US4880086A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable vibration damper
Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
•
Filing: 1988-06-06
•
Granted: 1989-11-14
•
Expires: 2008-06-06
Abstract
Abstract Adjustable vibration damper, in particular for motor vehicles, with a cylinder containing a damping fluid, an axially-movable piston rod inserted in the cylinder in a sealed manner, and a damping piston fastened to the piston rod, which piston divides the cylinder into two work chambers, whereby a damping valve with an axially-movable valve body and a valve seat controls the effective cross section of a damping passage. Control of such a vibration damper should guarantee a continuous adjustment capability, a high adjustment speed, a good temperature behavior and reliably reproducible damping force characteristics, as well as the use of a small amount of control energy. For this purpose, starting from its pressurized end surface, the valve body comprises at least one constant throttle hole running toward the opposite rear side, and another throttle hole running from the rear side in the discharge direction of the damping passage is controlled by a continuously adjustable control pin, whereby the rear side of the valve body and the housing guiding the valve body form a control chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Heinz Knecht
- 👤 Norbert Ackermann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:25
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16F; F16F9/00; F16F9/32; F16F9/44; F16F9/46; F16F9/465
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
314 words
A vibration damper for motor vehicles, said damper comprising a cylinder assembly having an arrangement for varying damping of a piston assembly disposed therein, said piston assembly dividing said cylinder into at least two chambers, each for containing damping fluid, said vibration damper comprising: means for throttling said damping fluid when said damping fluid moves from one of said chambers into another; said piston assembly having a piston rod and piston; said piston rod having first means for attachment of said piston rod at one end thereof; said cylinder assembly having second means for attachment at a portion thereon other than said first means for attachment at said piston rod; means for bypassing damping fluid between said at least two chambers; means for accepting bypassed damping fluid; said bypassing means being disposed to bypass said damping fluid from at least one of said damping fluid-containing chambers to said accepting means; said bypassing means including damping valve means for regulating flow of said damping fluid in said bypassing means; said damping valve means comprising: a principal valve seat and a first displaceable component for opening and closing against said principal valve seat; said first displaceable component having a first portion for being disposed against said valve seat and a second portion opposite said first portion; a first, constantly open, bypass orifice being disposed at least in said first portion of said first displaceable component for bypassing pressure buildup at said first portion at least to said second portion of said displaceable component; a second bypass orifice being disposed in said first displaceable component for bypassing pressure buildup substantially at said second portion to at least a part of said first portion of said first displaceable component; and a second displaceable component for varying flow through said second bypass orifice, said second displaceable component and said first displaceable component being independently displaceable relative to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
314 words
A vibration damper for motor vehicles, said damper comprising a cylinder assembly having an arrangement for varying damping of a piston assembly disposed therein, said piston assembly dividing said cylinder into at least two chambers, each for containing damping fluid, said vibration damper comprising: means for throttling said damping fluid when said damping fluid moves from one of said chambers into another; said piston assembly having a piston rod and piston; said piston rod having first means for attachment of said piston rod at one end thereof; said cylinder assembly having second means for attachment at a portion thereon other than said first means for attachment at said piston rod; means for bypassing damping fluid between said at least two chambers; means for accepting bypassed damping fluid; said bypassing means being disposed to bypass said damping fluid from at least one of said damping fluid-containing chambers to said accepting means; said bypassing means including damping valve means for regulating flow of said damping fluid in said bypassing means; said damping valve means comprising: a principal valve seat and a first displaceable component for opening and closing against said principal valve seat; said first displaceable component having a first portion for being disposed against said valve seat and a second portion opposite said first portion; a first, constantly open, bypass orifice being disposed at least in said first portion of said first displaceable component for bypassing pressure buildup at said first portion at least to said second portion of said displaceable component; a second bypass orifice being disposed in said first displaceable component for bypassing pressure buildup substantially at said second portion to at least a part of said first portion of said first displaceable component; and a second displaceable component for varying flow through said second bypass orifice, said second displaceable component and said first displaceable component being independently displaceable relative to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 1, wherein said first portion comprises a pressurized surface of said first displaceable component for holding against pressure developed by said piston.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 2, including means for positioning said second displaceable component with respect to said second orifice; and said means for positioning said second displaceable component comprising spring means for spring loading said second displaceable component.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 3, wherein a control chamber disposed at said second side of said first displaceable component, said second side of said first displaceable component comprising a wall of said control chamber; and another portion of said chamber comprising a housing for guiding and aligning said second displaceable component with said second orifice.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 3, wherein said spring means comprises means for holding said second displaceable component against said second bypass orifice.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 3, wherein said spring means comprises additional spring means for urging said second displaceable component away from said second orifice.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 1, wherein said first displaceable component comprises a flexible membrane with an outer peripheral portion and central portion, said flexible membrane being fastened at said outer peripheral portion to said valve means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 7, wherein said second orifice is disposed in a central portion of said membrane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 5, wherein said means for holding said second displaceable component against said second bypass orifice comprises a member of the group consisting essentially of a spring washer and a spiral spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 1, wherein said second displaceable component has a portion for making contact with said second orifice and a portion for being exposed to pressure passed through said first orifice, said portion exposed to pressure passed through said first orifice having a control surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 3, wherein said spring means comprises adjustable means for varying the spring loading of said spring means on said second displaceable component, said adjustable means having means for adjustment being external to said valve means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 11, wherein said means for adjustment external to said valve means are manual means for adjustment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 11, wherein said means for adjustment external to said valve means are electrical means for adjustment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 1, wherein said second displaceable component comprises an elongated body having a substantially pointed end for fitting into and thus controlling flow through said second orifice.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 3, wherein said second displaceable component comprises an elongated body having a substantially pointed end for fitting into and thus controlling flow through said second orifice.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 4, wherein said second displaceable component comprises an elongated body having a substantially pointed end for fitting into and thus controlling flow through said second orifice.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 8, wherein said second displaceable component comprises an elongated body having a substantially pointed end for fitting into and thus controlling flow through said second orifice.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 11, wherein said second displaceable component comprises an elongated body having a substantially pointed end for fitting into and thus controlling flow through said second orifice.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vibration damper for motor vehicles, according to claim 1, including an actuator for controlling movement of said second displaceable body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB621630A
Cited
DE1242945B
Cited
DE1455903A1
Cited
US3584712A
Cited
US3621950A
Cited
DE2119531A1
Cited
US3991863A
Cited
US4010829A
Cited
US4054277A
Cited
DE2655811A1
Cited
JPS5442570A
Cited
US4325468A
Cited
DE2915012A1
Cited
US4445673A
Cited
US4502673A
Cited
US4650042A
Cited
US4597411A
Cited
US4749069A
Cited
US4752062A
Cited
US4802561A
Cited
DE3712477A1
Cited
US4785920A
Cited
DE3723033A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-11-13 | 1993-05-15 | 1993-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-13 | 1997-05-15 | 1997-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-13 | 2001-05-15 | 2001-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |