 188/266.5, 188/266.2, 188/269, 188/319.1, 188/282.1, 188/282.8, 188/283, 188/289, 188/317, 188/322.13, 188/322.15, 188/322.21, 188/321.11, 188/299.1, 188/285, 280/6.159, 280/6.158, 280/124.159, 280/5.514, 280/5.515, 267/218, 267/64-1-, 16/66, 16/84, 921/19
• US Class Current: 188/266.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 13/003 characterised by the mounting on the vehicle body or chassis of the damper unit
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2230/183 fluid actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/0281 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/084 comprising a gas spring contained within a flexible wall, the wall not being in contact with the damping fluid, i.e. mounted externally on the damper cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/466 Throttling control, i.e. regulation of flow passage geometry F16F9/464, F16F9/465 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/54 Arrangements for attachment grommet-type rubber mounting springs per se F16F1/3732; construction of cylinder ends F16F9/3242; attachments to vehicles B60G13/001, B60G15/00

Abstract

The invention provides a damper assembly (10) comprising a housing (12) defining an inner chamber (22, 24) having a damping fluid disposed therein. A piston rod (14) is slidably retained by the housing (12), and at least partially extends into, the chamber (22, 24). A piston (18) is disposed at a first distal end (21) of the piston rod (14) and strokes inside the housing (12). The piston (18) defines a first chamber (22) and a second chamber (24) within the housing (12) and includes at least one aperture (26) for allowing damping fluid to flow between the first (22) and second (24) chambers. An actuator (30) is disposed within the piston (18) for varying the flow of damping fluid through the aperture (26) between the first (22) and second (24) chambers within the housing (12). The piston rod (14) includes an inner bore (16) that receives pressurized air from an external source for communicating pneumatic control signals to the actuator (30).

Claims

1. A damper assembly comprising:

a housing having a damping fluid disposed therein;

a piston rod having a rod defining an inner bore, wherein said piston rod at least partially extends into said housing, is movably disposed within said housing, and defines an input passageway being in fluid communication with said inner bore for communicating control signals to an actuator and controlling said actuator;

a piston disposed at a first distal end of said piston rod extending into said housing to define a first chamber and a second chamber within said housing, wherein said piston includes at least one aperture for communicating said damping fluid between said first and second chambers of said housing; and

a cover operably attached to a second distal end of the piston rod, comprising a connector adapted for receiving a coupling device, said connector in fluid communication with the inner bore of the piston rod;

wherein said actuator is disposed within said piston and is operable to obstruct the at least one aperture;

wherein said piston rod further includes a stroking portion at an end opposite from said first distal end having the cover secured to said stroking portion;

wherein a seal is disposed between said cover and said piston rod for maintaining pressure within said piston rod;

wherein said connector is a hollow rod; and

wherein said cover is a ring style upper mount and said hollow rod is disposed in said ring style upper mount.

2. The damper assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a pin operable to extend from the actuator.

3. The damper assembly of claim 2, wherein the pin is pneumatically controlled.

4. The damper assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector adapted for receiving a coupling device comprises a quick-connect coupling device.

5. The damper assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector adapted for receiving a coupling device comprises a Schraeder valve.