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US 7,441,640 B2Granted
Shock absorber apparatus
OwnerPeter Russellinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shock absorber includes a first cylinder having a first fluid port and a second cylinder having a second fluid port. A response adjustment mechanism is connected in fluid transmission relation between the first and second fluid ports. The response adjustment mechanism includes three adjustable valves for controlling the operation of the shock absorber. One of the adjustable valves has a stem that is rotatable by a tool during operation. The remaining adjustable valves each have a shaft that is rotatable by a tool during operation. The adjustable valves of the response adjustment mechanism are coaxially positioned so that a first valve is coaxially positioned within a second valve, and the first and second valves are coaxially positioned within a third valve.
Claims25
A shock absorber apparatus, comprising:
- a first cylinder defining a first internal bore closed by a first end wall and an opposite second end wall, and further comprising a first port connected in fluid transmission relation to the first internal bore;
- a second cylinder defining a second internal bore closed by a first end wall and an opposite second end wall, and further comprising a second port connected in fluid transmission relation to the second internal bore;
- and
- a response adjustment mechanism located adjacent to the second cylinder, and connected in fluid transmission relation between the first port and second port, comprising first, second, and third adjustment valves, wherein each valve is operable to direct a flow of fluid between the first port and the second port, and wherein the first valve is coaxially positioned within the second valve, and further wherein the second valve is coaxially positioned within the third valve, and wherein the response adjustment mechanism further comprises:
- a stem having an outer surface, and a first end, and a second end having a conical shape, and wherein the stem comprises threads formed therein around the outer surface proximate to the second end;
- and
- a first shaft located along the longitudinal axis, and having an outer surface, and having a first bore formed there-through, and wherein the first bore defines an inner surface configured to slideably and telescopingly receive the stem in rotatable relation so that the stem is coaxially received within the first shaft, and further wherein the first shaft comprises a second bore formed therein, and wherein a portion of the inner surface of the second bore has threads formed therein, and is configured to threadably accept the threads formed proximate to the second end of the stem;
- and wherein a portion of the outer surface of the first shaft has threads formed therein;
- a second shaft located along the longitudinal axis having a first end, and an opposite second end, and having an outer surface, and having a bore formed therein, and wherein the bore defines an inner surface, and wherein a portion of the inner surface of the bore has threads formed therein, and is configured to threadably accept the threads formed in the outer surface of the first shaft;
- a first spring having a first end and an opposite second end, and positioned around a portion of the outer surface of the first shaft in telescoping relation, and wherein the first end of the first spring is positioned in force transmission relation to the second end of the second shaft;
- a first base having a first surface, and an opposite second surface, and having a bore extending from the first surface to the second surface, and wherein the first surface forms a platform for the second end of first spring;
- a third shaft located along the longitudinal axis, and having a first and an opposite second end, and having an outer surface, and having a bore formed therein, and wherein the bore defines an inner surface, and wherein a portion of the inner surface of the bore is configured to slideably and telescopingly receive the second shaft in rotatable relation so that the second shaft is coaxially received within the third shaft, and wherein a portion of the outer surface has threads formed therein;
- a second spring having a first and an opposite second end, and positioned around a portion of the second shaft in telescoping relation, and further positioned around the first spring in telescoping relation, and wherein the first end of the second spring is positioned in force transmission relation to the second end of the third shaft;
- a second base having an outer surface, and having a first and an opposite second surface wherein the outer surface is bound by the first and the second surface, and further having a first bore formed between the first surface and the second surface, and wherein the first surface has a recessed seat formed therein, configured to support the first base in force transmission relation, and further wherein the first surface is configured to support the second spring in force transmission relation, and wherein the second base further comprises a second bore bounded by the first surface, and further comprises a cavity positioned between the first and second surface;
- a housing configured to threadably and rotatably accept the third shaft, and wherein the housing has a plurality of apertures formed therein;
- and
- a third base having a first and an opposite second surface, and having a first cavity having an inner surface bounded by the first surface, and wherein the inner surface is configured to support the outer surface of the second base in force transmission relation, and further having a second cavity bounded by the second surface.
