Patent ID: 6676076
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: B64C,F16F

Abstract:
A shock strut for supporting and dampening a load with a two-phase dampening characteristic, said shock strut comprising:an outer cylinder having a closed end and an open end; an inner cylinder having a closed end and an open end, said inner cylinder slidably mounted within the open end of the outer cylinder; a first piston slidably mounted between the ends of the outer cylinder and defining a first fluid chamber with the closed end of the outer cylinder; a second piston slidably mounted between the ends of the inner cylinder and defining a second fluid chamber with the closed end of the inner cylinder; a fluid metering apparatus positioned between the pistons, wherein a third fluid chamber is defined between the metering apparatus and the first piston on an opposite side of the first piston from the first fluid chamber and wherein a fourth fluid chamber is defined between the metering apparatus and the second piston on an opposite side of the second piston from the second fluid chamber, said metering apparatus configured to progressively control fluid flow into the third and fourth fluid chambers, leading to compression of the first and second fluid chambers and generating the two-phase dampening characteristic.