Oleo-pneumatic shock absorber

Claim 2

A combination gas and liquid suspension device for a vehicle comprising a liquid filled inner cuylinder having opposite open ends, each end having a radially extending annular flange, a rod guide member connected in one end of the inner cylinder, base valve means connected in the opposite end of said inner cylinder, a piston slidably supported within said inner cylinder for opposite reciprocation therein, a piston rod connected to said piston having one end thereof extending through said rod guide member exteriorly of said inner cylinder, a flexible sleeve bladder located coaxially of the inner cylinder in spaced relationship to the outer surface thereof to form a gas space, said bladder having ring-like opposite end portions extending radially inwardly therefrom to provide gas seals for said bladder, one of said end portions of said bladder being operatively positioned between one of said flanges of said inner cylinder and said rod guide means to seal one end of said gas space, the other of said end portions being operatively positioned between the other of said flanges of said inner cylinder and said base valve means to seal the other end of said gas space, an outer cylinder member located coaxially of and in surrounding relationship with said bladder, means closing one end of said outer cylinder and including means thereon cooperating with said base valve means to define an oil path from the inner cylinder to a reservoir space between the bladder and the outer cylinder, said outer cylinder having an opposite open end therein, an end cap adjustably mounted in and closing the opposite open end, first seal means operatively connected between said end cap and the outer cylinder to form a pressure seal at the outer cylinder, second seal means on the end cap for forming a pressure seal between it and the reciprocating piston rod, and adjustable means for positioning and locking said end cap in said outer cylinder to locate said first and second seals in sealing relationship with said outer cylinder and said piston rod and to hold said end portions of said bladder in sealing relationship with said annular flanges of said inner cylinder, said rod guide and said base valve means.

Claim 3

A combination gas and liquid suspension device for a vehicle comprising a liquid filled inner cylinder having opposite open ends thereon, each of said open ends having a radially extending sealing surface, a rod guide member connected in one end of the inner cylinder having a sealing surface thereon located in spaced relationship to the sealing surface on one end of the inner cylinder, base valve means connected in the opposite end of said inner cylinder having a sealing surface thereon located in spaced relationship to the sealing surface on the opposite end of said inner cylinder, a piston slidably supported wihtin said inner cylinder for opposite reciprocation therein, a piston rod connected to said piston having one end thereof extending through said rod guide member exteriorly of said inner cylinder, means for directing liquid through said piston rod into said inner cylinder, a flexible sleeve bladder located coaxially of the inner cylinder in spaced relationship to the outer surface thereof to form a gas space, said bladder having opposite end portions extending radially inwardly therefrom forming first and second sealing beads, one of said end portions being located between the sealing surfaces on said rod guide and said inner cylinder to seal one end of the gas space, the other end portion of said bladder being located between said sealing surfaces on said base valve and the opposite end of said inner cylinder to seal the opposite end of said gas space, an outer cylinder member located coaxially of and in surrounding relationship with said bladder, closure means closing one end of said outer cylinder and including means thereon cooperating with said base valve means to define a fluid path from the inner cylinder to a reservoir space between the bladder and the outer cylinder to receive liquid from said outlet means to vary the liquid volume in said reservoir space and to change the pressure in said gas space, said outer cylinder having an open end therein, an end cap adjustably mounted in and closing the open end, first seal means on the end cap connected between it and the outer cylinder to form a pressure seal at the outer cyinder, second seal means on the end cap for forming a pressure seal between it and the reciprocating piston rod, retainer ring means threaded into one end of said outer cylinder for moving said end cap toward said closure means for pressing said sealing beads between the inner cylinder and those on said rod guide member and said base valve means for maintaining the bladder in tight seal engagement with the inner cylinder to prevent the escape of gas from the inner space into the liquid filled reservoir and inner cylinder.

Claim 4

A combination gas and liquid suspension device for a vehicle comprising a liquid filled inner cylinder having opposite open ends thereon, each of said open ends having a radially extending sealing surface, a rod guide member connected in one end of the inner cylinder having a sealing surface thereon located in spaced relationship to the sealing surface on one end of the inner cylinder, base valve means connected in the opposite end of said inner cylinder having a sealing surface thereon located in spaced relationship to the sealing surface on the opposite end of said inner cylinder, a piston slidably supported wihtin said inner cylinder for opposite reciprocation therein, a piston rod connected to said piston having one end thereof extending through said rod guide member exteriorly of said inner cylinder, means for directing liquid through said piston rod into said inner cylinder, a flexible sleeve bladder located coaxially of the inner cylinder in spaced relationship to the outer surface thereof to form a gas space, said bladder having opposite end portions extending radially inwardly therefrom forming first and second sealing beads, one of said end portions being located between the sealing surfaces on said rod guide and said inner cylinder to seal one end of the gas space, the other end portion of said bladder being located between said sealing surfaces on said base valve and the opposite end of said inner cylinder to seal the opposite end of said gas space, an outer cylinder member located coaxially of and in surrounding relationship with said bladder, closure means closing one end of said outer cylinder and including means thereon cooperating with said base valve means to define a fluid path from the inner cylinder to a reservoir space between the bladder and the outer cylinder to receive liquid from said outlet means to vary the liquid volume in said reservoir space and to change the pressure in said gas space, said outer cylinder having an open end therein, an end cap adjustably mounted in and closing the open end, first seal means on the end cap connected between it and the outer cylinder to form a pressure seal at the outer cyinder, second seal means on the end cap for forming a pressure seal between it and the reciprocating piston rod, retainer ring means threaded into one end of said outer cylinder for moving said end cap toward said closure means for pressing said sealing beads between the inner cylinder and those on said rod guide member and said base valve means for maintaining the bladder in tight seal engagement with the inner cylinder to prevent the escape of gas from the inner space into the liquid filled reservoir and inner cylinder.

Claim 5

A combination gas and liquid suspension device for a vehicle comprising a liquid filled inner cylinder having opposite open ends, a rod guide closing one of the open ends and a base valve means closing The other of the open ends, a piston located within said inner cylinder slidably supported thereon for opposite reciprocation therein, a piston rod connected to said piston having one end thereof extending through said rod guide exteriorly of said inner cylinder, an outer cylinder member located coaxially of the inner cylinder in surrounding spaced relationship therewith, a ring member connected to the inner surface of said inner cylinder at each end thereof, means forming a fluid inlet through one of said ring members, a flexible sleeve bladder having radially extending opposite ends, one of said sleeve ends being sealed between one of said rings and one end of said inner cylinder, the other of said opposite ends being sealed between the other of said rings and the other end of said inner cylinder to form a sealed gas chamber between said inner cylinder and said sleeve, said bladder being located in spaced relationship to said outer cylinder along the length of said outer cylinder to form a variable volume oil filled reservoir chamber therewith, passageway means communicating the inner cylinder with the reservoir space, said passageway means including a first end cap closing one end of said outer cylinder, a second end cap closing the opposite end of said outer cylinder including first seal means thereon for forming a pressure seal between it and the outer cylinder, second seal means on said second end cap for forming a pressure seal between it and the piston rod as it reciprocates into and out of the inner cylinder, retainer means threaded into said outer cylinder directly engaging said second end cap for retaining the second end cap in its sealed relationship with the outer cylinder and the piston rod and for holding the rod guide in place within the open end of the inner cylinder, and means for directing liquid into the inner cylinder and oil reservoir.

Claim 6

A combination gas and liquid suspension device for a vehicle comprising a liquid filled inner cylinder having opposite open ends, a rod guide closing one of the open ends and a base valve means closing The other of the open ends, a piston located within said inner cylinder slidably supported thereon for opposite reciprocation therein, a piston rod connected to said piston having one end thereof extending through said rod guide exteriorly of said inner cylinder, an outer cylinder member located coaxially of the inner cylinder in surrounding spaced relationship therewith, a ring member connected to the inner surface of said inner cylinder at each end thereof, means forming a fluid inlet through one of said ring members, a flexible sleeve bladder having radially extending opposite ends, one of said sleeve ends being sealed between one of said rings and one end of said inner cylinder, the other of said opposite ends being sealed between the other of said rings and the other end of said inner cylinder to form a sealed gas chamber between said inner cylinder and said sleeve, said bladder being located in spaced relationship to said outer cylinder along the length of said outer cylinder to form a variable volume oil filled reservoir chamber therewith, passageway means communicating the inner cylinder with the reservoir space, said passageway means including a first end cap closing one end of said outer cylinder, a second end cap closing the opposite end of said outer cylinder including first seal means thereon for forming a pressure seal between it and the outer cylinder, second seal means on said second end cap for forming a pressure seal between it and the piston rod as it reciprocates into and out of the inner cylinder, retainer means threaded into said outer cylinder directly engaging said second end cap for retaining the second end cap in its sealed relationship with the outer cylinder and the piston rod and for holding the rod guide in place within the open end of the inner cylinder, and means for directing liquid into the inner cylinder and oil reservoir.

Claim 7

A combination gas and liquid suspension device for a vehicle comprising a liquid filled inner cylinder having opposite open ends, a rod guide closing one of the open ends and a base valve means closing the other of the open ends, a piston located within said inner cylinder slidably supported thereon for opposite reciprocation therein, a piston rod connected to said piston having one end thereof extending through said rod guide exteriorly of said inner cylinder, an outer cylinder member located coaxially of the inner cylinder in surrounding spaced relationship therewith, a ring member connected to said inner cylinder at each end thereof, means forming a fluid inlet through one of said ring members, a flexible sleeve bladder having opposite ends which extend radially inwardly, one of said sleeve ends being sealed between one of said rings and one end of inner cylinder, the other of said sleeve ends being sealed between the other of said rings and the other end of said inner cylinder to form a sealed gas chamber between said inner cylinder and said sleeve, said bladder being located in spaced relationship to said outer cylinder along the length of said outer cylinder to form a variable volume oil filled reservoir chamber therewith, passageway means communicating the inner cylinder with the reservoir space, said passageway means including a first end cap closing one end of said outer cylinder, a second end cap closing the opposite end of said outer cylinder including first seal means thereon for forming a pressure seal between it and the outer cylinder, second seal means on said second end cap for formina a pressure seal between it and the piston rod as it reciprocates into and out of the inner cylinder, retainer means adjustably threaded in said outer cylinder for contacting and retaining the first end cap in its sealed relationship with the outer cylinder and the piston rod and for holding the rod guide in place within the open end of the inner cylinder, and means for directing liquid into the inner cylinder and oil reservoir including a fitting connected to the piston rod and means for forming a liquid passageway through saId piston rod thence interiorly of said inner cylinder and through said passageway means into said oil reservoir, said oil inlet being adapted to be connected to an oil supply system for varying the amount of oil within the oil reservoir to change the oil pressure within the unit, valve means in said piston having an opening therethrough for controlling the flow of oil through said piston and thermally activated means in said piston rod for varying the size of said opening to vary the flow of oil through said piston.

Claim 8

A combination gas and liquid suspension device for a vehicle comprising a liquid filled inner cylinder having opposite open ends, a rod guide closing one of the open ends and a base valve means closing the other of the open ends, a piston located within said inner cylinder slidably supported thereon for opposite reciprocation therein, a piston rod connected to said piston having one end thereof extending through said rod guide exteriorly of said inner cylinder, an outer cylinder member located coaxially of the inner cylinder in surrounding spaced relationship therewith, a ring member connected to said inner cylinder at each end thereof, means forming a fluid inlet through one of said ring members, a flexible sleeve bladder having opposite ends which extend radially inwardly, one of said sleeve ends being sealed between one of said rings and one end of inner cylinder, the other of said sleeve ends being sealed between the other of said rings and the other end of said inner cylinder to form a sealed gas chamber between said inner cylinder and said sleeve, said bladder being located in spaced relationship to said outer cylinder along the length of said outer cylinder to form a variable volume oil filled reservoir chamber therewith, passageway means communicating the inner cylinder with the reservoir space, said passageway means including a first end cap closing one end of said outer cylinder, a second end cap closing the opposite end of said outer cylinder including first seal means thereon for forming a pressure seal between it and the outer cylinder, second seal means on said second end cap for formina a pressure seal between it and the piston rod as it reciprocates into and out of the inner cylinder, retainer means adjustably threaded in said outer cylinder for contacting and retaining the first end cap in its sealed relationship with the outer cylinder and the piston rod and for holding the rod guide in place within the open end of the inner cylinder, and means for directing liquid into the inner cylinder and oil reservoir including a fitting connected to the piston rod and means for forming a liquid passageway through saId piston rod thence interiorly of said inner cylinder and through said passageway means into said oil reservoir, said oil inlet being adapted to be connected to an oil supply system for varying the amount of oil within the oil reservoir to change the oil pressure within the unit, valve means in said piston having an opening therethrough for controlling the flow of oil through said piston and thermally activated means in said piston rod for varying the size of said opening to vary the flow of oil through said piston.