Hydraulic energy transfer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A shock absorber comprising:
- a housing that includes a compression volume and an extension volume;
a piston disposed in the housing and that in a first mode moves through at least a portion of a compression stroke to move hydraulic fluid from the compression volume and that in a second mode moves at least partially through an extension stroke to move hydraulic fluid from the extension volume;
a hydraulic motor including a first port and a second port, the first port in fluid communication with the compression volume and the second port in fluid communication with the extension volume, wherein the hydraulic motor is constructed and arranged to be operated as a hydraulic motor in a first state of operation where the hydraulic motor is driven by the hydraulic fluid flowing between the extension volume and the compression volume through the hydraulic motor, and wherein the hydraulic motor is constructed and arranged to be operated as a pump in a second state of operation where the hydraulic motor drives the hydraulic fluid flowing between the extension volume and the compression volume through the hydraulic motor;
one or more valves in parallel with the hydraulic motor, the one or more valves, when in a bypass mode, provide fluid communication between the compression volume and the extension volume such that at least a portion of the hydraulic fluid bypasses the hydraulic motor during a piston stroke, wherein the stroke comprises at least one of the compression stroke and the extension stroke.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A regenerative shock absorber that include a housing and a piston that moves at least partially through the housing when the shock is compressed or extended from a rest position. When the piston moves, hydraulic fluid is pressurized and drives a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor, in turn, drives an electric generator that produced electric energy. The electric energy may be provided to a vehicle, among other things. The regenerative shock absorber may also provide ride performance that comparable to or exceeds that of conventional shock absorbers.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A shock absorber comprising:
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a housing that includes a compression volume and an extension volume; a piston disposed in the housing and that in a first mode moves through at least a portion of a compression stroke to move hydraulic fluid from the compression volume and that in a second mode moves at least partially through an extension stroke to move hydraulic fluid from the extension volume; a hydraulic motor including a first port and a second port, the first port in fluid communication with the compression volume and the second port in fluid communication with the extension volume, wherein the hydraulic motor is constructed and arranged to be operated as a hydraulic motor in a first state of operation where the hydraulic motor is driven by the hydraulic fluid flowing between the extension volume and the compression volume through the hydraulic motor, and wherein the hydraulic motor is constructed and arranged to be operated as a pump in a second state of operation where the hydraulic motor drives the hydraulic fluid flowing between the extension volume and the compression volume through the hydraulic motor; one or more valves in parallel with the hydraulic motor, the one or more valves, when in a bypass mode, provide fluid communication between the compression volume and the extension volume such that at least a portion of the hydraulic fluid bypasses the hydraulic motor during a piston stroke, wherein the stroke comprises at least one of the compression stroke and the extension stroke. - 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, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A shock absorber comprising:
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a housing that includes a compression volume and an extension volume; a hydraulic motor fluidly coupled to the compression volume and the extension volume; a piston disposed in the housing and that in a first mode moves through at least a portion of a compression stroke to move hydraulic fluid from the compression volume to the extension volume through the hydraulic motor and that in a second mode moves at least partially through an extension stroke to move hydraulic fluid from the extension volume to the compression volume through the hydraulic motor, wherein the hydraulic motor is constructed and arranged to be operated as a hydraulic motor in a first state of operation where the hydraulic motor is driven by the hydraulic fluid flowing between the extension volume and the compression volume through the hydraulic motor, and wherein the hydraulic motor is constructed and arranged to be operated as a pump in a second state of operation where the hydraulic motor drives the hydraulic fluid flowing between the extension volume and the compression volume through the hydraulic motor; and a bypass in parallel with the hydraulic motor, wherein the bypass is adapted and configured to allow at least a portion of the hydraulic fluid to bypass the hydraulic motor when the bypass is in a bypass mode during a piston stroke, wherein the stroke comprises at least one of the compression stroke and the extension stroke. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification