Multiple rate shock isolator damping valve

Claim 2

A direct acting, hydraulic shock isolation system, comprising: (a) a hydraulic cylinder including means defining a closed reservoir at each end thereof, said cylinder containing a hydraulic fluid; (b) a piston disposed for slidable movement within said cylinder, said piston comprising first and second axially spaced portions sized for sealing engagement with the inner surface of said cylinder, said first and second portions connected by an intermediate third axial portion of said piston of reduced outer diametric size relative to said first and second portions; (c) each said first and second portions including means defining a predetermined number of axial holes therethrough of predetermined size for displacement of said fluid from one side of said piston to the other in response to said movement of said piston through said fluid within said cylinder; (d) an annular member of outer diameter smaller than said first and second portions slidably disposed on said third portion and restrained for axial movement between limits defined by the confronting surfaces of said first and second portions, said annular member including a pair of confronting peripheral flanges, each of said flanges including means defining axial holes therethrough, smaller in size and corresponding in number to said predetermined number of axial holes in said first and second portions and disposed in substantially registering alignment therewith; and (e) means for releasably engaging said annular member on said third portion in response to movement of said piston through said fluid, said means for releasably engaging said annular member including a spring loaded radial pin slidably disposed in the wall of said third portion and engaging said annular member in the inner diameter thereof, and a shuttle valve slidably disposed on said third portion for releaseably engaging said spring loaded radial pin in response to movement thereof on said third portion.

Claim 3

A direct acting, hydraulic shock isolation system comprising: (a) a hydraulic cylinder including means defining a closed reservoir at each end thereof, said cylinder containing a hydraulic fluid; (b) a piston disposed for slidable movement within said cylinder, said piston comprising first and second axially spaced portions sized for sealing engagement with the inner surface of said cylinder, said first and second portions connected by an intermediate third axial portion of said piston of reduced outer diametric size relative to said first and second portions; (c) each said first and second portions including means defining a predetermined number of axial holes therethrough of predetermined size for displacement of said fluid from one side of said piston to the other in response to said movement of said piston through said fluid within said cylinder; (d) an annular member of outer diameter smaller than said first and second portions slidably disposed on said third portion and restrained for axial movement between limits defined by the confronting surfaces of said first and second portions, said annular member including a pair of confronting peripheral flanges, each of said flanges including means defining axial holes therethrough, smaller in size and corresponding in number to said predetermined number of axial holes in said first and second portions and disposed in substantially registering alignment therewith; and (e) a spring loaded dashpot assembly disposed in one of said first and second portions for urging said annular member to a predetermined neutral position intermediate said first and second piston portions in response to the cessation of said movement of said piston.

Claim 4

A direct acting, hydraulic shock isolation system comprising: (a) a hydraulic cylinder including means defining a closed reservoir at each end thereof, said cylinder containing a hydraulic fluid; (b) a piston disposed for slidable movement within said cylinder, said piston comprising first and second axially spaced portions sized for sealing engagement with the inner surface of said cylinder, said first and second portions connected by an intermediate third axial portion of said piston of reduced outer diametric size relative to said first and second portions; (c) each said first and second portions including means defining a predetermined number of axial holes therethrough of predetermined size for displacement of said fluid from one side of said piston to the other in response to said movement of said piston through said fluid within said cylinder; (d) an annular member of outer diameter smaller than said first and second portions slidably disposed on said third portion and restrained for axial movement between limits defined by the confronting surfaces of said first and second portions, said annular member including a pair of confronting peripheral flanges, each of said flanges including means defining axial holes therethrough, smaller in size and corresponding in number to said predetermined number of axial holes in said first and second portions and disposed in substantially registering alignment therewith; and (e) a spring loaded dashpot assembly disposed in one of said first and second portions for urging said annular member to a predetermined neutral position intermediate said first and second piston portions in response to the cessation of said movement of said piston.

Claim 5

A direct acting, hydraulic shock isolation system comprising: (a) a hydraulic cylinder including means defining a closed reservoir at each end thereof, said cylinder containing a hydraulic fluid; (b) a piston disposed for slidable movement within said cylinder, said piston comprising first and second axially spaced portions sized for sealing engagement with the inner surface of said cylinder, said first and second portions connected by an intermediate third axial portion of said piston of reduced outer diametric size relative to said first and second portions; (c) each said first and second portions including means defining a predetermined number of axial holes therethrough of predetermined size for displacement of said fluid from one side of said piston to the other in response to said movement of said piston through said fluid within said cylinder; (d) an annular member of outer diameter smaller than said first and second portions slidably disposed on said third portion and restrained for axial movement between limits defined by the confronting surfaces of said first and second portions, said annular member including a pair of confronting peripheral flanges, each of said flanges including means defining axial holes therethrough, smaller in size and corresponding in number to said predetermined number of axial holes in said first and second portions and disposed in substantially registering alignment therewith; (e) means defining an axial bore through said piston, closed at one end near said first portion and extending through said third and second portions; and (f) means for releasably engaging said annular member on said third portion in response to movement of said piston through said fluid, said releasable engaging means including a spring loaded radial pin slidably disposed in the wall of said third portion and engaging said annular member on the inner diameter thereof, and a shuttle valve slidably disposed within said axial bore for engaging said pin in response to movement thereof within said axial bore.

Claim 6

A direct acting, hydraulic shock isolation system comprising: (a) a hydraulic cylinder including means defining a closed reservoir at each end thereof, said cylinder containing a hydraulic fluid; (b) a piston disposed for slidable movement within said cylinder, said piston comprising first and second axially spaced portions sized for sealing engagement with the inner surface of said cylinder, said first and second portions connected by an intermediate third axial portion of said piston of reduced outer diametric size relative to said first and second portions; (c) each said first and second portions including means defining a predetermined number of axial holes therethrough of predetermined size for displacement of said fluid from one side of said piston to the other in response to said movement of said piston through said fluid within said cylinder; (d) an annular member of outer diameter smaller than said first and second portions slidably disposed on said third portion and restrained for axial movement between limits defined by the confronting surfaces of said first and second portions, said annular member including a pair of confronting peripheral flanges, each of said flanges including means defining axial holes therethrough, smaller in size and corresponding in number to said predetermined number of axial holes in said first and second portions and disposed in substantially registering alignment therewith; (e) means defining an axial bore through said piston, closed at one end near said first portion and extending through said third and second portions; and (f) means for releasably engaging said annular member on said third portion in response to movement of said piston through said fluid, said releasable engaging means including a spring loaded radial pin slidably disposed in the wall of said third portion and engaging said annular member on the inner diameter thereof, and a shuttle valve slidably disposed within said axial bore for engaging said pin in response to movement thereof within said axial bore.

Claim 7

The shock isolation system as recited in claim 3 further comprising means defining an inlet port for said axial bore through said second portion, through which said axial bore may communicate with said hydraulic cylinder to provide flow of said hydraulic fluid into and out of said axial bore.