# US 2017/0282994 A1 · Flow path control device and vehicle height adjustment apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282994 A1 - Document ID: US20170282994A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/463,851 - Filed: 2017-03-20 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Showa Corporation - Applicants: Showa Corporation - Inventors: Yosuke MURAKAMI; Hiroyuki MIYATA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282994A1 ## CPC - B62K 25/08: for front wheel - B60G 11/56: having helical, spiral or coil springs, and also fluid springs - B60G 17/048: with the regulating means inside the fluid springs (B60G17/044 takes precedence) - F16F 9/56: Means for adjusting the length of, or for locking, the spring or damper, e.g. at the end of the stroke {(F16F9/50 takes precedence; for telescopic gas springs or dampers F16F9/0245; vehicle suspension locking arrangements B60G17/005)} - B60G 2206/41: Dampers - B60G 2300/12: Cycles; Motorcycles - B60G 2500/30: Height or ground clearance - B62K 2025/044: {Suspensions with automatic adjustment} - B62K 2025/045: {Suspensions with ride-height adjustment} - B62K 2201/04: Helical springs - B62K 2201/08: Fluid springs - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract A flow path control device according to one embodiment includes a first valve which transitions between a closed state where a first flow is closed and an open state where the first flow path is open by moving toward an space from the closed state. The first valve is formed with an axial through-hole that communicates with the first flow path and the space. A pressure-receiving area of the first valve against a jack chamber is smaller than that against the space. Further, a second valve is provided in the space on a second flow path so as to transition between a first state where the axial through-hole is closed and an inflow path oriented toward the space from the jack chamber is open and a second state where it is closed and the axial through-hole is open. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flow path control device comprising: a first valve which transitions between a closed state where a first flow path in which a fluid is oriented from a first chamber toward a second chamber is closed and an open state where the first flow path is open by moving toward a third chamber from the closed state, wherein the first valve is formed with a communication path that communicates with the first flow path and the third chamber, and wherein, in a closed state, a first pressure-receiving area of the first valve receiving a pressure of the first chamber is smaller than a second pressure-receiving area of the first valve receiving a pressure of the third chamber; and a second valve which is provided in the third chamber on a second flow path, wherein the second flow path is oriented from the first chamber toward the second chamber through the communication path of the first valve, and wherein the second valve transitions between a first state where the communication path is closed and an inflow path oriented toward the third chamber from the first chamber is open and a second state where the inflow path is closed and the communication path is open. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flow path control device according to claim 1, wherein the second valve transitions to a third state where the communication path and the inflow path are open such that a gap between the second valve and an opening portion of the communication path is a smallest restriction portion of the second flow path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The flow path control device according to claim 2, wherein the second pressure-receiving area of the first valve is greater than the first pressure-receiving area in a case where the second valve is in the third state to thereby bring the first valve into the closed state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flow path control device according to claim 1, wherein the first valve is brought into the open state in a case where the second valve is in the second state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The flow path control device according to claim 2, wherein the first valve is brought into the open state in a case where the second valve is in the second state. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The flow path control device according to claim 3, wherein the first valve is brought into the open state in a case where the second valve is in the second state. ### Claim 7 A vehicle height adjustment apparatus comprising: a spring having one end supported on a vehicle body side, and the other end supported on a wheel side; a changing device which changes a length of the spring in accordance with an amount of fluid in an accommodation chamber that accommodates the fluid; a first valve which transitions between a closed state where a first flow path oriented from the accommodation chamber toward a storage chamber that stores the fluid is closed and an open state where the first flow path is open by moving from the closed state toward a back pressure chamber in which a pressure in the direction of being closed is generated, wherein the first vale is formed with a communication path that communicates with the first flow path and the back pressure chamber, and wherein, in the closed state, a first pressure-receiving area of the first valve receiving a pressure of the accommodation chamber is smaller than a second pressure-receiving area of the first valve receiving a pressure of the back pressure chamber; and a second valve which is provided in the back pressure chamber on a second flow path, wherein the second flow path is oriented from the accommodation chamber toward the storage chamber through the communication path of the first valve, and wherein the second valve transitions between a first state where the communication path is closed and an inflow path that reaches the back pressure chamber from the accommodation chamber is open and a second state where the inflow path is closed and the communication path is open. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle height adjustment apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second valve transitions to a third state where the communication path and the inflow path are open such that a gap between the second valve and the opening portion of the communication path is a smallest restriction portion of the second flow path.