Pressure regulating dampers
First Claim
1. A damper comprising:
- a housing bounding a chamber, the chamber comprising a pressure compartment and a control compartment each having a volume;
a barrier movably disposed within the chamber so as to separate the pressure compartment from the control compartment, the volume of the pressure compartment and the control compartment each being adjustable based on movement of the barrier;
a first compressible gas disposed within the pressure compartment;
a first hydraulic fluid disposed within the control compartment under a pressure, the first hydraulic fluid having a temperature;
a piston shaft having a first end slidably disposed within the control compartment; and
means for automatically adjusting the combined volume of the pressure compartment and the control compartment based on the temperature of the first hydraulic fluid within the control compartment so as to regulate the pressure within the control compartment, the means for automatically adjusting comprising a temperature compensator movably disposed within the chamber so as to communicate with the control compartment, the temperature compensator at least partially bounding a regulating compartment having an adjustable volume, a second hydraulic fluid being disposed within the regulating compartment, the temperature compensator being adapted to move under a force produced by expansion of the second hydraulic fluid when the second hydraulic fluid is heated within the regulating compartment.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A damper includes housing bounding a chamber. A barrier is movably disposed within the chamber so as to divide at least a portion of the chamber into a pressure compartment and a control compartment each having a volume, the volume of the pressure compartment and the control compartment each being adjustable based on movement of the barrier. A first compressible gas is disposed within the pressure compartment while a first hydraulic fluid is disposed within the control compartment A piston shaft has a first end slidably disposed within the control compartment. A temperature compensator disposed within the chamber automatically adjusts the combined volume of the pressure compartment and the control compartment based on the temperature of the first hydraulic fluid within the control compartment so as to regulate the pressure within the control compartment.
109 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A damper comprising:
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a housing bounding a chamber, the chamber comprising a pressure compartment and a control compartment each having a volume; a barrier movably disposed within the chamber so as to separate the pressure compartment from the control compartment, the volume of the pressure compartment and the control compartment each being adjustable based on movement of the barrier; a first compressible gas disposed within the pressure compartment; a first hydraulic fluid disposed within the control compartment under a pressure, the first hydraulic fluid having a temperature; a piston shaft having a first end slidably disposed within the control compartment; and means for automatically adjusting the combined volume of the pressure compartment and the control compartment based on the temperature of the first hydraulic fluid within the control compartment so as to regulate the pressure within the control compartment, the means for automatically adjusting comprising a temperature compensator movably disposed within the chamber so as to communicate with the control compartment, the temperature compensator at least partially bounding a regulating compartment having an adjustable volume, a second hydraulic fluid being disposed within the regulating compartment, the temperature compensator being adapted to move under a force produced by expansion of the second hydraulic fluid when the second hydraulic fluid is heated within the regulating compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A damper comprising:
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a housing bounding a chamber, the chamber comprising a pressure compartment and a control compartment each having a volume; a barrier movably disposed within the chamber so as to separate the pressure compartment from the control compartment, the volume of the pressure compartment and the control compartment each being adjustable based on movement of the barrier, a compressible gas being disposed within the pressure compartment; a temperature compensator movably disposed within the chamber, the temperature compensator at least partially bounding a regulating compartment that has a volume and is sealed from the pressure compartment and the control compartment, the volume of the regulating compartment and at least the control compartment or the pressure compartment each being adjustable based on movement of the temperature compensator, a first hydraulic fluid being disposed within the control compartment and a second hydraulic fluid being disposed within the regulating compartment, the temperature compensator being adapted to move under a force produced by expansion of the second hydraulic fluid when the second hydraulic fluid is heated within the regulating compartment; and a piston shaft slidably disposed within the control compartment. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A damper comprising:
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a housing bounding a pressure compartment, a control compartment, and a regulating compartment each having a volume that is adjustable; a floating piston movably disposed between the pressure compartment and the control compartment, a first compressible gas being disposed within the pressure compartment and a first hydraulic fluid being disposed within the control compartment; a temperature compensator movably positioned between the regulating compartment and at least the control compartment or the pressure compartment, a second hydraulic fluid being disposed within the regulating compartment, the temperature compensator being adapted to move between at least; a first position that produces a first combined volume of the pressure compartment and the control compartment when the temperature of the second hydraulic fluid within the regulating compartment is at ambient conditions; and a second position that produces a second combined volume of the pressure compartment and the control compartment when the temperature of the second hydraulic fluid within the regulating compartment is raised above ambient conditions, the second combined volume being greater than the first combined volume; and a piston shaft having a first end slidably disposed within the control compartment.
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Specification