Pressure controlled suspension damper

A suspension damper assembly for a vehicle suspension system comprising:

• a housing;
• a pumping cylinder axially aligned inside said housing defining a pumping chamber having a piston stroking therein;
• an intermediate cylinder defining an intermediate chamber with said pumping cylinder and an outer chamber with said housing;
• suspension fluid disposed throughout each of said chambers;
• a valve controlling the distribution of fluid between said chambers thereby controlling the amount of vibration damping inside said pumping chamber, said valve comprising:
• a spring actuated member biased to restrict the flow of fluid between said outer chamber and said intermediate chamber;
• an air chamber coupled to a source of pressurized air;
• a bellows disposed inside said air chamber exerting counter-force upon said spring relative to the air pressure inside said air chamber thereby increasing the amount of fluid flowing between said outer chamber and said intermediate chamber;
• said air source comprises air from an air suspension system;
• said assembly includes a casing forming a fluid return passage around said housing connecting said spring actuated member to said outer chamber;
• said valve includes a valve cap assembly having at least one aperture allowing fluid to flow between said intermediate chamber and said spring actuated member;
• and
• said cap assembly includes a one way valve moveable to allow fluid to flow into said spring actuated member from said intermediate chamber.

A suspension damper assembly for a vehicle suspension system having an air supply with an air pressure being relative to a mass loaded on the vehicle comprising:

• a housing;
• a pumping cylinder concentrically aligned inside said housing defining a pumping chamber having a piston stroking therein for reducing the level of vehicle vibration;
• an intermediate cylinder defining an intermediate chamber with said pumping cylinder and an outer chamber with said housing;
• suspension fluid disposed throughout each of said chambers;
• a valve operably connected to said air supply of said suspension system thereby controlling the distribution of fluid between said chambers relative to the pressure of the air supply and controlling the amount of vibration damping inside said pumping chamber relative to the mass loaded on the vehicle;
• wherein said valve comprising:
• a spring actuated member biased to restrict the flow of fluid between said outer chamber and said inner chamber;
• an air chamber operably connected to said air supply;
• a bellows disposed inside said air chamber;
• and
• a projection from said bellows extending out of said air chamber exerting counter biasing force upon said spring actuated member relative to the air pressure inside said air chamber thereby increasing the amount of fluid flowing between said outer chamber and said interm ediate chamber.

A suspension damper assembly for a vehicle suspension system having an air supply with an air pressure being relative to a mass loaded on the vehicle comprising:

• a housing;
• a pumping cylinder concentrically aligned inside said housing defining a pumping chamber having a piston stroking therein for reducing the level of vehicle vibration;
• an intermediate cylinder defining an intermediate chamber with said pumping cylinder and an outer chamber with said housing;
• suspension fluid disposed throughout each of said chambers;
• a valve operably connected to said air supply of said suspension system thereby controlling the distribution of fluid between said chambers relative to the pressure of the air supply and controlling the amount of vibration damping inside said pumping chamber relative to the mass loaded on the vehicle;
• said valve includes a spring actuated member biased to restrict the flow of fluid between said outer chamber and said inner chamber;
• said valve includes an air chamber operably connected to said air supply;
• said valve includes a bellows disposed inside said air chamber exerting counter biasing force upon said spring actuated member relative to the air pressure inside said air chamber thereby increasing the amount of fluid flowing between said outer chamber and said intermediate chamber;
• said assembly includes a casing forming a fluid return passage around said housing connecting said spring actuated member to said outer chamber;
• said valve includes a valve cap assembly having at least one aperture allowing fluid to flow between said intermediate chamber and said spring actuated member;
• and
• said cap assembly includes an one way valve moveable to allow fluid to flow into said spring actuated member from said intermediate chamber.

A suspension damper assembly for a vehicle suspension system comprising:

• a housing;
• a pumping cylinder axially aligned inside said housing defining a pumping chamber having a piston stroking therein;
• an intermediate cylinder between said housing and said pumping cylinder defining an intermediate chamber with said pumping cylinder and an outer chamber with said housing;
• suspension fluid disposed throughout each of said chambers;
• a valve controlling the distribution of fluid between said chambers thereby controlling the amount of vibration damping inside said pumping chamber;
• wherein said valve comprising:
• a spring actuated member biased to restrict the flow of fluid between said outer chamber and said intermediate chamber;
• an air chamber coupled to a source of pressurized air;
• a bellows disposed inside said air chamber;
• and
• a projection from said bellows extending out of said air chamber exerting counter-force upon said spring relative to the air pressure inside said air chamber thereby increasing the amount of fluid flowing between said outer chamber and said intermediate chamber.