EP0200446A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A damping mechanism
Assignee: Moog Inc
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Filing: 1986-04-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-04-21
Abstract
Abstract An automotive shock absorber has a piston-like member (21) mounted for vertical sliding movement within a cylindrical enclosure (26). The member separates an "active" chamber (231 from a "reactive" chamber (24). The member is connected to a vehicle body, while the enclosure is connected to a control arm in the vehicle's suspension system. The member has a head and body which define an internal cavity. A main passageway through the head communicates the "active" and "reacuve chambers. A valve element (30) is mounted in the cavity, and is biased to move toward a seat (54) on the head to normally close the main passageway. However, even when the element engages the seat to close the main passageways, the "active" and "reactive" chambers continue to communicate with one another via a pilot passageway (72 or 73) which includes fixed and variable orifices (102, 110) which are in series with one another.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard D. Cummins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:30
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16F; F16F9/00; F16F9/32; F16F9/44; F16F9/46; F16F9/465; B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/06; B60G17/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
345 words
A damping mechanism having a member (e.g.21) movably mounted within an enclosure (e.g.22), said member separating an active chamber (e.g.23) on one side thereof from a reactive chamber (e.g.24) on the other side thereof, said member being adapted to be connected to a first mass and said enclosure being adapted to be connected to a second mass, said active and reactive chambers being filled with fluid, characterised by a main passageway provided through said member so as to communicate said active and reactive chambers, said main passageway including a cavity within said member, a first passageway -portion communicating said active chamber with said cavity, and a second passageway portion (e.g.45) communicating said reactive chamber with said cavity, a portion of said member about one of said passageway portions providing a seat (e.g.54) facing into said cavity, a valve element (e.g.30) mounted on said member within said cavity and subdividing said cavity into a first chamber (e.g.88) and a second chamber (e.g.89), said element having a first surface arranged to face into said first chamber toward said first and second passageway portions and having a second surface arranged to face into said second chamber, said element having a portion (e.g.99) arranged for selective movement toward and away from said seat to control the flow of fluid through said main passageway, -said element portion being biased to engage said seat to normally close said main passageway; a first restricted orifice (e.g.102) provided through one of said member and element for communicating said second chamber with one of said active and reactive chambers when said element portion engages said seat; and a first pilot passageway (e.g.73) provided through said member and communicating said second chamber with the other of said active and reactive chambers, said first pilot passageway including a second restricted orifice (e.g. 110, whereby, when said element portion engages said seat to close said main passageway, fluid may flow from one of said active and reactive chambers to the other of said active and reactive chambers by passing sequentially through said first and second orifices. i
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
345 words
A damping mechanism having a member (e.g.21) movably mounted within an enclosure (e.g.22), said member separating an active chamber (e.g.23) on one side thereof from a reactive chamber (e.g.24) on the other side thereof, said member being adapted to be connected to a first mass and said enclosure being adapted to be connected to a second mass, said active and reactive chambers being filled with fluid, characterised by a main passageway provided through said member so as to communicate said active and reactive chambers, said main passageway including a cavity within said member, a first passageway -portion communicating said active chamber with said cavity, and a second passageway portion (e.g.45) communicating said reactive chamber with said cavity, a portion of said member about one of said passageway portions providing a seat (e.g.54) facing into said cavity, a valve element (e.g.30) mounted on said member within said cavity and subdividing said cavity into a first chamber (e.g.88) and a second chamber (e.g.89), said element having a first surface arranged to face into said first chamber toward said first and second passageway portions and having a second surface arranged to face into said second chamber, said element having a portion (e.g.99) arranged for selective movement toward and away from said seat to control the flow of fluid through said main passageway, -said element portion being biased to engage said seat to normally close said main passageway; a first restricted orifice (e.g.102) provided through one of said member and element for communicating said second chamber with one of said active and reactive chambers when said element portion engages said seat; and a first pilot passageway (e.g.73) provided through said member and communicating said second chamber with the other of said active and reactive chambers, said first pilot passageway including a second restricted orifice (e.g. 110, whereby, when said element portion engages said seat to close said main passageway, fluid may flow from one of said active and reactive chambers to the other of said active and reactive chambers by passing sequentially through said first and second orifices. i
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mechanism according to claim 1 characterised in that the cross-sectional area of one of said restricted orifices is variable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A mechanism according to claim 2 characterised by a motor mounted on said member and having an output shaft selectively movable relative to said member to vary said variable restricted orifice.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A mechanism according to claim 2 characterised in that the cross-sectional area of said variable restricted orifice may be varied as a function of the position of said member relative to said enclosure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A mechanism according to claim 3 characterised in that said output shaft is arranged for linear movement or rotational movement relative to said member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mechanism according to any preceding claim characterised in that said first restricted orifice is of fixed cross-sectional area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A mechanism according to any preceding claim characterised in that said valve element includes a poppet or a piston, and resilient means for biasing said valve element to move toward said seat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A 'mechanism according to claim 1 characterised in that said valve element includes a diaphragm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A mechanism according to claim 1 and further characterised by a first check valve operatively arranged in said first pilot passageway for permitting only unidirectiional flow of fluid from said second chamber to said other of said active and reactive chambers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A mechanism according to claim and further characterised by a second pilot passageway provided through said member and communicating said second chamber with said other of said active and reactive chambers, said second pilot passageway including a third restricted orifice.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A mechanism according to claim 9 and further characterised by a second check valve arranged in said second pilot passageway for permitting only unidirectional flow of fluid from said other of said active and reactive chambers to said-second chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mechanism according to claim 10 characterised in that said second and third restricted orifices are of variable cross-sectional area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A mechanism according to claim 10 and further characterised by a motor mounted on said member and having an output shaft movable relative to said member for varying the cross-sectional area of said second and third restricted orifices.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mechanism according to claim 15 characterised in that said output shaft is movable linearly or rotatively relative to said member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
A mechanism according to claim 1 characterised in that when said element portion engages said seat, said element has a first cross-sectional area exposed to the pressure in said active chamber and has a second cross-sectional area exposed to the pressure in said reactive chamber, the cross-sectional area of said element second surface being substantially equal to the sum of said first and second cross-sectional areas.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR2180487A1
Cited
DE2242990A1
Cited
FR2368649A1
Cited
GB2119473A
Cited
DE3321680A1
Cited
DE3438467A1
Cited
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