Suspension strut for a vehicle
First Claim
1. A strut system comprising:
- a compressible fluid;
a strut comprising;
an inner tube defining an inner cavity, the inner cavity containing a portion of the fluid;
a secondary tube disposed coaxially around the inner tube;
a housing tube disposed coaxially around the secondary tube;
an intermediary cavity defined between the inner tube and the secondary tube, the intermediary cavity containing a second portion of the fluid, wherein the intermediary cavity is fluidly coupled to the inner cavity;
a reservoir cavity defined between the secondary tube and the housing tube, the reservoir cavity containing a third portion of the fluid;
a piston, having an aperture through the piston thickness, that is disposed substantially coaxially within the inner tube, and separates the inner cavity into a first volume and a second volume, wherein the aperture allows fluid communication between the first volume and the second volume;
a one-way aperture valve within the aperture that allows fluid flow from the first volume to the second volume;
a displacement rod, coupled to the piston, that extends through the second volume;
a valve plate coupled to the strut, the valve plate including;
a damping flow path fluidly coupling the intermediary cavity to the reservoir cavity;
a replenishment flow path fluidly coupling the reservoir cavity to the inner cavity;
a damper valve within the damping flow path that damps fluid flowing therethrough; and
a one-way replenishment valve within the replenishment flow path that allows fluid flow from the reservoir cavity to the inner cavity.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hydraulic strut system that damps vehicle vibration and includes a compressible fluid, a strut, and a valve plate. The strut includes three concentric tubes defining an inner cavity, an intermediary cavity, and an outer reservoir cavity, the inner cavity and intermediary cavity being fluidly coupled, wherein the inner cavity receives a piston that divides the inner cavity into a first volume and a second volume, the piston having an aperture that allows one way flow from the first volume to the second volume. The valve plate is removably coupled to the strut, and includes a first fluid path that allows one-way fluid flow from the intermediary cavity to the reservoir cavity, the first fluid path including a damping valve that damps fluid flowing therethorugh; and a second fluid path that allows one-way fluid flow from the reservoir cavity to the inner cavity, the second fluid path further including a replenishment valve.
232 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A strut system comprising:
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a compressible fluid; a strut comprising; an inner tube defining an inner cavity, the inner cavity containing a portion of the fluid; a secondary tube disposed coaxially around the inner tube; a housing tube disposed coaxially around the secondary tube; an intermediary cavity defined between the inner tube and the secondary tube, the intermediary cavity containing a second portion of the fluid, wherein the intermediary cavity is fluidly coupled to the inner cavity; a reservoir cavity defined between the secondary tube and the housing tube, the reservoir cavity containing a third portion of the fluid; a piston, having an aperture through the piston thickness, that is disposed substantially coaxially within the inner tube, and separates the inner cavity into a first volume and a second volume, wherein the aperture allows fluid communication between the first volume and the second volume; a one-way aperture valve within the aperture that allows fluid flow from the first volume to the second volume; a displacement rod, coupled to the piston, that extends through the second volume; a valve plate coupled to the strut, the valve plate including; a damping flow path fluidly coupling the intermediary cavity to the reservoir cavity; a replenishment flow path fluidly coupling the reservoir cavity to the inner cavity; a damper valve within the damping flow path that damps fluid flowing therethrough; and a one-way replenishment valve within the replenishment flow path that allows fluid flow from the reservoir cavity to the inner cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification