Patent ID: 6213262
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: B60G,F16F

Abstract:
An improved shock absorber capable of real time, infinitely variable adjustable damping during compression, the shock absorber comprising:a reservoir compartment;a hollow cylinder defining an internal chamber and having a central longitudinal axis;a piston slidably mounted for reciprocal movement within the internal chamber along the central longitudinal axis, with the piston separating the internal chamber into a compression compartment and a rebound compartment, the volumes of which compartments vary in accordance with the position of the piston in the internal chamber, with the piston defining one axial end of the compression compartment;a first end closure closing the end of the internal chamber adjacent the compression compartment;a piston rod connected to the piston and extending from the end of the internal chamber adjacent the rebound compartment;a second end closure closing the end of the internal chamber adjacent the rebound compartment and slidably sealingly engaging about the piston rod;a fluid filling the internal chamber and at least partially filling the reservoir compartment;a compression head assembly in the internal chamber adjacent to the first end closure and defining the other axial end of the compression compartment, the compression head assembly including a first surface adjacent to the compression compartment, a second surface adjacent to the first end closure, a replenishing valve for controlling flow of fluid from the reservoir compartment to the compression compartment, and a compression flow passage, with the compression flow passage extending between the first surface and the second surface so as to permit flow from the compression compartment to the reservoir compartment and having an inlet end and an outlet end, with the inlet end of the compression flow passage being adjacent the first surface, and with the outlet end of the compression flow passage being adjacent the second surface of the compression head and defining a valve seat; anda valve assembly that is disposed between the second surface of the compression head and the first end closure and that includes a valve member and a solenoid coil subassembly and a valve member, operatably associated with the valve member, with the valve member being movable, with respect to the valve seat and in response to electrical current applied to the solenoid coil subassembly, between a first position, where the valve member is closely adjacent the valve seat so as to substantially prevent flow through the compression flow passage, a second position where the valve member is spaced a distance from the valve seat so as to permit substantially unrestricted flow through the compression flow passage and a variety of different positions between first and second positions depending on the electrical current applied to the solenoid coils subassembly; and with the inlet end of the compression flow passage being disposed at an angle, with respect to the central longitudinal axis, so as to avoid exciting resonance in the valve assembly, including the valve member, which resonance could otherwise result due to flow through the compression flow passage.