US 12,420,606 B2 · Dual piston adjuster

Abstract

A dual piston adjuster for a shock absorber has a first damping piston and a second damping piston. A first fluid path includes a first cross-sectional flow area and provides fluid communication of a working fluid to bypass the damping pistons. A second fluid path provides fluid communication of the working fluid from the first fluid path through the first damping piston and the second damping piston in series. A third fluid path includes a second cross-sectional flow area and provides fluid communication of the working fluid from the second fluid path at a location between the first damping piston and the second damping piston to bypass the second damping piston. A first adjustable valve is provided to selectively adjust a first pressure drop of the working fluid in the first fluid path and a second adjustable valve is provided to selectively adjust a second pressure drop of the working fluid in the third fluid path.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A dual piston adjuster for a shock absorber, the dual piston adjuster comprising:

a first damping piston;
a second damping piston;
a first fluid path having a first cross-sectional flow area and providing fluid communication bypassing the first damping piston and the second damping piston;
a second fluid path providing fluid communication from the first fluid path through the first damping piston and the second damping piston in series;
a third fluid path having a second cross-sectional flow area and providing fluid communication from the second fluid path at a location between the first damping piston and the second damping piston to bypass the second damping piston;
a first adjustable valve configured to selectively adjust a first pressure drop of a working fluid in the first fluid path;
and
a second adjustable valve configured to selectively adjust a second pressure drop of the working fluid in the third fluid path.

5 more elements

A dual piston adjuster for a shock absorber, the shock absorber including a housing in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir, the housing having a piston assembly and a working fluid disposed within the housing wherein a movement of the piston assembly with respect to the housing causes a flow of the working fluid between the housing and the fluid reservoir, the dual piston adjuster comprising:

a valve body coupled to a canister of the fluid reservoir;
a first damping piston disposed in the valve body;
a second damping piston disposed in the valve body;
a first fluid path formed in the valve body having a first cross-sectional flow area and providing fluid communication of the working fluid through the valve body between the housing and the canister;
a second fluid path formed in the valve body providing fluid communication of the working fluid from the first fluid path through the first damping piston and the second damping piston, in series, to the canister;
a third fluid path formed in the valve body having a second cross-sectional flow area and providing fluid communication of the working fluid from the second fluid path at a location between the first damping piston and the second damping piston to the canister, the third fluid path bypassing the second damping piston;
a first adjustable valve disposed in the valve body configured to selectively adjust a first pressure drop of a working fluid in the first fluid path;
and
a second adjustable valve disposed in the valve body configured to selectively adjust a second pressure drop of the working fluid in the third fluid path.

6 more elements

A method of damping a transmission of forces from a wheel to a component of a vehicle comprising:

providing a shock absorber including
a housing in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir,
the housing having a piston assembly and a working fluid disposed within the housing wherein a movement of the piston assembly with respect to the housing causes a flow of the working fluid between the housing and the fluid reservoir, and
a dual piston adjuster having
a valve body coupled to a canister of the fluid reservoir;
a first damping piston disposed in the valve body;
a second damping piston disposed in the valve body;
a first fluid path formed in the valve body having a first cross-sectional flow area and providing fluid communication of the working fluid through the valve body between the housing and the canister;
a second fluid path formed in the valve body providing fluid communication of the working fluid from the first fluid path through the first damping piston and the second damping piston, in series, to the canister;
a third fluid path formed in the valve body having a second cross-sectional flow area and providing fluid communication of the working fluid from the second fluid path at a location between the first damping piston and the second damping piston to the canister, the third fluid path bypassing the second damping piston;
a first adjustable valve disposed in the valve body configured to selectively adjust a first pressure drop of a working fluid in the first fluid path;
and
a second adjustable valve disposed in the valve body configured to selectively adjust a second pressure drop of the working fluid in the third fluid path;
disposing the shock absorber between the wheel and the component of the vehicle;
and
adjusting the first adjustable valve to set the first cross-sectional flow area and establish a low-speed damping through the first fluid path.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dual piston adjuster

Life of this patent

Dual piston adjuster

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20