Vortex flow valve with pressure relief means for shock absorber

Claim 2

A vortex flow shock absorber comprising: a hollow cylindrical tube (10) defining therein a fluid chamber filled with a working fluid; a piston ( 20 ) movably disposed within said fl.uid chamber to divide the fluid chamber into first and second chambers (22,24) , said piston having therein a circular bore opening (208) into one of said first and- second chamber; character-(214) ized by a valve body movably disposed within sai.d circular bore and defining therein a circular vortex chamber (222). in which vortex flow of the working fluid is produced, said valve body having vortex passages (226) for communication between said vortex chamber and one of said first and second chambers and a central passage (224) for communication between said vortex chamber and the other of said first and second chambers; and a first resilient member (244) disposed within said circular bore to constantly bias said valve body toward said open end of said circular bore, said resilient member being responsive to the fluid flow in a first direction in which said fluid flows into said vortex chamber via the central opening of the valve body to create clearance between the edge of the open end and the valve body through which to permit the pressurized fluid to flow.

Claim 3

A shock absorber as set forth in claim 1, wherein said circular bore (208) formed in the piston is closed at the open end thereof with an annular second resilient member (234) with a central opening, said resilient member being responsive to fluid pressure in the circular bore to be deformed when the pressure therein exceeds a set pressure, and said valve body has a groove (230) for relieving fluid pressure in the circular bore when the annular second resilient member is deformed.

Claim 4

A shock absorber as set forth in claim 2, wherein the groove (230) formed in the valve body extends radially on the surface opposing the second resilient member.

Claim 5

A shock absorber as set forth in claims 1,2, or 3, charac- rizedby an outer hollow cylindrical tube (12); an inner hollow cylindrical tube (10) coaxially disposed within said outer tube to define therebetween an annular chamber (14); a piston (20) movably disposed within said inner tube to define first upper and second lower chambers within said inner tube, said piston being attached to the lower end of a slidable piston rod (26) and having a first circular bore opening (208) downward on the surface opposing said second chamber; a valve member (214) movably disposed within said circular bore and defining therein a vortex chamber in which vortex fluid flow is produced said valve member having a vortex passage (226) extending through the periphery thereof and opening into the vortex chamber normal to the radius thereof and a central opening formed at the center of the bottom thereof; a spring member disposed within said first circular bore and above said valve member to urge said valve member toward the open end of said circular bore, said spring member being compressed in response to fluid flow in the direction from said second chamber to said first chamber to permit the valve member to move upwards to. create a bypass passage bypassing said vortex chamber of said valve member; a bottom fitting attached to the lower end of said inner tube and having therein a circular chamber, said circular chamber establishing communication between said second chamber and said-annular chamber; a valve member disposed within said circular chamber and defining therein a vortex chamber for producing vortex fluid flow, said vortex chamber communicating with said circular chamber via a vortex passage and a central opening, said vortex passage permitting fluid flow from said second chamber to said vortex chamber to produce vortex fluid flow therein; and a spring member (244) disposed within said circular chamber above said valve member for constantly urging said valve member downward, said spring member being compressed .in response to fluid flow from said annular chamber to said second chamber to permit the valve member to move upwards to create a fluid passage bypassing said valve member with .regard to fluid flow from said annular chamber to said second chamber.

Claim 6

A shock absorber as set forth in claim 4, wherein said valve rests on a resilient member (232,234) fixed on the circumference of said bottom fitting, and said valve has grooves extending along the vertical periphery and bottom thereof, said grooves establishing communication between said vortex chamber and the chamber of the tube below the valve member when said resilient member is depressed as a result of fluid pressure in said circular chamber exceeding a preset pressure determined by said resilient member.