Piston-type actuator and static fluid damper and vehicles including same
First Claim
1. A vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
a support arm pivotally coupled with the frame;
a left wheel rotatably coupled with the support arm;
an actuator comprising;
a cylinder;
a piston disposed at least partially within the cylinder and slideable with respect to the cylinder, the piston and the cylinder cooperating with one another to define a first chamber and a second chamber; and
a piston rod coupled with the piston, the piston rod being coupled with one of the frame and the support arm and the cylinder being coupled with the other of the frame and the support arm;
a static fluid damper coupled with the frame and defining a first dampening chamber, a second dampening chamber, and a third dampening chamber, the first dampening chamber and the second dampening chamber being in fluid communication with one another, and the second dampening chamber and the third dampening chamber being in fluid communication with one another;
a first flow passage in fluid communication with the first dampening chamber and the first chamber;
a first flow control valve in fluid communication with the first flow passage and operable to control a flow rate of fluid through the first flow passage;
a second flow passage in fluid communication with the second dampening chamber and the second chamber; and
a controller coupled with the first flow control valve and configured to facilitate operation of the first flow control valve to change the flow rate of fluid through the first flow passage;
wherein the static fluid damper is not in fluid communication with any actuator associated with a right wheel of the vehicle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicular fluid damper system comprises a piston-type actuator, a static fluid damper, first and second flow passages, a first flow control valve, and a controller. The piston-type actuator comprises a cylinder and a piston that cooperate with one another to define first and second chambers. The static fluid damper defines first, second, and third dampening chambers. The first and second dampening chambers are in fluid communication with one another. The second and third dampening chambers are in fluid communication with each other. The first flow passage is in fluid communication with the first dampening chamber and the first chamber. The second flow passage is in fluid communication with the second dampening chamber and the second chamber. The controller is configured to facilitate operation of the first flow control valve to change a flow rate of fluid through the first flow passage.
53 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
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a frame; a support arm pivotally coupled with the frame; a left wheel rotatably coupled with the support arm; an actuator comprising; a cylinder; a piston disposed at least partially within the cylinder and slideable with respect to the cylinder, the piston and the cylinder cooperating with one another to define a first chamber and a second chamber; and a piston rod coupled with the piston, the piston rod being coupled with one of the frame and the support arm and the cylinder being coupled with the other of the frame and the support arm; a static fluid damper coupled with the frame and defining a first dampening chamber, a second dampening chamber, and a third dampening chamber, the first dampening chamber and the second dampening chamber being in fluid communication with one another, and the second dampening chamber and the third dampening chamber being in fluid communication with one another; a first flow passage in fluid communication with the first dampening chamber and the first chamber; a first flow control valve in fluid communication with the first flow passage and operable to control a flow rate of fluid through the first flow passage; a second flow passage in fluid communication with the second dampening chamber and the second chamber; and a controller coupled with the first flow control valve and configured to facilitate operation of the first flow control valve to change the flow rate of fluid through the first flow passage;
wherein the static fluid damper is not in fluid communication with any actuator associated with a right wheel of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A vehicle comprising:
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a frame; a support arm pivotally coupled with the frame and pivotable about a first axis; a left wheel rotatably coupled with the support arm; an actuator comprising; a cylinder; a piston disposed at least partially within the cylinder and slideable with respect to the cylinder, the piston and the cylinder cooperating with one another to define a first chamber and a second chamber; and a piston rod coupled with the piston; a static fluid damper associated with the left wheel and spaced separately from the actuator, the static fluid damper defining a first dampening chamber and a second dampening chamber, the first dampening chamber and the second dampening chamber being in fluid communication with one another; a first flow passage in fluid communication with the first dampening chamber and the first chamber; and a second flow passage in fluid communication with the second dampening chamber and the second chamber, and wherein; one of the piston rod and the cylinder is pivotally coupled with the frame and is pivotable about a second axis; the other of the piston rod and the cylinder is pivotally coupled with the support arm and is pivotable about a third axis; the first axis and the second axis reside in a plane; at least a portion of the cylinder is located on one side of the plane; and at least a portion of the static fluid damper is located on the other side of the plane. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A vehicular fluid damper system comprising:
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an actuator comprising; a cylinder; a piston disposed at least partially within the cylinder and slideable with respect to the cylinder, the piston and the cylinder cooperating with one another to define a first chamber and a second chamber; a static fluid damper spaced separately from the actuator and defining a first dampening chamber, a second dampening chamber, and a third dampening chamber, the first dampening chamber and the second dampening chamber being in fluid communication with one another, and the second dampening chamber and the third dampening chamber being in fluid communication with one another, the static fluid damper comprising; a first valve configured to selectively permit fluid flow from the first dampening chamber to the second dampening chamber and to prohibit fluid flow from the second dampening chamber to the first dampening chamber; and a second valve configured to selectively permit fluid flow from the second dampening chamber to the first dampening chamber and to prohibit fluid flow from the first dampening chamber to the second dampening chamber; a first flow passage in fluid communication with the first dampening chamber and the first chamber; a first flow control valve in fluid communication with the first flow passage and operable to control a flow rate of fluid through the first flow passage; a second flow passage in fluid communication with the second dampening chamber and the second chamber; and a controller coupled with the first flow control valve and configured to facilitate operation of the first flow control valve to change the flow rate of fluid through the first flow passage. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification