Hydropneumatic suspension unit

Claim 1

A HYDROPNEUMATIC SUSPENSION UNIT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A CYLINDER MEMBER HAVING AN AXIS, AND DEFINING A CAVITY ABOUT SAID AXIS; (B) A PISTON MEMBER MOUNTED IN SAID CAVITY FOR AXIAL RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT, SAID PISTON MEMBER SEALINGLY DIVIDING SAID CAVITY INTO TWO COMPARTMENTS AND BEING FORMED WITH A DUCT AXIALLY EXTENDING THERETHROUGH HAVING RESPECTIVE ORIFICES IN SAID COMPARTMENTS, THE FLOW AREA OF SAID DUCT BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER THAN THE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF SAID CAVITY; (C) A PISTON ROD MEMBER SECURED TO SAID PISTON MEMBER AND AXIALLY EXTENDING THEREFROM THROUGH ONE OF SAID COMPARTMENTS, A PORTION OF SAID PISTON ROD MEMBER HAVING A UNIFORM CROSS SECTION AND PASSING OUTWARD THROUGH SAID CYLINDER MEMBER IN MOVABLE SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SAME; AND (D) ANNUAL BAFFLE PLATE MEANS PROJECTING FROM SAID CYLINDER MEMBER TOWARD SAID AXIS IN THE OTHER ONE OF SAID COMPARTMENTS, SAID BAFFLE PLATE MEANS DEFINING TWO AXIALLY SPACED PORTIONS IN SAID OTHER COMPARTMENT AND BEING FORMED WITH AN OPENING AXIALLY EXTENDING THERETHROUGH AND CONNECTING SAID PORTIONS, THE CROSS SECTIONAL AREA OF SAID OPENING BEING SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE CROSS SECTION OF SAID PISTON ROD MEMBER PORTION.