Patent ID: 6254067
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: B62K,F16F

Abstract:
A fluid regulating device adapted for use with a hydraulic cylinder device to form a shock absorbing apparatus with a variable shock absorbing effect, the hydraulic cylinder device including a hydraulic cylinder body filled with hydraulic fluid, the hydraulic cylinder body including a first end portion formed with a fluid port, and a second end portion having a piston slidingly and sealingly disposed therein, the piston being movable in a first direction toward the first end portion to cause the hydraulic fluid to flow out of the fluid port, and in a second direction away from the first end portion in response to return flow of the hydraulic fluid into the fluid port, the hydraulic cylinder device further including a piston rod having a connecting end connected to the piston and a coupling end extending out of the second end portion of the hydraulic cylinder body, the fluid regulating device comprising:a regulator housing confining a valve receiving chamber and a fluid chamber adjacent to said valve receiving chamber, said regulator housing being formed with a fluid opening that is in fluid communication with said valve receiving chamber and that is adapted to be connected fluidly to the fluid port, said fluid chamber being filled with the hydraulic fluid;a pneumatic cylinder device having a cylinder housing with a piston member slidingly and sealingly disposed therein, said piston member dividing an interior of said cylinder housing into a volume-variable gas compartment and a volume-variable fluid compartment on opposite sides of said piston member, said gas compartment storing pressurized gas therein, said cylinder housing being formed with a fluid aperture that maintains fluid communication between said fluid chamber and said fluid compartment;a regulating valve unit disposed in said valve receiving chamber to control flow rate of the hydraulic fluid between said fluid opening and said fluid chamber, said regulating valve unit including:a valve body mounted in and in sealing contact with said valve receiving chamber, said valve body being formed with a plurality of valve channels for fluid communication between said fluid opening and said fluid chamber, each of said valve channels being formed with a respective rate control passage, each rate control passages having a different diameter, anda plurality of valve members disposed respectively in said valve channels, each of said valve members being capable of being actuated to move from a normal blocking state, where fluid communication between said fluid opening and said fluid chamber is interrupted in the respective one of said valve channels, to an unblocking state, where fluid communication between said fluid opening and said fluid chamber is permitted in the respective one of said valve channels; anda valve actuator associated with said regulating valve unit and operable so as to actuate a selected one of said valve members to move from the blocking state to the unblocking state; andwherein said valve channels are formed axially through said valve body, are angularly spaced apart from each other, and are offset relative to an axis of said valve body; andwherein said valve actuator includes a rotary member mounted rotatably on said regulator housing inside said fluid chamber, said rotary member having a rotary axis parallel to said valve channels, and having one side that confronts said valve body and that is sufficiently sized such that an outer periphery thereof circumscribes said valve channels, said one side of said rotary member being provided with an actuating member for actuating the selected one of said valve members to move from the blocking state to the unblocking state when said rotary member is rotated about the rotary axis to align said actuating member with said valve channel that contains the selected one of said valve members.