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US 2010/0072685 A1Published application
Methods and apparatus for a suspension system with progressive resistance
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsWILLIAM GOLPE, CHANDRA S. NAMUDURI, WALTER B. CWYCYSHYN, NIKOLAI K. MOSHCHUK
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A suspension component achieves progressive resistance via a secondary bleed valve, which functions as a support for the primary compression valve at higher displacements, in conjunction with a secondary nonlinear spring element configured to alter the force on the piston at high displacements.
Claims13
A suspension component comprising:
- a piston rod configured to reciprocally translate within a pressure tube at least partially filled with a hydraulic oil;
- a compression valve assembly coupled to the piston rod and in slideable contact with an inner wall of the pressure tube;
- a secondary bleed valve coupled to the piston rod and adjacent to the compression valve, the secondary bleed valve including a plurality of ports for accommodating flow of the hydraulic oil during displacement of the piston rod;
- a gas charge chamber provided within a first end of the pressure tube;
- a secondary nonlinear spring adjacent to the gas charge chamber;
- and
- a floating piston assembly adjacent to the secondary nonlinear spring;
- wherein the secondary bleed valve and the secondary nonlinear spring provide progressive resistance when the velocity of the piston rod with respect to the pressure tube is above a threshold value.
5 more elements
A suspension component for use in an automobile, the suspension component comprising:
- a secondary bleed valve configured to reciprocally translate within a housing at least partially filled with hydraulic oil, the secondary bleed valve including a plurality of ports for accommodating flow the hydraulic oil during the reciprocal translation;
- a secondary nonlinear spring coaxially situated with respect to the secondary bleed valve and in hydraulic communication with the secondary bleed valve such that the secondary bleed valve and the secondary nonlinear spring provide progressive resistance when the velocity of the piston rod with respect to the pressure tube is above a threshold value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.