Patent ID: 9322449
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: F16F

Claim Text:
1. A shock absorber having a housing with a cylindrical sidewall, comprising: (a) a valve in a fluid communication path between a first chamber containing fluid and a second chamber containing fluid, the valve having an orifice component and a moveable orifice blocker component, wherein the blocker has at least an open position in which fluid can flow through the orifice and a closed position in which the blocker substantially obstructs fluid from flowing through the orifice; (b) at least one biasing element disposed in the valve that exerts a biasing force urging the blocker toward said closed position and contributes to a total biasing force that urges said blocker in the closed position to remain in said closed position; (c) wherein at least one of the blocker and the biasing element is configured to move at least partially through an inertial effect of forces; and (d) wherein every component of said total biasing force is applied to the blocker by structures contained entirely within the shock absorber and every component of said total biasing force that is controlled so as to vary said total biasing force is controlled only by at least one non-electromagnetic device selected from the group of pneumatic, hydraulic and mechanical devices; and wherein when the blocker is in the open position the biasing force urging the blocker back to the closed position is no greater for any particular piston stroke position than said corresponding total biasing force at said particular piston stroke position.