×

Gas spring with travel control

  • US 9,415,653 B2
  • Filed: 07/21/2014
  • Issued: 08/16/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2002
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A valve mechanism for a gas spring suspension system having a positive spring gas chamber and a negative spring gas chamber, the valve mechanism comprising:

  • a gas passageway extending between the positive spring gas chamber and the negative spring gas chamber, wherein the gas passageway comprises an axially extending tube having no more than three orifices through a wall thereof;

    a valve seat;

    a valve, in a closed position, displaced toward the valve seat to prevent gas flow through the gas passageway when pressure in the positive spring gas chamber exceeds the pressure in the negative spring gas chamber;

    the valve, in an open position, displaced away from the valve seat to permit gas flow through the gas passageway when the pressure in the negative spring gas chamber exceeds the pressure in the positive spring gas chamber;

    the valve is operable between the open position and the closed position; and

    a first externally accessible controller operably coupled to the valve,wherein the valve is operable from the closed position to the open position in response to operation of the controller.

View all claims
  • 4 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×