US 5,857,665 AGranted

Self-pumping hydropneumatic shock absorbing strut with internal level regulation

AssigneeFichtel & Sachs AG

InventorHubert Beck

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Abstract

Self-pumping hydropneumatic shock absorbing strut with internal level regulation, in particular for motor vehicles, with a work cylinder which is filled with oil, is under the pressure of at least one gas cushion which is located in at least one high pressure chamber and acts as a spring. The work cylinder is divided by a piston carried on a hollow piston rod into two work chambers, with a piston pump which is driven by the spring movements and transports oil from a low pressure chamber into the work chamber which is connected to the high pressure chamber. The pump cylinder of the piston pump is formed by the hollow piston rod. There are valves between the work chamber and the high pressure chamber for the decompression and compression damping, whereby as a valve, there is at least one valve plate, which interacts with a valve seat, which is located on the work cylinder.

A self-pumping hydropneumatic shock absorbing strut with internal level regulation for a motor vehicle, said shock absorbing strut comprising:

a work cylinder having a first end and a second end and defining a longitudinal axis;
a hollow piston rod;
a piston mounted on said hollow piston rod;
said piston being disposed for movement within said work cylinder;
damping medium disposed in said work cylinder, for damping movement of said piston;
said piston being disposed within said work cylinder to form a work chamber between said first end of said work cylinder and said piston;
another chamber for holding damping medium;
a valve disposed between said work chamber and said another chamber;
said valve comprising:
at least one valve plate;
at least one valve seat;
and
said at least one valve seat being disposed at said work cylinder;
an arrangement to self-pump said shock absorbing strut;
an arrangement disposed within said shock absorbing strut to regulate the level of said shock absorbing strut;
a retaining element;
said retaining element being disposed adjacent said first end of said work cylinder;
said retaining element comprising a plurality of flow passages;
said plurality of flow passages being disposed and configured to permit flow of damping fluid between said work chamber and said another chamber;
said at least one valve seat being configured to permit flow of damping medium in a first flow direction;
said retaining element comprising a first portion;
said first portion of said retaining element being disposed substantially in the axial direction;
said shock absorbing strut comprising one of a) and b):
a) a weld to connect said first portion of said retaining element to said work cylinder;
and
b) said work cylinder comprising a threaded portion;
and
said first portion of said retaining element comprising a threaded portion;
and
said threaded portion of said retaining element being disposed and configured to connect said retaining element to said threaded portion of said work cylinder.

27 more elements

Abstract

Claims14