Adjustable hydraulic vibration damper
First Claim
1. A vibration damper comprising:
- a cylinder defining a chamber therein, said cylinder containing a damping fluid;
said cylinder having a longitudinal axis;
a piston rod sealingly projecting into said cylinder and being axially displaceable with respect to said cylinder;
a piston being attached to said piston rod, said piston being slidably disposed within said cylinder to sealingly divide said chamber into first and second chambers;
an outer tube disposed about said chamber, said piston and said piston rod;
means for permitting fluid communication between said first and second chambers;
said means for permitting fluid communication comprising electromagnetic damping valve means mounted at said outer tube;
said electromagnetic damping valve means comprising;
a valve arrangement, said valve arrangement having means for adjusting fluid communication between said first and second chambers;
a damping valve for adjusting the flow of the damping fluid between said first working chamber and said second working chamber;
said valve having a longitudinal axis about which said valve extends, said longitudinal axis of said valve extending essentially radially away from said longitudinal axis of said shock absorber cylinder;
said valve comprising;
a pilot valve;
said pilot valve comprising a pilot control element;
a valve body;
a valve seat;
said valve seat comprising a valving surface;
said valve body being disposed to rest against and close against said valve seat and open away from said valve seat, and thus permitting flow of said damping fluid across said valve seat;
said valving surface defining a planar area in which said valving surface is disposed;
said planar area being disposed substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis of said valve;
said valve seat being disposed to control a major flow of fluid through said valve;
said valve body comprising a first part and a second part;
said first part being movable with respect to said second part;
said first part having a first end portion and a second end portion;
said second end portion being opposite said first end portion;
said first end portion and said second end portion being disposed along said longitudinal axis of said valve;
said first end portion extending at least to said planar area defined by said valving surface;
said first end portion having a portion extending towards said valve seat;
said first end portion and said second end portion being rigidly connected to one another to prevent separation of said first end portion away from said second end portion;
said first valve body part being mounted in a first axial guide;
said second part being operatively connected to said first part such that said second part can be displaced radially within said valve with respect to the longitudinal axis of said valve;
said second part having a first extreme end and a second extreme end;
said second extreme end being opposite said first extreme end;
said first extreme end and said second extreme end being disposed along said longitudinal axis of said valve;
said first end portion of said first part extending beyond said first extreme end of said second part;
said second end portion of said first part extending beyond said second extreme end of said second part;
said second end portion of said first part being disposed adjacent said pilot control element;
said pilot control element being disposed to rest against and close against said second end portion of said first part and to open away from said second end portion of said first part, thus permitting flow of said damping fluid through said pilot valve;
said pilot control element being disposed to control a minor flow of fluid through said valve; and
said minor flow of fluid being substantially smaller than said major flow of fluid.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hydraulic, adjustable vibration damper with a piston fastened to a piston rod, which piston divides a working cylinder into two working chambers filled with damping fluid, whereby at least partly to control the damping force there is a pilot-controlled, electromagnetically actuated damping valve. In this valve, a valve body and a pilot control element each apply pressure to a valve seat, and at least the valve body is mounted in a guide so that it can be displaced axially. The valve body consists of at least two parts, whereby one part is held in the axial guide and is connected to the second part so that the second part is located running in an additional axial guide, so that it can be displaced radially with respect to the first part. Whereby the valve seat of the valve body may be disposed adjacent either the first part of the valve body or the second part of the valve body.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vibration damper comprising:
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a cylinder defining a chamber therein, said cylinder containing a damping fluid; said cylinder having a longitudinal axis; a piston rod sealingly projecting into said cylinder and being axially displaceable with respect to said cylinder; a piston being attached to said piston rod, said piston being slidably disposed within said cylinder to sealingly divide said chamber into first and second chambers; an outer tube disposed about said chamber, said piston and said piston rod; means for permitting fluid communication between said first and second chambers; said means for permitting fluid communication comprising electromagnetic damping valve means mounted at said outer tube; said electromagnetic damping valve means comprising; a valve arrangement, said valve arrangement having means for adjusting fluid communication between said first and second chambers; a damping valve for adjusting the flow of the damping fluid between said first working chamber and said second working chamber; said valve having a longitudinal axis about which said valve extends, said longitudinal axis of said valve extending essentially radially away from said longitudinal axis of said shock absorber cylinder; said valve comprising; a pilot valve; said pilot valve comprising a pilot control element; a valve body; a valve seat; said valve seat comprising a valving surface; said valve body being disposed to rest against and close against said valve seat and open away from said valve seat, and thus permitting flow of said damping fluid across said valve seat; said valving surface defining a planar area in which said valving surface is disposed; said planar area being disposed substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis of said valve; said valve seat being disposed to control a major flow of fluid through said valve; said valve body comprising a first part and a second part; said first part being movable with respect to said second part; said first part having a first end portion and a second end portion; said second end portion being opposite said first end portion; said first end portion and said second end portion being disposed along said longitudinal axis of said valve; said first end portion extending at least to said planar area defined by said valving surface; said first end portion having a portion extending towards said valve seat; said first end portion and said second end portion being rigidly connected to one another to prevent separation of said first end portion away from said second end portion; said first valve body part being mounted in a first axial guide; said second part being operatively connected to said first part such that said second part can be displaced radially within said valve with respect to the longitudinal axis of said valve; said second part having a first extreme end and a second extreme end; said second extreme end being opposite said first extreme end; said first extreme end and said second extreme end being disposed along said longitudinal axis of said valve; said first end portion of said first part extending beyond said first extreme end of said second part; said second end portion of said first part extending beyond said second extreme end of said second part; said second end portion of said first part being disposed adjacent said pilot control element; said pilot control element being disposed to rest against and close against said second end portion of said first part and to open away from said second end portion of said first part, thus permitting flow of said damping fluid through said pilot valve; said pilot control element being disposed to control a minor flow of fluid through said valve; and said minor flow of fluid being substantially smaller than said major flow of fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification