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US 10,464,389 B2Granted
Load dependent damper for a vehicle suspension system
AssigneeOshkosh Defense, LLC
InventorsJason J. Zuleger, Robert K. Sollenskog
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve assembly includes a housing, a flow controller, and a piston. The housing defines an inlet port, an outlet port, a flow path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a pilot chamber configured to be in fluid communication with a pilot. The flow controller is positioned along the flow path. The piston is positioned to separate the pilot chamber from the flow path. The piston includes a first end in fluid communication with the pilot chamber and an opposing second end positioned to engage the flow controller with a pilot force that varies based on a pressure at the pilot.
Claims13
A valve assembly for a vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- a housing defining:
- a first inlet port, a first outlet port, a first flow path extending between the first inlet port and the first outlet port, and a first pilot chamber configured to be in fluid communication with a first pilot;
- and
- a second inlet port, a second outlet port, a second flow path extending between the second inlet port and the second outlet port, and a second pilot chamber configured to be in fluid communication with a second pilot;
- a first flow controller positioned along the first flow path;
- a first piston positioned to separate the first pilot chamber from the first flow path, the first piston including:
- a first end in fluid communication with the first pilot chamber;
- and
- an opposing second end positioned to engage the first flow controller with a first pilot force that varies based on a first pressure at the first pilot;
- a second flow controller positioned along the second flow path;
- a second piston positioned to separate the second pilot chamber from the second flow path, the second piston including:
- a first end in fluid communication with the second pilot chamber;
- and
- an opposing second end positioned to engage the second flow controller with a second pilot force that varies based on a second pressure at the second pilot;
- and
- a buffer positioned to reduce the prevalence of pressure fluctuations within at least one of the first pilot chamber and the second pilot chamber;
- wherein the housing defines a threaded aperture having a first volute tooth and the buffer comprises a threaded plug having a second volute tooth, at least one of the first volute tooth and the second volute tooth having a truncated tooth height to form a coiled flow path.
14 more elements
A valve assembly for a vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- a housing defining a pilot chamber configured to be in fluid communication with a pilot and a flow path extending between an inlet port and an outlet port;
- a flow controller positioned along the flow path, the flow controller including a shim stack;
- a piston positioned to separate the pilot chamber from the flow path, the piston having:
- a first end in fluid communication with the pilot chamber;
- and
- an opposing second end positioned to engage the shim stack of the flow controller with a pilot force that varies based on a pressure at the pilot, wherein the opposing second end of the piston includes a cup having a rim that engages the shim stack, wherein the rim has an annular face that contacts an outer periphery of the shim stack, and wherein engagement of the annular face of the rim with the outer periphery of the shim stack deflects a portion of the shim stack;
- and
- a second piston including a plurality of passages that are covered by the shim stack.
5 more elements
A valve assembly for a vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- a housing defining a pilot chamber configured to be in fluid communication with a pilot and a flow path extending between an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein the pilot chamber is separated from the flow path;
- a sleeve coupled to the housing, the flow path extending through the sleeve;
- a flow controller positioned along the flow path, the flow controller including a gate defining a passage having a non-uniform profile, wherein the gate is slidably coupled to the sleeve;
- and
- a piston having a gate end coupled to the gate, wherein the piston is slidably coupled to the housing;
- wherein the passage of the gate and the sleeve define a variable flow orifice configured to differentially restrict a fluid flow along the flow path based upon a position of the gate;
- wherein the non-uniform profile of the passage is shaped such that the variable flow orifice differentially restricts the fluid flow along the flow path according to a desired curve relating a damping force to a displacement of the gate;
- and
- wherein the gate is configured to (i) enlarge the variable flow orifice in response to a pilot force associated with the pilot falling below a force applied to the gate by the fluid flow along the flow path and (ii) reduce the size of the variable flow orifice in response to the pilot force exceeding the force applied to the gate by the fluid flow along the flow path.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.