14 more elements
A shock absorber apparatus, comprising:
- a first cylinder defining a first internal bore closed by a first end wall and an opposite second end wall, and further comprising a first port connected in fluid transmission relation to the first internal bore;
- a second cylinder defining a second internal bore closed by a first end wall and an opposite second end wall, and further comprising a second port connected in fluid transmission relation to the second internal bore;
- and
- a response adjustment mechanism located adjacent to the second cylinder, and connected in fluid transmission relation between the first port and second port, comprising first, second, and third adjustment valves, wherein each valve is operable to direct a flow of fluid between the first port and the second port, and wherein the first valve is coaxially positioned within the second valve, and further wherein the second valve is coaxially positioned within the third valve, and wherein the first adjustment valve is located along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the second adjustment valve comprises a bore, and is positioned along the longitudinal axis, and configured to telescopingly receive the first adjustment valve in the bore of the second adjustment valve so that the second adjustment valve is positioned in coaxial relation with the first adjustment valve;
- and further wherein the third adjustment valve further comprises a bore, and is positioned along the longitudinal axis, and configured to telescopingly receive the second adjustment valve in the bore of the third adjustment valve so that the third adjustment valve is positioned in coaxial relation with the second adjustment valve, and wherein the first internal bore of the first cylinder has a diameter and a longitudinal axis, and wherein the shock absorber further comprises:
- a rod having a first end and an opposite second end, and wherein the rod movably extends along the longitudinal axis of the first internal bore, and into the first internal bore through an aperture formed in the first end wall of the first cylinder so that the second end of the rod is positioned concentrically within the first internal bore, and so that the first end of the rod is positioned outside the first internal bore;
- a first piston having an outside diameter, and fixedly attached to the rod at an intermediate position located between the first and the second end of the rod, and positioned concentrically within the first internal bore of the first cylinder;
- a second piston having an outside diameter, and fixedly attached to the piston rod proximate to the second end of the rod, and positioned concentrically within the first internal bore of the first cylinder;
- and wherein the outside diameter of the second piston is less than the outside diameter of the first piston.
6 more elements
A shock absorber apparatus, comprising:
- a first cylinder bore having a diameter and having a longitudinal axis, and filled with an incompressible fluid;
- a second cylinder bore having a diameter, and filled with the incompressible fluid, and positioned adjacent to the first cylinder bore, and along the longitudinal axis of the first cylinder bore;
- a piston rod having a first end, and an opposite second end, and a longitudinal axis, and an external surface, and wherein the first end is positioned outside the first and second cylinder bore, and wherein the second end is positioned within the first or the second cylinder bore, and the longitudinal axis of the piston rod is positioned concentric to, and along, the longitudinal axis of the first cylinder bore, the piston rod further comprising a bore formed concentrically therein, and wherein the piston rod further comprises a one or more of apertures formed within the piston rod and extending from the external surface of the piston rod into the bore of the piston rod to form a fluid passage;
- a first piston positioned at an intermediate position located between the first and the second end of the piston rod, and configured to translate within the first cylinder bore in response to an external force;
- a second piston positioned proximate to the second end of the piston rod, and configured to translate within the first cylinder bore, and in the second cylinder bore, and in response to the external force;
- a needle assembly located substantially within the second cylinder bore, and configured to enter the bore of the piston rod as the second piston nears the second cylinder bore, and wherein the diameter of the second cylinder bore is less than the diameter of the first cylinder bore;
- and
- a groove having a first end and an opposite second end, and positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first cylinder bore, and formed within the first cylinder bore, and wherein the groove is positioned in a location proximate to the position of the first piston and configured to allow some of the incompressible fluid to bypass the first piston.
5 more elements
A shock absorber apparatus, comprising:
- a first cylinder defining a first internal bore closed by a first end wall and an opposite second end wall, and further comprising a first port connected in fluid transmission relation to the first internal bore;
- a second cylinder defining a second internal bore closed by a third end wall and an opposite fourth end wall, and further comprising a second port connected in fluid transmission relation to the second internal bore;
- a response adjustment mechanism located adjacent to the second cylinder, and connected in fluid transmission relation between the first port and second port, and comprising first, second, and third adjustment valves, and wherein each valve is operable to direct a flow of fluid between the first port and the second port, and wherein the first valve has a stem that is rotatable by a tool during operation, and wherein the second valve has a shaft that is rotatable by a tool during operation, and wherein the third valve has a shaft that is rotatable by a tool during operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.